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Subject:RE: Wish list for academic research From:Lisamarie Babik <lmbabik -at- winspc -dot- com> To:TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 28 Sep 1999 14:38:36 -0400
<<Jason Sayz:
> So, if the majority of the users think a manual sucks, but we perform a
> study that says it doesn't, can we tell the users that they are morons?>>
Granted, I've only been doing this professionally for about twelve years, but
I've generally found it a bad idea to tell the user that they're a moron. :-)
Your manual may be a literary work of art, but that may not necessarily be your
job. Think of the audience for your document. If the majority of your
audience comes back to you and tells you that your manual sucks, then you've
probably aimed it at the wrong group of users or made too many assumptions
about the group you were writing for.
*plink*plink* <----- sound of two-cents dropping in the bit bucket
--
Lisamarie Babik
lmbabik -at- winspc -dot- com
Documentation Specialist
DataNet Quality Systems
24567 Northwestern Highway
Fourth Floor
Southfield, MI 48075
(248)357-2200