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.
RE: Post-holiday reality: They don't need our stinkin' manuals??
Subject:RE: Post-holiday reality: They don't need our stinkin' manuals?? From:"Brierley, Sean" <Sean -at- Quodata -dot- Com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 28 Dec 2000 11:56:01 -0500
Actually, maybe your car is different, but that pesky check engine light
usually (always, in my experience) reports on more engine conditions than
"bad gas." If the tech writer wrote "check engine light = bad gas," then I
expect they did not understand the subject matter. (OTOH, I remember the
first time I saw one of those check engine lights. Upon opening the hood, I
found the engine was still there . . . which confirmed I was not imagining
the purr of the motor ;?)
I wonder, do automotive manufacturers rely on tech writers to write owners'
manuals? I wonder what the technical expertise of those writers is, or
whether, like you and I, they are average car owners?
Cheers,
Sean
sean -at- quodata -dot- com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tvirostko -at- familydollar -dot- com [SMTP:tvirostko -at- familydollar -dot- com]
>
>
> I'm driving home for the holidays through the middle of Nowhere, Kentucky
> and my 'Check Engine' light comes on in my truck.
>
> I freak! Oh no! I need to check my engine. It's still running at least.
> It's
> 11:00 p.m. Friday night... Hey, wait a minute. There's an owner's manual
> in
> the glove box.
>
> Yep, Check Engine light written up right there by some wonderful tech
> writer.
>
> Nothing more than bad gas. <G>
>
> Whew. Saved me a trip to the auto mechanic.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver! (STC Discount.)
**NEW DATE/LOCATION!** January 16-17, 2001, New York, NY. http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Sponsored by an
anonymous satisfied subscriber since 1994.
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
