Re: Examples of Great Software/Web-based User Guides

[voxwoman <voxwoman -at- gmail -dot- com>]

On Fri, Aug 21, 2009 at 1:35 PM, voxwoman <voxwoman -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:

>
>
> On Fri, Aug 21, 2009 at 1:31 PM, Erik Hare <wabbitoid47 -at- yahoo -dot- com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Robert Lauriston wrote:
>>
>> > Actual usage of "automagical' seems to be "automatic" with the
>> > implication that the speaker is impressed that it works but doesn't
>> > know how, or, when used ironically, knows how it works but can't be
>> > bothered to explain. I don't see that either would ever be
>> > appropriate in formal writing.
>>
>> I wouldn't use it in an instruction manual, for example.  But in a
>> magazine article it could be useful to describe the attitude of people
>> involved.  Ideally, the speaker isn't a significant player in that writing,
>> formal or not, so to infer that the disconnect between the technology and
>>  its users is the writer's affliction implies a larger problem with the
>> piece, IMHO.
>>
>> I think that the attitude implied by "automagical" is abhorrent,
>> absolutely, but it's still a very common problem.  I like having a word to
>> describe it.
>>
>> Erik Hare
>>
>>
> I think that "automagical" belongs in the same dictionary that includes
> "edumactaion," "crumulent," and "embiggens".  Good for dialogue on "The
> Simpsons" or a snarky article, but not for something that purports to be
> written in "proper English."
>
> -Wendy


and of course, it's "edumacation"  - the spell checker was useless for that
word.

-Wendy
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