TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Amram Hakohen asks tough questions:
- How many states in the US?
- How many senators from each state?
- What do the 13-stripes on the flag stand for?
- What is the most important holiday on the Christian calender?
- Who fought on the side of Allies in WWII? Who were the Axis powers?
In the UK, the Guardian (liberal/leftwing broadsheet) published as a quiz
some questions that they had asked as part of a survey "Are we dumbing
down?"
But as several correspondents pointed out, these questions are culturally
biased - they measure how well you would do on "Who Wants To Be A
Millionaire", but not how bright you are. (One of the earliest tests used in
the US - for immigrants on arrival in Ellis Island - asked "Washington is to
Adams as first is to...?")
One of the certainties of the world appears to be that every generation
thinks the younger generation is worse than the last. For almost as far back
as writing began, you can read the complaints that young people "these days"
are not what they were in the good old days. Just imagine how good the
technical writers of Ancient Egypt must have been, after all the
de-generations <g> since then...
Happy virtual Friday! (I'm off for a long weekend in Scotland.)
Jane Carnall
Technical Writer and Compendium
of Useless and Arcane Knowledge
Unless stated otherwise, these opinions are mine, and mine alone.
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