Re[2]: REAL Technical Writers

[lpraderio <lpraderi -at- CLIFF -dot- WHOI -dot- EDU>]

Well, I say HURRAY for the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives "NOT REAL"
technical writers bring to the field.  Also there are many of us, I feel, who
don't fit the standard "real" profile.

I write user guides, job descriptions, edit papers, edit theses, write
articles, used to edit a computer center newsletter, offer training classes,
answer user questions, write and design brochures and flyers, etc.  It's a real
technical gamish here and a day doesn't go by that I feel traditional.  I come
from a science background and certainly appreciate those with English
backgrounds as I appreciate the different perspectives they bring to an issue.

Ah, I vote we blast the caste system into outer space.

Laura Praderio
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
lpraderio -at- whoi -dot- edu

Without wanting to pour gasoline on this topic that, as Jerry noted,
could turn into a flame war, I would like to hear other people,
particularly those practicing professionals, comment about Jerry's
idea that ". . . all of us are technical writers."  While my colleagues
and I tend to see the field of technical communication expanding into
other areas beyond those traditionally linked to 'tech writing,' I'm
not sure that everyone agrees.  Any thoughts?

Bill Karis
Dept. of Technical Communications
Clarkson University
karis -at- craft -dot- camp -dot- clarkson -dot- edu