DEBATE: Word-processing or DTP

[Bernie McCann <BernieMc -at- AOL -dot- COM>]

Hi Techwr-lers;

How evident, I wonder, is it to many of us, that there are endless complaints
about MS Word which, it can be argued, are unfair (while accepting that there
are many bugs).

I refer to the frequent use of a word-processing application as an electronic
publishing application.  This is related to the question of computer operators
becoming good writers or, for that matter, writers becoming great technical
illustrators or editors.  It is, surely, not going to happen .... not in most
cases.

Personaly, and generally speaking, I prefer writers to do what they ought to
do best - write.  Their tool for this should be a word-processor.  Upon
completion of that task, it should be finished by a really competent computer
operator using a dtp application (someone who would have no problem with the
difficult questions seen on this newsgroup .... and someone who, probably,
doesn't even read this).  It appears that there is, eventually, an answer to
all the questions .... usually, from very skilled computer operators.
Meanwhile, I wonder how much writer time has been lost .... I hope that nobody
will post the line about the writer staring out of the window.

Of course, there are companies that believe that one person can do everything
(with only a word-processing application) hence, the recent invention of the
title, communication specialist (apologies to those wonderfully patient
specialists out there).  It is a sad state of affairs, because these, usually
small, companies ought to be considering contracting-out some of the tasks.
It is equally sad that our profession (so called) could be losing its
creditability from the probable reduction of quality.

I'm sure that this subject has been seen on this list before (before my time)
but it seems timely to mention it once more, if only as an introduction to the
many junior writers appearing on the scene, who may be unaware of correct job
descriptions (as is often said, "What's that!").

My question (You knew that I'd get around to it) is, am I out to lunch?

Just my 2 cents (Canadian) worth.

Bernie (Proud to be a technical communicator, and not related, in any way, to
Microsoft)

22/07/98 (Subject will self-destruct in 20 days)

P.S.  When I go out to lunch, you pay!