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RE: "They don't need no stinkin' documentation..."
Subject:RE: "They don't need no stinkin' documentation..." From:jgarison -at- ide -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 30 Oct 2001 09:45:28 -0500
I am reminded of one of Bill Horton's earliest contributions to the tech
writing world. He had a list of documentation "rules" ... two of my
favorites (that I still use!) are:
Truth doesn't stick to glossy paper.
Rule Zero: Have something to say.
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Dick Margulis [mailto:margulis -at- mail -dot- fiam -dot- net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 9:30 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: "They don't need no stinkin' documentation..."
If it looks like marketing fluff, it is an expression of some graphic
artist's ego needs. That is not good design. Good design is design that
suits its purpose. If the purpose is to be read, the design should support
that. "Looked too good"? No. Looked too pretty, maybe.
>
>But, there are fascinating reports of users who discarded solid
>technical documentation because it looked too good. They dismissed
>it as 'marketing fluff' without bothering to read it.
>
>Jim Shaeffer (jims -at- spsi -dot- com)
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