TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Re: Proof that content is more important than style
Subject:Re: Proof that content is more important than style From:Andrew Plato <gilliankitty -at- yahoo -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 18 Nov 2002 09:44:45 -0800 (PST)
"Jan Henning" <henning -at- r-l -dot- de> wrote in message news:176919 -at- techwr-l -dot- -dot- -dot-
>
> So this discussion was at least good for something: Andrew now
> officially accepts that good documentation requires good design as well
> as accurate content.
Yes, good docs should have appealing design. But, if time is short or resources
scarce, design should always be sacrificed for content.
> Andrew, you are insulting people on-list and off, present and absent,
> individually and in groups,* so it is - to keep this polite -
> surprising if you complain when you are for once at the receiving end.
> As the saying goes, worry about the beam in thine own eye first before
> you attend to the mote in thy brother's.
I have not insulted a single person on this list. Now, some people have chosen to
insert themselves personally into this discussion and take my words to heart -
that isn't my fault. People who get insulted when their ideas are challenged
would do themselves a favor to NOT get involved in these discussions. I don't get
insulted when people prove me wrong (and I am proved wrong sometimes).
As for the rest of your accusations - I am taking this matter up with Eric.
> Like Deb did when you claimed that RFCs do not contain design? If you
> want that, maybe you shouldn't ignore it when it happens. That would
> also help to make discussions so much more productive.
I said "exceptionally homely, inconsistent, and short on style" thus, there is
nothing to refute. Those docs have minimal design and that is proof that content
is more important than design. Therefore, Deb's post merely reinforced what I was
saying by posting the minimalist design criteria.
Andrew Plato
__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting.yahoo.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Check out SnagIt - The Screen Capture Standard!
Download a free 30-day trial from http://www.techsmith.com/rdr/txt/twr
Find out what all the other tech writers, including Dan, already know!
Order RoboHelp X3 in November and receive $100 mail in rebate, FREE WebHelp
Merge Module and the new RoboPDF - add powerful PDF output functionality
to RoboHelp X3. Order online today at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
