atw: Re: Let's calm down, apologies, and other things

  • From: "Neil Maloney" <maloneyn@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:05:15 +1100

Well said. Here's what I thought was a more-than-slightly useful insight on 
generalisations from Jeremy Clarkson's column today (about things other than 
technical writing):

"When it comes to sweeping generalisations, I am the daddy. All Germans have no 
sense of humour, all instruction manuals are pointless, all cruise ships are 
ghastly, every single American is fat, all golfers are boring and all Peugeots 
are driven by people you wouldn't have round for dinner.

Of course, I'm well aware that most generalisations are nonsense. I know 
several very funny Germans, and Obama Barrack is actually quite skinny. But 
without generalisations, anecdotes would take two years, points would never get 
made, comedy would suffer and everyone would sound like James May: Actually, 
42.7% of instruction manuals are quite useful; but first let me quantify 
'useful' . . ."
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Geoffrey Marnell 
  To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 12:54 PM
  Subject: atw: Let's calm down, apologies, and other things


  Hi austechies,

  There have been some sharp, some blistering and some downright nasty postings 
on this list this week. I no doubt contributed to this with a fairly sharp 
posting myself (prompted by my interpretation of a statement by Christine-now 
patently disproved-that she wished to be excused from being challenged). 
Michelle, Janice and others have pointed out what really didn't need to be 
pointed out: there are ways of challenging people that are likely to spark a 
flame and those that are not. My apologies to Christine, and to the list, for 
choosing the former.

  This would be a dull, indeed redundant, list if all it offered were tool tips 
and techno-raves. But there are long periods when that is all we see on it. I 
set up this list eleven or so years ago to be a forum about technical 
communication, and technical communication is much much more than tools, 
operating systems and the like. Moreover, it seems that it is now more 
important than ever to be discussing the core issues of technical communication 
(especially their continuing relevance). Hence I want to encourage discussions 
that go beyond tool tips and techno-raves, to encourage discussions like that 
initiated by Christine. 

  But I think we all need to remember that email is not an ideal medium for 
even moderately complex discussions. We cannot see the body language of a 
message poster, and emoticons are, obviously, a weak substitute for 
communication. We mostly have just the words in front of us to go on. It may be 
wise, then, for message posters (initiators and responders) to craft their 
messages carefully, leaving no ambiguity in place. For it seems that much of 
the heat in recent discussions has been sparked by literal interpretations of 
what later turn out to be misinterpretations (although understandable 
misinterpretations). That said, it might also be wise for responders to 
consider if a statement they take exception to might have been meant in another 
way, and then to seek clarification rather than pounce blindly. And that's 
advice for me too.

  My fear for this list is that many of those who could make valuable 
contributions to it turn off or churn out because of the vehemence of some of 
its threads. (I know that this is already happening from the emails I get as 
the list administrator.) It's in all out interests to minimise such churn, and 
it's in all our interests to encourage more discussion and debate. We are all 
sure to learn something, no matter how long in the tooth we are. But discussion 
and debate will dry up if we don't show each other a little more respect.

  So let's all calm down. If we don't, I fear that this may have to become a 
moderated list (which carries the risk of it being abandoned altogether).


  Geoffrey Marnell
  Principal Consultant
  Abelard Consulting Pty Ltd
  T: +61 3 9596 3456
  F: +61 3 9596 3625
  W: www.abelard.com.au

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