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Subject:Re: Is this too Offensive for a manual? From:David Neeley <dbneeley -at- oddpost -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 19 Nov 2003 15:10:15 -0800 (PST)
Managers of meter readers generally understand that there are meter readers who might be "...incompetent, lazy or crooked." This is no secret, and "mealy-mouthed" terms may be less clear.
At the same time, I would think that meter-reading supervisors may not themselves be the sharpest blades in the drawer. Therefore, I believe the test should be how to phrase it so that the meaning is unambiguous and effective in producing the desired result.
In other words, if a particular feature of the product allows the manager to more easily discover *which* readers are "lazy, incompetent, or crooked" and *which* readers are in fact deserving of reward--that seems a very useful feature of the software indeed.
Therefore, I suggest you try to make sure that the intended audience--the managers--fully understand the usefulness of this feature. If you can do so in no other way, being blunt is not a vice nor is being "polite" a virtue.
David
-----Original Message from David O'Brien <OBrien_David_P -at- cat -dot- com>-----
El Miércoles 19 Noviembre 2003 18:17, escribió:
> Dear All,
>
> I am editing a software manual with a target audience of users who are
> responsible for managing meter readers. This management process uses the
> various reports and records maintained by the software.
>
> There are some phrases used in reference to the meter readers that make me
> balk at including them. For example:
>
> Arising from incompetent, lazy or crooked meter readers...
>
> ...reward performance and punish incompetence.
>
> In some cases these comments are absolutely true and the cause of
> significant business losses that the software is used to control. However,
> I can't help but think it is not necessary to be so blunt.
>
> Opinions please?
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