as an idiot reader...

[Thom Remington <remingtf -at- ENGG-MAIL -dot- LVS -dot- DUPONT -dot- COM>]

Interesting discussion on assuming that the audience is a bunch of idiots.
What came to mind for me is the number of times that I've gotten something
I'm supposed to read and I can't figure it out. I'm *not* a stupid person;
I'm reasonably well-educated and well-read.

But I can't tell you the number of times that I've gotten something -
usually from a financial institution, including the IRS - that makes *no*
sense whatsoever. Then I start asking myself what happens to someone who
isn't educated?

IMO, it's not a matter of writing for idiots. It's a matter of explaining
things clearly and succinctly so that you can expect a high proportion of
your audience to be able to understand. Writing clearly and succinctly isn't
easy, but it can be done.

If documentation sounds like it was written by a SME or (shudder!) a
bureaucrat, then it's probably not going to be useful.

Finally, remember that...

The diurnal introduction into the alimentary system of a single example of
any of a variety of species of pomes has been demonstrated to have an
ameliorative effect to the dread felt by iatrophobes, by rendering the
necessity of the presence of the object of such iatrophobia that much less
likely.*

Thom Remington
thomas -dot- f -dot- remington -at- usa -dot- dupont -dot- com

Statements and opinions rendered in this communication are those of the
writer and should not be construed as representing or not representing
anyone, including but not limited to the writer, the writer's employer,
coworkers, supervisor, subordinates, pets, spouse, or children.

*An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

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