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Subject:Re: The Future of Tech Writing In America From:Chris Despopoulos <despopoulos_chriss -at- yahoo -dot- com> To:"techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Sun, 20 May 2012 15:36:28 -0700 (PDT)
I would rephrase the question... When is the last time you CHOSE to buy something made in America?
<rant>
You can buy American-made clothes, but they cost more. (TVs no, but that's a different story. Maybe you should abandon TV altogether?) You can buy American-made tools, amplifiers, furniture, and much, much more. But you have to make the choice. If price is the most important factor for your purchase decisions, then you have no argument when it comes to cost of labor. In today's world, the only voice we have, the only speech that's recognized, is $$$. It's high time we were more careful about what we say.
</rant>
As for American tech writing... If all you do is produce pages, then yes you will see your contribution become a commodity, and almost by definition commodities get off-shored (if you will allow the verb). If I didn't add value over and above the actual documentation that I type, then wouldn't have my current job. To repeat the mantra... Product development is an exercise in information management. Technical writers are information professionals. You can figure out the rest.
cud
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Depends on which industry you're talking about. Think about the last
time you could buy US-made TV sets or clothing.
Gene Kim-Eng
On 5/19/2012 2:21 PM, John Allred wrote:
>
I can't bite my tongue any longer. When did cost of labor become the
single, most important factor for decision-making in American business?
The only people who like the results pull down big salaries, IMO.
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