atw: Re: Agencies, contractors and other gripes (another longish contribution)

Christine:

Evidence-based activities are a wonderful thing: they have brought us 
hearing implants, the Internet, computers more powerful than those on the 
Apollo mission but no larger than a cigarette packet (sorry, I meant to 
say "mobile phones"), and cognitive-behavioural therapy.  They may even 
bring us industry recognised accreditation of technical writers.

So when you speculate that Jill has '... too many vested interests that 
would not be served by the average "untrained" TW becoming  proud of their 
profession?', presumably you have strong evidence for an otherwise 
baseless assertion.  What Jill, myself and others were supplying was not 
/negativity/ but /data/, in this case a little history.  Data are what is 
so useful about Michael's contribution -- a sociological analysis of the 
difference between editors and technical writers that helps explain why it 
is more difficult to mobilise the latter.  It is similar to why it is so 
difficult to unionise outworkers: alienation, fragmentation, diversity of 
employment, geographical dispersion, barriers to communication, and 
difficulty in engendering a sense of belonging to an affine group.

Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it.  Many people 
(excluding my lazy self) over the years have poured much energy into 
implementing accreditation schemes, training schemes (some now realised), 
and promotion of the trade.  Instead of treading the same fruitless path 
as others in the past, it may be possible to use their experience to find 
a new way.

If you imagine that an "If you're so smart, why don't you do it?" attitude 
will win people to your cause, go right ahead.  Me?  I am too old and too 
near retirement to give a rat's.  But your petulant attitude has certainly 
convinced me to join the cause -- not!  As for the lovely conferences, 
they have exposed new technical writers to training resources and helped 
all of us believe in ourselves as professionals.  So may the lovely Jill 
organise many more lovely conferences (not excluding the lovely scratch 
rock band), because they have their part in the mix -- just not for 
accreditation.

I salute you for taking up the banner.  But be prepared for the long slog. 
 If you are going to be disheartened at the first jump and take it out on 
people who truly wish the enterprise well, it is doomed from the start.

Regards,
Hedley

--
Hedley Finger
Training Content Developer and Tools Specialist
MYOB Australia Pty Ltd <http://myob.com/au>
P.O. box 371   Blackburn VIC 3130   Australia
12 Wesley Court   Tally Ho Business Park   East Burwood VIC 3151 Australia
<mailto:hedleyDOTfingerATmyobDOTcom>
Tel. +61 3 9222 9992 x 7421,   Mob. (cell) +61 412 461 558

© MYOB Technology Pty Ltd 2007

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