RE: What do you guys think of STCs new definition for

["Sean Brierley" <sbrierley -at- Accu-Time -dot- com>]

Agreed. But, I propose we define the job by how the job should be done.

For example, a firefighter could put a kitten in a tree. He has a ladder
and could probably locate a kitten. But, that's not what firefighters
do. So, instead, perhaps define the job of firefighter to include
removing kittens from trees without acknowledging, as part of the
definition, that the reverse could happen. Firefighters, after all, do
make  mistakes.

So, too, technical writes pooch the screw. And so it is. But that
shouldn't affect the definition. 

However, I do feel that while the rest of the business world does
communicate by writing and have since second grade, we need to tell, as
part of the job description, those elements that make technical writing
a job that's different than secretary or firefighter (they do write lots
of reports, you know). And, I think being clear, concise, comprehensive
... et al. ... are a large part of that. Consider the marketing
psychobabble you run across: clear and concise?

Cheers,

Sean

___________
Sean Brierley
Technical Writer
www.accu-time.com



-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+sbrierley=accu-time -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+sbrierley=accu-time -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Michael West
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 8:10 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: What do you guys think of STCs new definition for


On Wed, May 28, 2008 at 1:19 AM, Mike Starr <
mikestarr-techwr-l -at- writestarr -dot- com> wrote:

> Technical communicators create a variety of print and online documents
that
> are clear, concise, comprehensive, accurate, correct, accessible, and 
> professional.

Get real, people. This is not a "definition". It is wishful thinking.
Technical communicators also create a lot of crap.

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