TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
This is one my own, although others might have invented it independently:
Treknology--(fr. "Star Trek") A combination of a little science and a lot of
wishful thinking, usually dreamed up and promoted by people with limited
scientific and reasoning skills. Treknology *sounds* good, but it doesn't
stand up to more than a few seconds of rational thought, especially when you
consider the context.
Example from real life: "In the near future, we'll all live in ecologically
balanced environments ... "
(sounds good)
"... under huge plastic/glass/crystal domes ..."
(and here's where a little knowledge becomes a dangerous thing)
"... because there are people living in experimental biospheres already ..."
(and the conclusion)
"... so we don't NEED to worry about air pollution or the ozone layer!"
The key here is "near future." The individual in question tried to use this
idea to fend off criticism of his less than environmentally conscious
behaviour. I wonder if he plans to go outside of his dome to use his
CFC-aerosol hairspray.
Cheers ... Kim
kim -dot- roper -at- vitana -dot- com
"Apollo, the god of light, of reason, of proportion, harmony, number-Apollo
blinds those who press too close in worship. Don't look straight at the
sun. Go into a dark bar for a bit and have a beer with Dionysios, every now
and then."
-- Ursula K. Le Guin, Introduction to "The Left Hand of Darkness"
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sandy Harris [mailto:sandy -at- storm -dot- ca]
> Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 11:29 AM
> To: TECHWR-L
> Subject: Amusing terms
>
>
> I wonder if others have encountered usefully amusing bits of
> terminology
> or turns of phrase that the rest of us might want to use occasionally.
>
>
etc.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver! (STC Discount.)
**NEW DATE/LOCATION!** January 16-17, 2001, New York, NY. http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Sponsored by DigiPub Solutions Corp, producers of PDF 2001
Conference East, June 4-5, Baltimore/Washington D.C. area. http://www.pdfconference.com or toll-free 877/278-2131.
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
