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:Opinions are like... well, you know. From:Matt Ion <mion -at- DIRECT -dot- CA> Date:Thu, 18 May 1995 01:50:43 EDT
Just a wee thought on spellcheckers and the like...
I'm also a photographer, and have sat through many a discussion in various
online forums, trade mags, and so forth, on the benefits and evils of such
things as autofocus cameras.
It seems to me this debate is identical. To the pros, it's just another tool
that may or may not have its uses. If you don't want or need to use it,
don't. If you find it useful, great. If you depend completely on it, you're
probably in the wrong line of work.
I'm sure you'd never catch Ansel Adams sticking a NikorAF on his field cameras
either. If you're a news photog, though, trying to perhaps get a shot of a
celebrity in a crowd, autofocus can be an invaluable asset, allowing you to
just set the motor drive on "high" and hold the camera up above everyone's
heads, snapping merrily away and doing all the focus and exposure dirtywork
and hopefully getting a unique shot of the subject.
On the other hand, the average tourist doesn't need the ability to compose and
carefully focus a shot, so a camera that ONLY does autofocus is fine. That
person is a lot less likely to be using said camera in a professional manner.
Likewise, spelling and grammar checkers are fine as TOOLS for those who find
them useful, provided they can be turned off when you don't (there's nothing
more annoying to a professional photographer than a camera that INSISTS on
making all the decisions itself).
Some carpenters prefer to use a hammer to build a house, others prefer nail
guns. Both accomplish the same thing in the end.
<soapbox off>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opinions expressed / ROCK-IT SCIENCE Mobile Audio and Security
do not necessarily /| ...the 1040 MIDI & Music BBS Technical Services
reflect those of any [ SOUNDMAN Internet mion -at- direct -dot- ca Fido 1:153/7106
marginally sane human \| WWW http://www.musicwest.com/1040bbs/
being anywhere. \ FAX: (604)253-8312 DATA: (604)732-4446
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
