Nitpicking on the list

[ejray -at- OKWAY -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU]

Chad Kaiwi Southern <csouther -at- TUBA -dot- AIX -dot- CALPOLY -dot- EDU> said:

>I sent a message to the tech writers list last week.  I must apologize
>for its incorrect context.  Obviously and thankfully I am not an English
>major.  I felt much like a politician.  People started attacking
>individual pieces instead of looking at the main point.  Interestingly
>enough, I was repeated my point back to me as a moral of a story sent
>by C. P. Campbell.  The point was don't get caught up in the active vs.
>passive dogma.  Unfortunately, my grammatical error received all the
>attention.
>I wrote before that I am no where near as intelligent or experienced as
>those who sent me responses.  For this I am realizing the term, "out of
>my league" which I always took as a dare in the past.  My little
>flirtation with the tech writers list now will end.
>I can't communicate with those who speak a different language so I won't
>continue to try.  Good luck with active writing, and thanks for the
>memories.

     I think it is a shame that this message was ever
     written, much less that this list provoked it.
     Nitpicking grammar in this forum is ridiculous and
     completely goes against the reasons I created this
     list. I don't believe in trying to direct the
     discussions on the list, but this has gone too far.

     As listowner, I can (and will) remove nitpickers from
     the list. If you want to talk about technical editing
     and writing, this is the place to do it. If you want to
     EDIT, find your VCR manual and have fun.

     As far as I am concerned, this nitpicking issue has
     ended. If you have comments or questions, take them off
     the list and direct them to me at the address below.

     Can we please return to the topic?

     Eric
     ejray -at- okway -dot- okstate -dot- edu
     TECHWR-L Listowner, and an angry one at that.