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.
I write and collaborate with many folks in the development of warning
appearing on-product and in documentation. Not one of them was considered
silly. So I'll assume its being done right.
As for your example, Let's strip off all the theory and talk about it
simply.
The hair dryer is an electrically powered device. An analysis of the
product's use will include the fact that it will be operated by consumers in
the proximity of water (showers, tubs, sinks)- a potential electrocution
hazard. The analysis also might identify all the cases of litigated injury
of similar product in the market. What is silly about addressing potential
injury and the real facts of litigated injury cases with a functional
warning? If you know it can happen, has happened, and may happen then a
warning is appropriate.
All reasonable and unreasonable people need infromation about the use of the
product. I was reminded of this last night when I read the labeling on a
container of line chalk I picked up at the harware store. I did not know
line chalk contained silicone dioxide and breathing it was a cancer risk.
Now, I don't and wouldn't have intended to inhale it. However, knowing the
information on the label enables me to act (decide). I may evaluate the
ventilation available when using it. What I will definitely do is keep it
out of the reach of children who may pick it off a shelf and play with it -
a reasonable consumer given information necessary to make reasonable
decision on use.
I think you are trying to suggest that silly warnings are manufacturers
attempt at shielding the enterprise from unreasonable people injuring
themselves with their products? Is this right?
Archie
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All-new RoboHelp X3 is now shipping! Get single sourcing, print-quality
documentation, conditional text and much more, in the most monumental
release ever. Save $100! Order online at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
Buy ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 6.0, the most powerful SINGLE SOURCE HELP
AUTHORING TOOL for MS Word. SAVE $100 on the full version and $50 on the
upgrade. Offer ends 10/31/2002 (code: DTH102250). http://www.componentone.com/d2hlist1002
---
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.
