Re: STC Letter to the Editor

Subject: Re: STC Letter to the Editor
From: Jan Henning <henning -at- r-l -dot- de>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 20:59:25 +0100


You could talk about network protocols, sure. But that would send those
90% of the techwriters packing who donët do anything with networking
protocols and presumably never will. And for a third of the remainder,
the level is too high, and for another third it is too low.

That's sad. Because if those writers actually listened, they might learn
something valuable. And then they might realize that knowledge - even about a
seemingly unconnected issue - is valuable.

Yes, but it is a bonus when you have covered the bases - the facts you ened for your area of expertise and the general communication skills.

(For example, when you are documenting aircraft engines, you need to know about aircraft engines, FAA regulations, good writing techniques, and writing tools. When you have all that down, you can justifiably spend some time on learning about networking protocols.)

And if we take other examples - say heart valve operation, logging techniques, or beer brewing regulations - did you concern yourself with those when you were a technical writer?

Like I said - call it the Society of Documentation or Society of Technical
Presentation. Since content isn't dicussed, then its not a society of
communication.

Yes it is. Most people seem to have no difficulty understanding that a Society of Technical Communication does concern itself with the act of communicating and not with the details of the contents (since that would make it a Society of Just About Everything). The name is entirely justified. And for the contents, there already are specialized societies.

Regards
Jan Henning


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References:
Re: STC Letter to the Editor: From: Andrew Plato

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