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Subject:Findlay's field-trip to techwr-l From:Jeffrey Pittman <Jpittman49 -at- AOL -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 19 Oct 1995 05:59:13 -0400
In a message dated 95-10-18 10:29:59 EDT, CEW -at- MACOLA -dot- USA -dot- COM (Connie Winch)
writes:
> So students (future technical communicators)
>posting questions to the list are invading?
Techwhirlers:
The problem, as I see it, is not that students were asking questions,
the problem was that Findlay did a very good imitation of an uninvited
student field-trip. All of a sudden we were surrounded by a virtual pack all
shrieking, "How'd you do that? Why'd you do that? What does this button do?
Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we..." This arroused displeasure in
many, and absolute hostility in some. Yes, we do have an obligation to
answer the next generation's questions, but those questions have to be posed
in a responsible manner. I don't fault the students as much as I fault their
supervisor. Most of their mistakes were born of ignorance, and that
ignorance could have been prevented by better instructions in the use of
lurking to learn the protocols of the audience to whom the questions are
being asked.
I am not disturbed by the students misplaced enthusiasm, I am only
disturbed by the academicians wail of, "You guys are just mean, and it's not
my fault, and I am never going to talk to you again."
Good luck,
J.P.
