Why flames?

[geoff-h -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA]

 Steven Warren wondered why we're so snippy at times on
 techwr-l. I'd have to put it down to the "Tina the Fragile
 Techwriter" syndrome (Source: Scott Adams' Dilbert comics).

 Many tech. writers are working under tons of stress: no
 recognition, heavy responsibility with little accompanying
 authority, tight deadlines, an ongoing fear of being
 downsized, recalcitrant colleagues (particularly subject
 matter experts), and not much time to wade through long
 digests of material on issues we've already seen addressed
 dozens of times before.

 That explains the behavior, but doesn't justify it. It pays
 to remember that even if you're an expert, not everybody
 is, and that you probably asked your share of naive
 questions or proclaimed one or two irritating generalisms
 when you were getting started. It doesn't take much more
 effort to gently and politely correct someone than to flame
 them for pressing one of your buttons. It also pays to take
 a deep breath and wonder what you really gain by putting
 someone in their place. (I'll now don my own
 flame-resistant costume and await the traditional dose of
 brimstone and invective.)

 --Geoff Hart     @8^{)}     geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca
 Disclaimer: Speaking for myself, not FERIC.

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