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> Sure I can -- or at least I can call it personal experience. "Most" sounds a
> little like Goober's famous sig line about "studies show.
> Maybe it's time for someone to develop this thread into a proper study and
> sell it to a publication for IT managers. You know: "What different IT
> professionals think of each other, and how to get them to work together
> anyway."
Another poster replied in similar terms, so I might as well answer both of yout
here.
I can understand that people do not like to admit that their profession is held
in little regard. I don't myself I should also stress that, however technical
writing is regarded in general, individual writers may be held in high esteem
because they've proven their worth.
However, I feel no need for a study to support what observation makes as
obvious as the color of the sky. When I hear almost nothing except disparaging
remarks about the profession, when tech-writers are among the first fired
during hard times, when I am praised as an exception because I take what I
consider simply a professional interest in my work, when tech-writers
themselves, in their comments about their relations with SMEs and their
questions about how to validate their jobs to management show that they are
well-aware of how they are regarded - well, I would have to be perversely
ignorant to deny the obvious, wouldn't I?
I take no pleasure in the fact, believe me. But facts don't go away because
they happen to be unpleasant. Instead of pretending that this reputation
doesn't exist, tech-writers are far better off if they go into a new position
knowing that they will have to live down the expectations of the profession and
prove themselves.
That's the reality, I'm afraid, and no amount of nitpicking evasions will
change it.
--
Bruce Byfield bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com 604-421.7177
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