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Subject:Re: George Hayhoe, a rant, and a resignation From:John Posada <jposada99 -at- gmail -dot- com> To:David Hailey <david -dot- hailey -at- usu -dot- edu> Date:Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:14:09 -0400
> I posted a message titled "Grammar," where I said:
> Back in the ninth grade we were taught "grammar." In reality that is not
> grammar; it is a study of mechanical processes and a truly insignificant
> part of what grammarians study. Even undergraduate writing classes barely
> touch on the larger issue that is grammar. Let me try to explain."
David...as a long-time participant on this list, I won't object to
much you said...while there is lots I could, in your eyes it wouldn't
make any difference.
However, what I do object is the inference that the purpose of the
list should be for one purpose...to advance the theoretics of the
profession to the exclusion of addressing practical matters and to
correct or discuss erroneous knowledge or opinions.
There are as many uses of the list as there are subscribers. Some,
like you, to discuss "weighty" issues. Some join to be able to ask
where a button in an application is. Some to state what in their mind
are absolutes, and some, since they are stuck in a cube all day,
consider this a virtual water cooler.
However, since this is a slice of the technical writers you can meet
at any meeting, at any conference, at any event, why does it surprise
you that there are many categories people; those who agree with your
opinions, disagree with them, have their own, and some have no
opinion, just like to mouth off...the thrill of being able to speak to
4,000 people when in real life they cannot find 4.
To be honest, I don't know that I consider Hayhoe "the best resource"
this list ever had because to be honest, I can't say that I ever
remember seeing him contribute and I've been around since 1-2 years
after the list's inception...but maybe that's just me.
I also find it disturbing that all it takes is a disagreement with
your statement to cause you to leave...that means the roads must be
littered with people who have quit because of my comments.
One last thing...> He was sufficiently upset with TECHWR-L that it
was..< Upset with a list? THat must be a pretty serene life to have
this list rise above the radar floor. It's a list!
--
John Posada
Senior Technical Writer
NYMetro STC President
"The Americans will always do the right thing after they have
exhausted all the alternatives."
---Winston Churchill
Looking for the next gig.
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