RE: I *do* have better things to do :)

[John Hedtke <john -at- hedtke -dot- com>]

Nicely put, Tim.  Tech writers often take themselves too seriously--it's a 
personality trait that led many of us to be become tech writers in the 
first place, I'm sure of it (which is why we have debates about serial 
commas and the like :) ).

And yes, I too have phoned radio stations to complain about what was being 
played over and over.  I also write letters to companies and complain about 
truly awful advertising occasionally.  Both of these have worked and make 
my life that much happier.

I suggest that we do not come up with a separate humor subgroup, simply 
because the random snippets of fun are frequently the very thing to inspire 
a creative whack to the head.

Yours truly,

John Hedtke

P.S.  There's an Italian expression that actually sums things up nicely, as 
a matter of fact: "Va afar in culo se non apprezzi lo scherzo."  It's a bit 
idiomatic, but the message is that you really need to have humor in your 
life to survive.



At 06:11 AM 10/11/2007, Tim Mantyla wrote:

> > From: "Tariel, Lauren R" <lt34 -at- saclink -dot- csus -dot- edu>
> > Subject: RE: RE: I *do* have better things to do  :)
>
> > I would like to know what part of this thread is "on-topic" with
> > respect to technical writing?  I realize that the "better things to
> > do" thread began as a complaint about a discussion that the
>
>
>1) I couldn't post my "final word" to the list "on time" due to a 
>technical issue.
>
>
> > Administrator had effectively ended.  So the original complaint
> > never discussed anything related to technical writing and it really
>
>2) Between the lines: some things are not necessary to tech writing 
>discussions because they're too inconsequential to matter...so the entire 
>"spaces after a period" discussion was "off-topic" IMHO.
>One could simply ask oneself: "Who could possibly be affected in any 
>material way by one or two spaces after a period?"
>
> > was not necessary to end the previously ended thread, but some
> > infrequent posters needed to vent.  Now that the complaint-laden
>
>
>2) Yes, I like to vent...especially when there is a humorous point to be 
>made at about those who would count the number of angels that dance on the 
>head of a pin, filling up a listserv with mental dander...
>
>BTW, here is a wonderful article on the immense value of play that may 
>enlighten anyone wondering why people banter back and forth or poke fun at 
>the ridiculous:
>
>http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Literacy/Play.asp
>
> > thread has moved into some banter about serifs on a pinhead, I
> > really don't see where technical writing fits in.  Or how complaints
> > and off-topic are really something "better to do."
>
>
>To all and the admin:  Perhaps a "Humor & Fun Stuff" forum/posting place 
>is needed here on Tech-Whirl?  It doesn't fit exactly here with the 
>business of sharing tech writing info, but the need and value is 
>clear,  evidenced by the online activity. Our work is often dry, 
>workplaces create pressures on us writers, and our obsessive nature makes 
>us perhaps more prickly than other folk...so let's wax humorous, somewhere 
>if not here!
>
> > Isn't it hypocritical to complain that a discussion about
> > typographical rules is a waste of listserv space and then follow
> > that complaint with inane banter about nothing?  That's a rhetorical
>
>It's only hypocritical if the same person is doing it...others did the 
>follow-up banter...which was certainly "off-topic" but not necessarily 
>"about nothing," as I explain above and below.
>
> > question because it is hypocritical.
> >
> > Lauren
>
>
>
> > From: Gary Schnabl <gSchnabl -at- LivernoisYards -dot- com>
> > John Hedtke wrote:
> > > heels.  Let us move forward; I'm sure we can discuss how many Adobe 
> fonts
> > > can fit on the head of a pin or something.
> > >
> >
> > Apparently, **one** of those better things to do was bitching that a
> > particular thread was continuing for too long...
>
>Reasons these responses *are* better things to do:
>
>1) communicate a valid point with mind-bending humor (see above, re: play 
>makes the mind more relaxed and a relaxed mind works better, thinks more 
>clearly, envision and imagine more clearly and innovatively...) to a 
>constructive purpose or two.
>
>2) find like-minded writers to commune with.
>
>
> > Would you complain to a radio station because you heard a certain song
> > too many times? Maybe, you would.
>
>I do! Action is better than suffering. And any seller of products (radio 
>station) has to be responsive to its customers or it wonkl't 
>succeed...feedback is essential to effective communication--a key point in 
>tech writing, too, lest this be seen as "off-topic." How do we know we did 
>a good job unless people give feedback?
>
>
>Tim Mantyla
>
>
>"Why not go stark raving *glad*??"
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