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While the reasons for the friction that characterizes many communicator/SME
relationships can be complex, I'd suggest that part of the friction with
SMEs comes from our willingness to label them as "geeks". While this term
is not always derogatory, we generally mean it to be when we use it, and our
meaning, or intention, is carried over into our relationships with our SMEs.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bounce-techwr-l-36865 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
> [mailto:bounce-techwr-l-36865 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com]On Behalf Of Bruce
> Byfield
> Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 11:43 AM
> To: TECHWR-L
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
> Subject: Re: New TECHWR-L Poll Question
<snip>
> I suggested this question as a result of the reoccuring discussions
> about how much technical knowledge technical writers need.
>
<snip>
> I'm saddened to think that so many people are spending their lives at
> work that they don't especially care for. However, more to
> the point, I
> strongly suspect that the answers would be very different for
> developers. At least a large minority of geeks are regularly
> increasing
> their knowledge, and some even program in their spare time for open
> source or free software projects. I wonder: could that be the reason
> that so many tech-writers don't get along with their SMEs? Could the
> geeks unconsciously sense the indifference to the topics that occupy
> large chunkes of their lives?
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