Re: Isolation and the technical communicator

[Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- AXIONET -dot- COM>]

I suppose that isolation is relative to what you're used to.

After ten years as an academic, when I could go a whole semester without
seeing the person in the next office (or even the person I shared an
office
with, at times), tech-writing seems a relatively gregarious profession.
At least in my job I get to know most of the people who work in my
clients' development departments.

My present job is especially social. The only way to get most of the
information I need is to interview people, and I'm starting to think
that
I could earn my living as an investigative reporter. Moreover, I'm
sitting
with the QA people, so I see a steady exchange between them and the
developers
(which often turns into another source of information).

Of course, it also means I'm exposed to the Bugs Bunny-Roadrunner Theme
played
on a bagpipe chanter and participate in an ongoing contest for the worst
analogy ("he comes and goes like - like - acne!"), but these are other
stories.

--
Bruce Byfield, Outlaw Communications
Co-ordinator ,Vancouver Technical Communicators' Co-op List
Vancouver, BC, Canada
(604) 421-7189 or 687-2133
bbyfield -at- axionet,com or bruce -at- dataphile-ca -dot- com
www.outlawcommunications.com (update 8 June, 1998)

"As we pull in tight to shore, this armada bent on rescue,
I could curse the men behind the desks who spend our lives this way,
I never signed on board to save them from this bloody lack of planning,
That strands these fine young men beneath the fires of Calais."
- James Keelaghan