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Re: Re: It doesn't look good for Tina the Tech Writer ... OK, this makes for a good segue
Subject:Re: Re: It doesn't look good for Tina the Tech Writer ... OK, this makes for a good segue From:Vincent <vincentpr -at- trfnova -dot- com> To:kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com, kafkascampi -at- gmail -dot- com Date:Mon, 17 Oct 2016 15:10:00 -0500 (CDT)
Friends,
When the first rush of replies on this flowed in, I got angrier and
angrier as I quickly parsed. Angry at y'all that is (no disrespect
intended here) for missing the critical issue against your current
chosen profession. I wanted to write then but I too, as Kathleen
understands, must choose my fires to quench. At the moment, I have a
little time.
Being too long involved in IT, I have chuckled at select Dilberts now
and again when people have point them out, but I have never been an
avid fan. That, and Mr. Adams' gender imbalance :) notwithstanding,
the real insult within the Dilbert installment under discussion is that
the TW character is being presented as less valuable than an inherent
engineer asset. Nothing could be more untruthful or a better example
of program management misperception.
Yes, of course certain senior engineers -- and even engineers with
seniority -- are essential and invaluable to an R&D team, and deserve
to recognized as such. However, generally speaking, good engineers are
readily available and replaceable, but a good technical writer is not.
The experienced and capable technical writer, while he or she suffers
being regarded as a peer -- and mistakenly by Mr. Adams less -- is
actually senior in contribution to most engineers. Without the
documentation process, application worklfow errors, system design
errors, database architecture endless loops, and coding foopahs of
every rushed and improperly tested kind would make it passed the
staging cycle. Without proper documentation there is lessened
accountability to management. The technical writer is above an
engineer. Engineers who don't take a TW's request for a meeting
seriously probably shouldn't be trusted to do their own work
excellently and should be let go.
Having spent some time working inside federal agencies, it always
bothered me how silly it is for the way PMP certification is esteemed
(again, no disrespect intended, but experience trumps the PMP
certificate 100% of the time). I have long had a dream that technical
writers need their own certification, such CPTW (Certified Professional
Technical Writer), likened to CPCM, CFCM, and to have that credential
promoted and recognized properly. And while I have spawned many ideas
on how to chase that dream, I am only now getting to semi-retirement
hours so that perhaps I can.
Thoughts? Reactions? Anyone want to work on/pursue establishment of
CPTW with me?
Vincent
www.linkedin.com/in/vincentpasqualeruvolo
It's been interesting to see everyone's interpretations, which are
sometimes much deeper than my own.
I haven't seen Dilbert for many years, but I've always viewed him
similar
to a Tom and Jerry (or any other) cartoon.
He managed to convey my feelings about some of the idiocies we
encounter at
work; ah yes, restraining the fist of death.
Sad to say, some people have real grudges that are expressed in the
real
world. And truly, as hard some of the work/life realities are to bear
sometimes, we have a lot more pressing things to deal with right now.
Most of us are subject to some kind of inequalities, some of us more
than
others. It would be wonderful if it could be reduced...
Kathleen
On Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 12:46 PM, kafkascampi
<[1]kafkascampi -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> Not to be a buzzkill (which means I am totally about to be a
> buzzkill), Scott Adams has some controversial views about women in
the
> workplace. This is one of the reasons I choose not to support him.
>
> Read more here:
> [2]http://comicsalliance.com/scott-adam-sexist-mens-rights/
>
> Chris
>
> On Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 8:51 AM, Tony Chung <[3]tonyc -at- tonychung -dot- ca>
wrote:
> > False alarm. A week later Tina agrees to be pointy head's "work
wife"
> > [4]http://dilbert.com/strip/2016-10-14
> >
> > -Tony (also in Vancouver)
> >
> > On Thursday, 6 October 2016, Ron Hearn <[5]rhearn -at- central1 -dot- com>
wrote:
> >
> >> Looks like Tina is getting the axe in today's Dilbert:
> >> [6]http://dilbert.com/strip/2016-10-06
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Ron Hearn
> >> Documentation Specialist
> >>
> >> Central 1 Credit Union
> >> 1441 Creekside Drive
> >> Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
> >> V6J 4S7
> >>
> >> [7]rhearn -at- central1 -dot- com
<javascript:;><[8]mailto:rhearn -at- central1 -dot- com
> >> <javascript:;>>
> >> Tel: 604.730.6391
> >> Fax: 604.730-7792
> >>
> >>
> >>
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[19]kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com
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