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Subject:Re: PC Manmonth From:Rob Howard <planb -at- SIMCOE -dot- NET> Date:Wed, 28 Apr 1999 11:31:49 -0400
>I said it before and I'll say it again...
>
>C'mon.
>Let's stop the pretentious navel gazing. We write words to help people
>quickly understand processes and procedures and apply that understanding to
>solve an immediate need or complete a task. That's it!
>
>All this talk reminds me of the self-absorbtion of architects in the 50's
>and early 60's who believed in social engineering through architecture. If
>we change the person's surrounding's, they thought, surely the person will
>change also. So we seem to think, if we change the words people use, then
>their thoughts and attitudes will change also. If language can socially
>engineer society, NATO should be showering Serbia with dictionaries replete
>with ethnic-neutral names for Albanians.
>
>Let's get back to business.
>
>Steve
>
Wow, thanks for setting me straight on that one Steve.
I can only hope that in the future, after years of experience as I
technical writer, I will be able to get over my current obsessive naval
gazing. I believe that only then, once I know everything, will I have the
courage and confidence to quote myself - at length.
