Re: Humor vs. Tech Pubs

[Suzette Seveny <sseveny -at- PETVALU -dot- COM>]

I wasn't going to get into this one, but here goes:

I very strongly disagree with trying to inject humour into technical
publications, because of the risk of offending somebody.  I was a trainer
for many years, and used humour (usually successfully) in that forum.  That
worked, because I met my audience, and could "feel" them.  They gauged the
amount and type of humour that was acceptable.

In creating end-user and technical documentation, I don't always know my
audience intimately.  What I do know is, they are a diverse and
multicultural community with a range of personalities and senses of humour.
 I try not to make my docs too dry and boring, but I will not try to inject
humour.  For myself, what most people seem to find funny, I often find
humourless or disgusting.  On the other hand, what I find funny sometimes
would puzzle some people for days.

I often turn my radio off during "funny" commercials because I think
they're stupid.  I wouldn't want somebody to feel that way about my
manuals.  I have never bought a book called "Idiots Guide to XXX" or "XXX
for Dummies" (although more because they're usually too basic for the
information I seek".  I am unqualified to comment on their effectiveness,
but users "choose" to buy these books; they're on the shelf beside many
others on the same topic.  My users have no choice - they get my manuals.

The bottom line is - I will err on the side of conservatism and not risk
offending anyone.

Suzette

PS  to Lisa C.:  Too bad your physics teacher used a cat - mine
demonstrated the same theory in Grade 11, with a ball on the end of a
string.  I also never forgot it - it hit me!