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Subject:RE: More genteel than 'Sanity Checked' From:"elizabeth j allen" <eja -at- samurai -dot- com> To:"Dori Green" <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com> Date:Wed, 30 May 2007 14:38:02 -0400 (EDT)
I think I see what you're trying to say Dori, but I must voice
disagreement with your blanket statement.
For example, it would be a problem if my customers saw my actual costs for
things that I am selling them. Should I not have that information in
writing *anywhere*?
Another example, it would be a major problem if our customers (and
potential competitors) got access to our internal design specifications.
But if we don't put those into writing, it's not likely the product will
ever get built.
I think what you're trying to say is along the lines of "Don't put
anything into a customer document that you don't want the customer to see,
even if you think you'll have time to take it out before delivering the
document."
Not putting certain data into writing would grind industry to a halt.
Hence, the concept of "insider information."
Cheers!
Elizabeth
--
Elizabeth J. Allen
Technical Writer
"Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." -- Albert Einstein
Dori Green said:
> Okay, I'll rephrase:
>
> If you don't want customers to see something and it might be a problem if
> they do, don't put it into writing.
>
> Pick up a phone.
>
> If it's not intended for customers specifically but it would not be a
> problem if they saw it,
>
> knock yourself out.
>
> Dori Green
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Posada [mailto:jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 1:38 PM
> To: Dori Green; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: RE: More genteel than "Sanity Checked"
>
>
>> If it isn't intended for customers' eyes, don't put it into
>> writing. Anywhere. Uh uh.
>
> I've created thousands of pages of documentation that has never been
> meant to be seen by customers (8,000 pages at B&N.com, about 2,000
> pages at Aon), all for internal consumption.
>
> Or do you mean something else?
>
>
> John Posada
> Senior Technical Writer
>
> "They say everyone needs goals. Mine is to live forever.
> So far, so good."
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