It's time to go

["Rob Writer" <piercedroo -at- hotmail -dot- com>]

I?ve been a daily reader of this list for more than five years now. I?ve 
mostly lurked, but have been moved to post when I thought I had something 
constructive to post.

I have learned a lot from some very talented and generous (with their time 
and knowledge) writers. And the TECHWR-L archives continue to be of great 
value to me.

But somewhere along the way, this list has changed. Or more accurately, 
we?the posters?have changed this list. The reasons I valued this list so 
much, especially as I was embarking on my technical writing career, was for 
the frequent discussions that amounted to ?how to do your job better and 
more efficiently?, with the occasional topic to commiserate with others who 
understood our little niche in the world.

I used to look forward to reading this list every morning. I would get to 
work a half hour early, pour my self a cup of joe, and delight in the 
knowledge I gleaned from your collective experience. And there always seemed 
to be something that made me laugh; were did our humor go?

But, as I mentioned before, the tone of this list has changed, considerably. 
And it?s changed to something that no longer feels comfortable to me. I feel 
so much derisiveness from this list, and too much of it seems personal.

And I?m part of the problem too. I re-read several of my most recent posts 
over the last several months. Have I been helpful? Have I offered tips or 
suggestions on how to make our jobs easier, or how to become a more 
productive technical writer? No, I haven?t. I?ve made snide remarks 
disguised as humor or sarcasm. I?ve entered into personal debates with 
people I don?t even know.

So, it?s time for me to go. I?ll still refer to the archives whenever I need 
some help. But I feel that the current tone and content of this list no 
longer benefits me as a technical writer, and has become an unnecessary 
distraction.

Thank you Eric and Deborah. And to many others on this list. Good luck and 
success to all of you. And, because it?s my favorite admonition form one of 
my favorite list members, I?ll get back to work now. Writing. It?s what I 
do.

Sincerely,
Rob


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