Re: [Fwd: Re: Is this really a tech writing job?]

Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: Is this really a tech writing job?]
From: Sarah Stegall <siliconwriter -at- comcast -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 11:39:02 -0800



On Thursday, February 17, 2005, at 09:40 AM, Dick Margulis wrote:

Note Sarah's use of the passive voice. Success is measured in the United States, _by unnamed actors_, according to pay scales.

*sigh* Corporate America, okay? The way corporate America rewards its workers is by pay and perks. Both are tied to performance, of course, but none of us here are naive enough to think that ONLY the deserving get those rewards. We all have war stories about bad and incompetent--but highly paid--co-workers whom we do not respect.

Okay, this really isn't a controversial assertion, because there are a lot of folks out there--perhaps a lot of folks on this list--who measure respect in terms of pay. But it is not the case that _everyone_ measures respect this way. And I would venture that it is probably unhealthy, both for individuals and for society, for people to dole out _self-_respect this way.


I am not and never was talking about self-respect. The original issue was whether OTHER people respect technical writers who also do menial tasks that others are not asked to do. Of course there will always be the manager who, as Gene says, packs boxes in the warehouse. Of course there will be the project manager who answers the phone when no one else is around. My point, which I wearily repeat, is that these duties ARE NOT PART OF THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION. They are not specifically paid to do these things, and when they do them it is only under the understanding that they ARE doing the things they are paid to do; a CEO who spent all his time packing boxes (which anyone can do) instead of talking to investors, would not last long.

There is a world of difference between "helping out" and being REQUIRED to do menial tasks in addition to technical writing. (And please let's not get into a discussion about use of the word "menial". Filing is a menial job. Period.) How you measure self-respect is your own affair; my concern is whether our 'profession' is being trivialized by people who post want ads for a secretary/tech writer, and people who see us that way. If what this company needs is a part time technical writer, they should state that and hire a part-time technical writer. Then they'd be free to hire the part-time secretary they need. Both could do their jobs without hindrance or loss of respect to their professions.

!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!- !-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!
"Be a scribe! Your body will be sleek, your hand will be soft. You are one who sits grandly in your house; your servants answer speedily; beer is poured copiously; all who see you rejoice in good cheer. Happy is the heart of him who writes; he is young each day."--Ptahhotep, 4500 BCE

Sarah Stegall munchkyn at munchkyn dot com


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WEBWORKS FINALDRAFT - EDIT AND REVIEW, REDEFINED
Accelerate the document lifecycle with full online discussions and unique feedback-management capabilities. Unlimited, efficient reviews for Word
and FrameMaker authors. Live, online demo:
http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Doc-To-Help 7.5 Professional: New version with new features, improved performance and reliability, plus much more! Download your free trial today at www.componentone.com/techwrlfeb.

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.



Follow-Ups:

References:
Re: [Fwd: Re: Is this really a tech writing job?]: From: Dick Margulis

Previous by Author: Re: [Fwd: Re: Is this really a tech writing job?]
Next by Author: Re: Technical Writing in China
Previous by Thread: Re: [Fwd: Re: Is this really a tech writing job?]
Next by Thread: Re: [Fwd: Re: Is this really a tech writing job?]


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads