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.
> There is a rather large divide out there today between the traditional
> software engineering crowd and the contemporary practices crowd. There is
> little respect between the members of these subcultures. I've seen more
> young programmers think that old programmers can't cut it. And, when the old
> programmers come back emphasizing their project management skills, they
> unwittingly validated the young programmers poor thinking.
>
I've seen this division, and been both amused and bemused by it.
The amusement comes from the fact that I'm old enough to enjoy how
disconcerted the young programmers are when they realize that the older
programmers are just as smart as they are - but have thirty years more
experience. Not that I don't know some brilliant twentysomethings, but I
have little doubt that, unless they burn out, they will be even more
capable in another couple of decades.
The bemusement comes from the fact that the young geeks, who like to see
themselves as a misunderstood minority, try to ostracize the older geeks
as much as they do managers and tech-writers. Apparently, feeling
misunderstood doesn't generate any empathy for others in the same
situation.
More seriously, it seems very common for a new young programmer, eager
to be accepted by peers, to try to show their savvy at the expense of
one of these designated outsiders. Tech-writers, with their often
inferior technical backgrounds, are often prime targets for these kinds
of attacks. I've been targetted once or twice in these efforts, and
found that the only way to get some peace is to make clear that you
won't put up with the attacks (sarcasm works very well), followed by a
quick display of technical credentials (some open source work is often
effective, at least among Linux geeks).
For older programmers, the situation is much the same. Yet their use as
project managers is almost inevitable: the young geeks, for all their
raw ability, are prone to endless tinkering and feature creep when left
by themselves.
--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- progeny -dot- com
"Yes, it's hard love, but it's love just the same,
Not the stuff of fantasy, but more than just a game,
And the only kind of miracle that's worthy of the name,
For the love that heals our lives is mostly hard love."
- Bob Franke, "Hard Love" (as sung by June Tabor)
*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com
Sponsored by Information Mapping, Inc., a professional services firm
specializing in Knowledge Management and e-content solutions. See http://www.infomap.com or 800-463-6627 for more about our solutions.
---
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.
