ADMIN: Come on, let's be reasonable

Subject: ADMIN: Come on, let's be reasonable
From: "Eric J. Ray" <ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 08 Oct 2001 07:09:15 -0400


Gang,
You know, there are few ways, in my opinion,
that this resource can be more hopelessly
squandered to no effect at all than quibbling
over grammatical nuance that has nothing to
do with technical communication.

Let's face it, folks, a prescriptive grammarian
will never be convinced by descriptive approaches,
nor will the converse ever happen. It's a waste
of time, no matter which side of the fence
you inhabit.

Further, in the absence of a direct connection
to technical communication, it's irrelevant
on this list. (Don't even start the "if it's
about English usage, it's appropriate" discussion
unless you're willing to defend your implied
premise that technical communication doesn't occur
in other languages for any of the subscribers
representing 70 or so countries on this list.)

Following is yet another rules reminder. Note
specifically:

* If it relates to _language use_ but not technical
communication, it probably isn't appropriate.
Don't post it.
* If it continues an irrelevant thread in any way
(rebuttal, rebuke, rerun, revision, remark), don't
post it.
* Do not directly attack anyone for anything on the list.
Take issue with ideas, not personalities, and do
NOT point out grammatical, spelling, or usage errors.
This forum is not the place to exercise editorial
frustration.

Eric

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
POSTING RULES FOR TECHWR-L (for Technical Communication issues)
Revised 21 April 2001

I strongly encourage everyone to read and understand these
rules before posting to TECHWR-L. TECHWR-L has nearly
5000 subscribers and many more readers, so it is necessary
to maintain a fairly tight definition of acceptable behavior.
Any list member may be removed from the list, at the
listowner's discretion, for flagrant or repeated infractions.
Additionally, if you are abusive to the listowner or other
list members, you may be removed from the list.

In addition to these rules, all users agree to abide by
the TECHWR-L Terms of Service, a copy of which is available at
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/policy.html.

Send all announcements, job ads, and similar messages to
ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com--do not post them to TECHWR-L directly.

CHECK THE ARCHIVES BEFORE POSTING! Archives are available at
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/archives.html and at
http://www.documentation.com/techwrit/techwrit-l.htm.


WHAT TO POST
* If it is about technical communication and of general
interest, post it.
* If it is about technical communication and original and
humorous, post it.

WHAT NOT TO POST
* If it doesn't clearly and directly relate to technical
communication, don't post it.
* If it is an ad of any sort, don't post it. Contact
ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com about the right way to advertise to
TECHWR-L.
* If it relates to _language use_ but not technical
communication, it probably isn't appropriate.
Don't post it.
* If it relates to _computer use_ but not technical
communication, it probably isn't appropriate.
Don't post it.
* If it continues an irrelevant thread in any way
(rebuttal, rebuke, rerun, revision, remark), don't
post it.
* If it is a personal message to a single subscriber,
don't post it. Even if mail to that person bounces.
* If you aren't sure, don't post it.
* If it is a test message, do not post it. Ever. Contact
the listowner if you have problems posting or with your
subscription, or send a test message to
techwr-l-test -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com to check your mail settings.
* If it is something cute, interesting, or funny that
you found on the Internet (e.g. Dr. Seuss on Tech
Writing, origin of spam), don't post it. I assure
you that most readers have seen it already.

OTHER
* Check your facts on anything you post. Do not under
any circumstances post virus warnings or anything else
designed to be "forwarded to everyone you know" to this
list.
* Do not directly attack anyone for anything on the list.
Take issue with ideas, not personalities, and do
NOT point out grammatical, spelling, or usage errors.
This forum is not the place to exercise editorial
frustration.
* Please make sure your E-mail address is included in
the body of the message you post to the list.
* If responses are sent to you--not to the whole list--please
summarize and post the entire summary back to the list.
* Ensure that all out-of-office responders are not returned
to anyone based on postings to TECHWR-L.
* Direct all commentary about this message to my
address, not the list.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Announcing new options for IPCC 01, October 24-27 in Santa Fe.
Attend the entire event, select a single day, or sign up for
a Saturday postconference workshop. http://ieeepcs.org/2001

Your monthly sponsorship message here reaches more than
5000 technical writers, providing 2,500,000+ monthly impressions.
Contact Eric (ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com) for details and availability.

---
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.


Previous by Author: ADMIN: Rights
Next by Author: ADMIN: Rules in 14 words - clear enough?
Previous by Thread: RE: Replacing text in Word - macros
Next by Thread: Multilingualism and Technical Writers


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads