Re: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken

[Ned Bedinger <doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com>]

Not having "writer" in the US Labor definition is evidence of collusion 
between the STC and the governmemt. Writer is not needed in the 
definition, but not because they're maroons (technical sense, low IQ), 
but quite the contrary, because they're blithering criminal masterminds 
poised to pull off the latest crime of the century. They are planning to 
offshore technical writing. All of it.

In anticipation of someone someday asking "Why?", let me now invite you, 
my hounds, to follow the money.

Doing away with tech writing in the US:

o   will give US high tech companies a respite from our high wages.

o   will breathe new life into STC, bringing in membership dues of a 
bazillion ESL conscripts questing for the secret tricks and handshakes 
of a tech com-mi-you-n'k8r. Intercom back-issues and reprint sales will 
soar.

o   will put an end to the whole "communicator" debate here at home, 
because it is a strawman, purpose-built and set into motion to keep us 
busy while they get the true and nefarious master thing done.


Please wake up. Yo, we're gonna be spaced!

Sign me,

Just kidding, otherwise unable to
grasp a writer-less definition in
Seattle



Mike Starr wrote:
> I've been objecting to STC's effort to change the definition 
> of the job as listed in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles 
> published by the US Department of Labor. My objection isn't 
> to the changed title (technical communicator) but to the fact 
> that the definition text they want DOL to adopt contains no 
> reference whatsoever to writing or writer. If that happens, 
> someone searching for a technical *writer* won't find that title.
> 
> Mike
> --
> Mike Starr                            WriteStarr Information Services
> Technical Writer  -  Online Help Developer  -   Technical Illustrator
> Graphic Designer    -    Desktop Publisher   -       MS Office Expert
> (262)  694-1028  -  mike -at- writestarr -dot- com  -  http://www.writestarr.com
> 
> Bill Swallow wrote:
>> I'm more of a Technical PITA these days. ;-)
>>
>> Some technical communicators don't write well and some technical
>> writers don't communicate well outside of writing. Then again some
>> technical writers architect information but not all information
>> architects are technical writers. These days, not all techncial
>> writers write, technically.
>>
>> And though I'm having fun, I'm being serious.
>>
>> I don't see a ROE in lobbying to change the title on the labor books.
>> I'd rather see the effort spent on documenting the exceptions as
>> subclasses to the job, whatever it's called.
>>
>> On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 1:55 PM, John Hedtke <john -at- hedtke -dot- com> wrote:
>>> FWIW, we were discussing this at the January STC Board of Directors
>>>  meeting.  We'd like to move the terminology from "technical writers"
>>>  to "technical communicators," in large part because we do more than
>>>  just write.  The lines between what's business writing vs. technical
>>>  writing are a bit blurry, but, then, so are the lines between many
>>>  other similar job titles in our field.

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