RE: on technical writing Andy Richter

[Ed Gregory <edgregory -at- comcast -dot- net>]

Television creates perceptions where there are none, but has a hard time
changing perceptions that already exist.

Law enforcement officials don't change their perception of the reality of
police work after watching a cop show on TV, although they might grow to
identify with the Andy Sipowicz character.

Medical professionals don't learn about their profession by watching ER, but
they might come to admire Dr. Green.

People who hire and work with technical writers won't learn anything new
about us from Andy Richter, nor is a sitcom likely to change their existing
opinions of what we do. If Andy Richter can create a little pathos, a little
empathy - anything to humanize us in the eyes of the SMEs and project
managers - that would be a good thing.

As for misperceptions on the part of the general public: so what? How does
that affect your life? Watergate, All the President's Men, Woodward and
Bernstein created a flurry of interest in journalism and, within a few
years, flooded the market with fresh young j-school grads willing to work
for next-to-nothing. That was a bad thing.

The concept of the Andy Richter show is that his job is extremely boring.
That means fewer people will rush out to join us. Salary protection is
assured.

Go Andy!

-Ed Gregory






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