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--- Dan Emory <danemory -at- primenet -dot- com> wrote:
> ======================================================================
> BS. There's no democracy in action here. If the knowledge workers had their
> choice, they would vote against MS-Weird, and that vote would be decisive.
> MS-Weird is the de facto standard in spite of, not because of, the people
> who have to use it. Corporate management thinks the product used by
> secretaries and other non-professional creators of documents is also
> sufficient for professional writers who create long, complex documents.
> Microsoft relies upon the ignorance of its corporate management customers to
> maintain its MS-Weird's position as the de fecto standard.
This is a subjective judgment of a product - not a market fact. The market has
voted and Word (along with other technologies and designs) are it (for the
moment). When we vote for a president we don't turn people away at the polls
because they are stupid or in marketing. Democracy must embrace the enlightened
and the unenlightened simultaneously.
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >Again, this is a powerful lesson for tech writers. Just because you have an
> >exquisite internationally recognized development methodology, an extensive
> >style guide, and a well-ordered tech pubs team does not mean you will write
> >good documents.
> ===================================================================
> How in god's name does this "lesson" relate to the issue at hand--namely
> that MS-Weird has become the de facto standard despite the fact that it's a
> piece of crap?
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
The lesson is that writers should realize that the new economy does not always
embrace the "best" or the "most effective." A super-perfect document labored
over for 100 years may FEEL like the correct, moral, professional thing to do -
but it is not the BEST thing to do. FrameMaker may indeed be a better product -
but that is irrelevant if the work isn't done. In today's market, results (any
results) are more important than perfection.
Consider a more tangible example: "Jerry Springer". This is arguably one of the
least sophisticated and least creative shows ever aired on television. But it
is hugely successful where something like "Action", an infinitely more
intelligent and complex show, is a rating disaster. You might not like this and
may feel it is unfair - but the public has voted. Jerry's in, Action's out.
Like it or lump it.
This same principle applies to technology. What is popular and hence "the
standard" is most likely not the best.
Now as far as I am concerned, a REAL professional can still produce beauty from
an inferior product. An UNprofessional whines about how his/her needs aren't
being met.
You either play the game and learn to win with the ball provided or sit on the
sidelines whining and get ignored. Its your choice.
Andrew Plato
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