TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Friendly Fire From:"Montgomery, Kevin" <kmontgomery -at- CCLINK -dot- LOGICON -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 1 Jun 1994 11:16:46 PST
Well said, Mr. Hall!
>After being on the techwriting list for a couple of months, I've
>found that reading the mail is a lot like reading those two old saws
>of comic strips, "Nancy" and "Mutt and Jeff." Every day you're hoping
>against hope that they're going to be funny and not irritate the hell out of
>you---knowing, of course, that no one is forcing you to read them--and
>every day, or almost every day, your worst fears are realized.
It's the psychological concept of intermittent reward--the pleasure of the
occasional touch of humor or smidgen of interesting information compels us to
endure the dulling repetitiveness of postings by the
virtual-pocket-protector-and-eyeglass-tape crowd, just as the occasional $2
payoff compels the sorry multitudes to pull handles in Vegas. I'm not
complaining about this state; I recognize why I pull the TECHWR-L lever, and
what is a wasted quarter to me may be a three-cherry thrill to someone else.
Some of us--perhaps many of us--appreciate the humorous banter of sharp minds.
When such banter applies even indirectly to our common profession, let's
encourage it on TECHWR-L. It compliments and enlivens the practical
information here and dulls the discomfort of the rest.
Kevin the Antagonist, San Diego
kmontgomery -at- logicon -dot- com
