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? said:
"in cases like mine, do you
perceive that the responsibility to the user and to the profession is so
great that the writer has an obligation to do whatever it takes to go
after perfection? Is pragmatism in this situation a copout or a
legitimate survival technique? Is pointing at management merely
excuse-making?"
Most of us are doing what we do because it's what we do best and is,
therefore, a reliable way to put dinner on the table. My gosh, you're
not a priest! You shouldn't feel guilty because you're doing what you do
for a paycheck. And you won't get that paycheck if you don't meet that
deadline.
I wrote a review of a technical writing book once. I said, essentially,
this book is full of great ideas, but most technical writers are not
given the luxury of time to do all that. This book is not realistic and,
therefore, not useful.
? said:
"And, what, if anything, seems to be a magic pill to change it "
Stop working for somebody else. (In my opinion, though *everybody* works
for *somebody*. So I guess I have no suggestion.)
Beth