Re: Are tech writers inherently snobby?

Subject: Re: Are tech writers inherently snobby?
From: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:23:40 -0700

Karen hasn't sent me any offline messages requesting clarifications of any of my
posts to the list, so I'm guessing inadvertant.

But to answer the question anyway, many tech writers find themselves tasked with
the unenviable goal of being their employers' grammar and spelling police as
well as their documentation authors and managers, and some (gluttons for
punishment) choose to step in and do it even if it isn't required of them.
Coming across as nagging and judgemental can be a definite hazard of playing
that role.

There is also a rapidly dwindling number of writers who entered the profession
during the dotcom and are finding themselves shut out of the increasingly
technical requirements of the writing jobs that survived the crash who may be a
bit defensive about their perceived "value," but I don't think we're seeing them
post to this list anymore. At least it's been a while since anyone tried to
argue that their ignorance of a company's products and technology was actually
an asset.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message -----
From: "Combs, Richard" <richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com>
> Karen, did you mean to reply to Gene's message (which you quoted below),
> or was that inadvertent?

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Follow-Ups:

References:
Have We Entered a Post-Literate Technological Age?: From: Daniel Ng
Re: Have We Entered a Post-Literate Technological Age?: From: Gene Kim-Eng
RE: Have We Entered a Post-Literate Technological Age?: From: Sharon Burton
RE: Have We Entered a Post-Literate Technological Age?: From: McLauchlan, Kevin
Re: Have We Entered a Post-Literate Technological Age?: From: Gene Kim-Eng
Are tech writers inherently snobby?: From: Karen Field Carroll
RE: Are tech writers inherently snobby?: From: Combs, Richard

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