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:Re: What's on topic From:mpriestley -at- VNET -dot- IBM -dot- COM Date:Wed, 16 Aug 1995 16:47:09 EDT
Paul Race wrote:
>Better we discuss serious issues that affect most or all techwriters than
>waste time on the history of the @ sign.
Forgot to address this in my last post.
Health-care is a serious issue that affects most or all techwriters. So is
the environment. If people want to discuss them, there are separate lists for
those issues.
Unfortunately, the @-sign discussion has nowhere else to go. So we get it by
default. In an odd, sad sort of way, I can't think of anything that defines
the _flavour_ of this profession more than the @ sign discussion. Not only
do I have difficulty thinking of another list where the discussion would be
more appropriate, I have difficulty imagining another list where the discussion
would even take place. Outside of techwriting, very few people care about the
history of the @ sign. Even inside of techwriting, there may be few people,
but still more inside than out.
Am I making any sense?
Michael Priestley
mpriestley -at- vnet -dot- ibm -dot- com
Disclaimer: speaking on my own behalf, not IBM's.