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.
> People complain about the quantity of messages coming in daily. Others
> respond that deleting unwanted messages is not a burden.
Since everyone is obviously concerned about what constitutes good 'netiquette,
perhaps we should consider that what is standard practice across the 'net might
be good as a general rule but that each group must also agree on a few rules.
Perhaps we could start be determining just what we as a discussion group
consider to be unwanted mail. In addition, we might want to consider what is
unwanted but tolerable mail and what is unacceptable.
I personally don't find job listings and career-specific product information
offensive, but some people might have a lower threshold than I. How much
extra chatter is acceptable? Is it poor 'netiquette to respond spontaneously
to a humorous interchange between other members of the group? Should we be
so tight about our sense of internet proprietry that our infinitives squeak?
(Don't ask me what that means.)
Whatever the case, we should decide what works for the majority here instead of
flaming anyone that happens to poke our peeves accidently.
Bill Burns *
Assm. Technical Writer/Editor * "Purgamentum init,
Micron Technology, Inc. * exit purgamentum."
Boise, ID *
WBURNS -at- VAX -dot- MICRON -dot- COM * Henricus Barbatus