Re: ADD/ADHD Problems and Tech Writing/Editing Careers
I love what people have written about ADD being not a disorder but a set
of better and different abilities. I have to admit that i have tended to
think that ADD is getting a little overused in our culture. Not so much
overdiagnosed, but just used as a thoughtless shorthand for short
attention span. This thread makes me realize what it really means.
What blows me away is Rose Wilcox's list of workarounds. I am pretty
sure i am not ADD, but--as several people noted--we all experience some
of the "signs" *sometimes*.
Careful. I think you're in danger of romanticizing the problem. No matter how the condition emerges, in the context of technological culture, it is still a problem. True, thinking of ADD as "better and different abilities" may be useful in making people with the condition feel better about themselves, especially when they're children. But I have yet to meet another with the condition (or any of a number of other ones) who wouldn't keep it if they had a choice.
I think, however, that your point that everyone shows some of the signs sometimes is well-worth emphasizing. I noticed a tendency in some of the responses to self-diagnosis of the condition - and that isn't healthy. It very easily turns into a morbid obsession. Sometimes, it turns into an excuse. I think, too, that self-diagnosis trivializes the real condition, making it easier for people to dismiss it.
I understand that self-diagnosis may be a way of life for many Americans, considering their medical system. However, if anybody suspects that they do have ADD, I hope that they will get it diagnosed by a professional, rather than jumping to conclusions.
--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177
http://members.axion.net/~bbyfield
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
SEE THE ALL NEW ROBOHELP X5 IN ACTION: RoboHelp X5 is a giant leap forward
in Help authoring technology, featuring Word 2003 support, Content Management, Multi-Author support, PDF and XML support and much more! http://www.macromedia.com/go/techwrldemo
COMPONENTONE DOC-TO-HELP 7 PROFESSIONAL: From a single set of Word documents, create online Help and printed documentation. New version offers yearly subscription service, Natural Search, Modular TOC Utility, Image Map Editor, Theme Designer, Context String Editor, plus more. http://www.componentone.com/doctohelp .
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -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.
References:
RE: ADD/ADHD Problems and Tech Writing/Editing Careers: From: Ronica Roth
Previous by Author:
RE: Tina the Techwriter Reopens the Great Debate
Next by Author:
Re: TECHWR-L ADD Therapy
Previous by Thread:
RE: ADD/ADHD Problems and Tech Writing/Editing Careers
Next by Thread:
RE: ADD/ADHD Problems and Tech Writing/Editing Careers
Search our Technical Writing Archives & Magazine
Visit TechWhirl's Other Sites
Sponsored Ads