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Subject:Re: Caring about good writing... From:"Chuck Martin" <cm -at- writeforyou -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 31 Dec 2003 16:13:35 -0800
<lyndsey -dot- amott -at- docsymmetry -dot- com> wrote in message news:223930 -at- techwr-l -dot- -dot- -dot-
>
> Chuck Martin writes:
>
> > Users most emphatically do *not* "want" to know how to install,
configure,
> > maintain, etc. software or other products.
>
> Ah, er, I was using the word "want" in the old-fashioned sense: to mean a
> lack. The users lack this info; therefore, they want it. In no way did I
> mean to suggest that they desire it. The idea is laughable.
Except for in the minds of many programmers, marketing people, project
managers, etc. they truly believe that users *do* want this. (In the
"desire" meaning.) Often quite earnest in these beliefs. And these are the
people who drive how products are designed and created and who actually
takes part.
--
--
Chuck Martin
User Assistance & Experience Engineer
twriter "at" sonic "dot" net www.writeforyou.com
"I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. The day
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