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Re: What's on topic (was: Re: Do X-Rays Damage Disks?)
Subject:Re: What's on topic (was: Re: Do X-Rays Damage Disks?) From:"Eric J. Ray" <ejray -at- GALAXY -dot- GALSTAR -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 15 Aug 1995 21:09:55 -0500
Gang,
Michael has pegged what I have been trying (apparently with no success at
all) to articulate. Please heed what he says. You'll probably see his
note in future comments about topical postings.
Eric
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
* Please note new E-Mail address! *
Eric J. Ray
ejray -at- galaxy -dot- galstar -dot- com
On Tue, 15 Aug 1995 mpriestley -at- VNET -dot- IBM -dot- COM wrote:
> 1) If someone sends you private e-mail, it is impolite to repost it to the
list
> (even when the e-mail is as innocuous as Eric's)
> 2) While protecting data integrity may be part of my job, I would not consider
> it appropriate for list discussion. Some of our responsibilities are
> appropriate for discussion, others aren't. I divide (for example) as follows:
> a) Responsibilities as an IBM employee (shared by many non-writer types):
> - fill out time sheets
> - don't discuss confidential information
> - protect data integrity
> - don't abuse equipment
> - wear shirt, shoes, and pants
> b) Responsibilities as a _technical writer_ employed by IBM (unique to
> writer types):
> - write documents
> - single source online and hardcopy
> - coordinate multiple writers of a single book
> - write online help
> - test usability of docs
> - research multi-platform singlesource strategies
> While most technical writers fill out time sheets, this doesn't make it
> a "technical writer activity". While only some writers write online help,
> it is still a "technical writer activity", and therefore an appropriate topic
> for discussion on the list.
> In philosophical terms, this is a list for discussion of "techwriter qua
> techwriter" issues, rather than a list for "techwriter qua software employee"
> issues.
> Just my opinion,
> Michael Priestley
> mpriestley -at- vnet -dot- ibm -dot- com
> Disclaimer: speaking on my own behalf, not IBM's.
> PS: Hope I'm not coming across as "holier-than-thou"; I've certainly posted
> off-topic, by this definition, many times. But I think Eric's right on this
> one (as he's been right in the past, when he nudged _me_ for going off-topic).
