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Subject:RE: craft vs. science vs. art From:Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- jci -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 24 Jun 2002 16:17:01 -0500
>> We make art when we apply our craft to the science.
>
>Technical writing is not art. It's user assistance.
>User assistance cannot be art, as art is subjective,
>and the results we want to get are strictly objective.
Ironic, that. And something every engineer and developer I've ever worked
with would argue with, because it is illogical. Three manuals may assist a
user to perform a particular task equally well (identical objective
results) yet their organization and tone will be completely different. The
only real reason to prefer one over the other will be completely
subjective. Objectively speaking, there's blessed little in this world
which *is* objective.
There are elegant, even beautiful, solutions to technological problems, and
elegance and beauty are terms of art. The fact it also serves a pratical
purpose quite well doesn't mean it isn't art. ;{>}
Have fun,
Arlen
Chief Managing Director In Charge, Department of Redundancy Department
DNRC 224
Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- Com
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In God we trust; all others must provide data.
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Opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.
If JCI had an opinion on this, they'd hire someone else to deliver it.
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