Re: This too is technical communication

["Mike Starr" <mike -at- writestarr -dot- com>]

Sheesh, John... haven't you ever had a SME give you an explanation that was 
over your head and not understand that you don't have the background 
knowledge necessary to understand what's being discussed?? I've had SMEs 
tell me "well, it does this, then it does that, then finally it does 
such-and-such." and when I as what do you mean by "it does such-and-such" 
they'd just say something like "well, you know... blah, blah, blah" right 
over my head. So that's the point where I trot out the request to explain it 
at a "clueless idiot" level.
--
Mike Starr                            WriteStarr Information Services
Technical Writer   -   Online Help Developer   -    Website developer
Graphic Designer    -    Desktop Publisher   -       MS Office Expert
Phone: (262) 694-1028 - Tollfree: (877) 892-1028 - Fax:(262) 697-6334
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----- Original Message -----
From: "John Posada" <jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: "Lauren" <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu>; "'Mike Starr'" <mike -at- writestarr -dot- com>; 
<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 12:29 PM
Subject: RE: This too is technical communication

>> Why are you introducing "false pretenses"?  False pretenses was
>
> I'm introducing "a state or condition that does not exist". You don't
> have to play games and create an artificial situation to get
> information from a sme.
>
> "Imagine" this, "picture" that, "speak to me as" the other thing.
>
> Learn the product as much as you can
> Compose questions to answer what you don't know
> Discuss those questions with someone more knowledgeable than you are.
>
>
>
> John Posada
> Senior Technical Writer
>
> "They say everyone needs goals. Mine is to live forever.
> So far, so good." 

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