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.
Re: It's Your Call: Which E-mail Disclaimer is Best?
Subject:Re: It's Your Call: Which E-mail Disclaimer is Best? From:Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 13 Jun 2001 12:30:19 -0700
Gordon Graham wrote:
> Often my clients believe the company lawyers have the final word on
> everything, or otherwise the sky will cave in and the company will get sued
> into the ground. But sometimes we writers need to fight to overrule the
> lawyers and put out something that our users or customers can actually
> understand. This looks to me like one of those times.
There are two separate issues here: the need for legal thoroughness, and
the desire for clarity. The trouble is, almost nobody distinguishes the
two.
If a company is worried about legal protection, then asking its lawyers
to comment is sensible. However, many corporate lawyers have the
mistaken belief that properly protective content can only be delivered
with a certain set of stock phrases, or at least with a certain style.
However, focusing on the effort for clarity can ignore the legal issues,
too.
It's much harder to write with both legal thoroughness and clarity in
mind, but that's what is needed. One by itself won't do.
--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com
"And the court gave them justice
As justice is given by well-mannered thugs."
-Geoff Pearson, "If They Come In the Morning"
*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com
Sponsored by Cub Lea, specialist in low-cost outsourced development
and documentation. Overload and time-sensitive jobs at exceptional
rates. Unique free gifts for all visitors to http://www.cublea.com
---
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.
