atw: Re: FW: ASTC

Pete - agreed!

I'm still trying to figure out how one identifies "amateur technical
communicators" - they would be all the volunteers out in the business world,
writing for free?

"Incompetent communicators" I understand, but drumming them out of the world
of work, or minimizing their presence, is akin to suggesting there's a
method and means whereby one can banish, oooh, let me think:  incompetent
managers or incompetent business analysts.

Come to think of it:  "technical communicator" has quite a few "iss-th-ues"
as a job title, non?

CH

On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 9:20 PM, Peter Rule <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Professional recognition of TWs is not, and never could be, even remotely
> comparable to professional recognition of medical practitioners or vets or
> lawyers or ailine pilots. It's all just a lot of hot air and
> self-aggrandisement.
>
> Why do we even debate it?
>
> -Pete
>
>
>
>
> Quoting Ana Young <ana_young2000@xxxxxxxxx>:
>
>  I think that the point is being somewhat missed.
>>
>> Let us see...
>>
>> 1) Is a Vet (or a GP) a good vet (or GP) just because they have a  degree?
>> I most certainly say no.
>>
>> 2) Are there people with no qualifications that can treat animals  (or
>> people) well? I say yes.
>>
>> 3) Would I take my sick animals (or myself) to someone that is not
>>  official recognised as being qualified? Absolutely not.
>>
>> 4) Do I have to pay for the privilege of being seen by a qualified
>>  person? Indeed I do.
>>
>>
>> --- On Tue, 10/21/08, Christine Kent <c.bkent@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>  From: Christine Kent <c.bkent@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Subject: atw: FW: ASTC
>>> To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 7:15 PM
>>> Forwarded for Geoff
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> [mailto:lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>>> Sent: Wednesday, 22 October 2008 12:51 PM
>>>
>>>
>>> <CK>
>>> Has a professional association of project managers improved
>>> the standard of
>>> project management and the outcome for projects?  I say no.
>>>
>>> <GP>
>>> I sort of agree with this one.  I work with a lot of PMs
>>> and they can be
>>> broken down into three categories:
>>>
>>> 1. Members of an organisation (there are several) who are
>>> good PMs
>>> 2. Members of an organisation who are bad PMs
>>> 3. Non-members of an organisation who are bad PMs
>>>
>>> While I'm sure there are some, I've never actually
>>> met a PM who is a
>>> non-member and is also good.
>>>
>>>
>>> <CK>
>>> Has the Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and
>>> Training, improved the
>>> quality of training and the outcomes for students.  I say
>>> no.
>>>
>>> <GP>
>>> I agree.  I did my Cert IV a few years ago and when I
>>> finished I realised
>>> that it gave me a piece of paper but not the ability to be
>>> a good trainer
>>> (I can do it, but there are better trainers out there).
>>>
>>> <CK>
>>> The longer we stay outside the system, the better.  At the
>>> moment we don't
>>> have to have a meaningless qualification or membership of
>>> an association,
>>> both of which are so fixated on the process they have
>>> forgotten the goal.
>>>
>>> <GP>
>>> Probably.  I don't see the need for an accreditation
>>> system, but I've got
>>> 15 years under my belt, a wide range of experiences on my
>>> resume, and a
>>> large portfolio.  The *good* PMs I've worked with
>>> don't give a rats about
>>> my qualifications - they're only concerned with my
>>> experience.  The bad
>>> PMs have always commented on my qualifications (draw your
>>> own
>>> conclusions).
>>>
>>> What I think it comes down to is scenarios.
>>>
>>> 1. Worst case of accreditation = no change (there are good
>>> writers and bad
>>> writers)
>>>
>>> 2. Best case of accreditation = *some* of the worst tech
>>> writers will be
>>> forced to leave the industry because they can't get
>>> much work.  And don't
>>> forget, the organisation needs the budget to have liason
>>> officers with
>>> other professional organisations and governments, marketing
>>> department,
>>> examinations officers, etc.  Expensive.
>>>
>>>
>>> I doubt I'd be prepared to pay the high fees associated
>>> with such an
>>> organisation - especially if it wasn't fully recognised
>>> as the sole
>>> organisation for TWs on a national level.  QLD Tech Writers
>>> have an
>>> informal group, NSW seems to very active in many arenas
>>> (but what
>>> percentage of NSW working TWs are members?), and Vic is
>>> still going - what
>>> about other areas.  It is very important that this push
>>> comes from a broad
>>> base of TWs in different industries and different
>>> locations, otherwise it
>>> will fail to address all the necessary issues.
>>>
>>> Well, I hope that raises points for discussion.
>>>
>>> Geoff
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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-- 
Carolyn Hart

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