Re: David Pogue's column - New York Time

Subject: Re: David Pogue's column - New York Time
From: Al Geist <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 11:30:33 -0500




Johnson, Tom wrote:

Okay techwriter, we'll give you cover fire while you run to the boss's office with the new instructions. Keep your head down so you don't get shot. If you survive, you can see your family in six months.

Who has the easy job? Compared to marines who put their lives on the line, I'd say we have it pretty easy.


You missed the point. First, this marine wasn't in combat. Second, as Jonathan West so aptly put it, don't confuse difficult with dangerous. As a Navy veteran who has experienced the excitement of incoming rounds, I would never use that experience as a way to belittle someone because I wouldn't (or couldn't) take the time to understand what they were doing. As a tech writer who has worked on government contracts, I'd also have to say that some of the manuals I wrote directly affected the safety of some of those who made the choice to join the military and ended up in combat. I'm sure the users of those documents would side with the technical writer on levels of importance.

--

Al Geist, Geist Associates
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Cell: 505-400-4128
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See also:
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References:
RE: David Pogue's column - New York Time: From: Johnson, Tom

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