Re: What do you guys think of STCs new definition for technicalwriter?

[Mike Starr <mikestarr-techwr-l -at- writestarr -dot- com>]

Actually, I'm with you on that... I'm firmly in the technical writer camp myself. However, as Dylan once said, "you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." It appears that we're going to have technical communicator whether we want it or not. STC seems to be firmly in the technical communicator camp and it appears that resistance is futile. My objective at this point is to try to contribute to a definition that minimizes the damage. The proposed definition STC has been promoting says nothing about either writer or writing and that galls me. You'll never catch me describing myself as a technical writer unless I go to work for a company that insists on printing it on my business cards. And even then, if somebody asks me what I do I'll tell them I'm a technical writer.

Best regards,

Mike
-- 
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Bonnie Granat wrote:
> What I meant was looking at how the BLS or other federal government agencies
> handles occupation descriptions.  That's what the definition is for.
> 
> If I agreed with the premise of this endeavor, I'd help you, but my brain
> does not recognize "technical communicator" as a meaningful job title.
> 
> ----------
> <begin highly offensive and outlandish "rant">
> "It's very nice to meet you, Ben. Tell me, what line of work are you in?"
> 
> "I'm a technical communicator, Joe. And you?"
> 
> "I'm a financial advisor... now what did you say you did, again?"
> 
> "I'm a technical communicator."
> 
> "I see. So, what is it exactly that you do?"
> 
> "I work as a technical communicator -- I communicate technical things."
> 
> "You are a courier for an engineering company? You communicate technical
> messages from person to person? <laughs> Is that like 'sanitary engineer'?
> Please forgive me, Ben -- I'm really sorry....."
> 
> "Not exactly... it's more like what they used to call 'technical writer' a
> while back."
> 
> "Hah! A 'technical writer'? Why didn't you say so?"
> 
> "Well, a bunch of people who snookered a bunch of other people snookered the
> government into changing the name of the occupation, and I can't work unless
> I use their ! -at- #$%^& lingo."
> 
> </end rant>
> Bonnie Granat
> http://www.GranatEdit.com
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