Technical authoring for the general public.

[Robin]

If you write for the general public you have to employ the old school
master's trick of tell 'em what you're gonna say, then tell 'em and
then tell 'em what you said.

Don't be clever. Don't avoid cliches. Don't be elegant. Dilute the
information in as much noise as possible. The manual must be at least
and inch thick.

This is why current movies have the "incidental music" wound up to
maximum: to hide the useless scripts and then add maximum background FX
to hide them both.

Cheers
Robin

 

[[email protected]]

Robin ha escrito:

If you write for the general public you have to employ the old school
master's trick of tell 'em what you're gonna say, then tell 'em and
then tell 'em what you said.

Don't be clever. Don't avoid cliches. Don't be elegant. Dilute the
information in as much noise as possible. The manual must be at least
and inch thick.

This is why current movies have the "incidental music" wound up to
maximum: to hide the useless scripts and then add maximum background FX
to hide them both.

Cheers
Robin

I`m not experienced enough to post on practically every thread here,
but this is the exception. When I try to explain something technical to
general public, I fail miserably, and I don`t excuse myself for being
correct and argue that the general public is stupid, I take it as a
personal failure that I still need to overcome. Hence I agree 100% with
you, you tips are on spot, but there are rather troublesome to
implement, if you have the disease then this is the cure, but it`s not
as easy as you may think to put those tips to practice. I know that I
still can`t.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Don't be clever. Don't avoid cliches. Don't be elegant. Dilute the
information in as much noise as possible. The manual must be at least
and inch thick.

I get paid to teach technical subjects in multi day seminars; however my
experience is that the best teaching is done in single 50 minute lectures.
If you can't get it done in that time you aren't chopping it up into right
sized pieces.

 

[John Fields]

I get paid to teach technical subjects in multi day seminars; however my
experience is that the best teaching is done in single 50 minute lectures.
If you can't get it done in that time you aren't chopping it up into right
sized pieces.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

If your teaching style is anything like your writing style, I'd
suggest that you shorten your "lectures" to about 10 minutes since
anything longer will be lost against the din of the snoring
audience.

Really? And exactly how successful have YOU been as a technical trainer?

 

[John Fields]

Really? And exactly how successful have YOU been as a technical trainer?

---
Pretty successful.

I designed and taught courses in AutoCAD and basic electronics for
the US Army as well as training all of the technicians who have
worked for me over the years.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Pretty successful.

I designed and taught courses in AutoCAD and basic electronics for
the US Army as well as training all of the technicians who have
worked for me over the years.

And I've taught all aspects of Unix, C as a first language, and several
other subjects. All with great feedback. My students paid for their courses,
they didn't have to be ordered to attend.

 

[Rich Grise]

If you write for the general public you have to employ the old school
master's trick of tell 'em what you're gonna say, then tell 'em and
then tell 'em what you said.

Don't be clever. Don't avoid cliches. Don't be elegant. Dilute the
information in as much noise as possible. The manual must be at least
and inch thick.

This is why current movies have the "incidental music" wound up to
maximum: to hide the useless scripts and then add maximum background FX
to hide them both.

So, which is the electronics question?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Rich Grise]

Robin ha escrito:


I`m not experienced enough to post on practically every thread here,
but this is the exception. When I try to explain something technical to
general public, I fail miserably, and I don`t excuse myself for being
correct and argue that the general public is stupid, I take it as a
personal failure that I still need to overcome. Hence I agree 100% with
you, you tips are on spot, but there are rather troublesome to
implement, if you have the disease then this is the cure, but it`s not
as easy as you may think to put those tips to practice. I know that I
still can`t.

I think Robin's just sniveling about the quality[1] of tech manuals
and stuff these days.

To really communicate, all you have to do is say your stuff in terms that
the target audience can understand.

But, then again, I was raised by a professional salesman, so I'm probably
preternaturally glib. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich
[2] or lack thereof.

 

[John Fields]

And I've taught all aspects of Unix, C as a first language, and several
other subjects. All with great feedback. My students paid for their courses,
they didn't have to be ordered to attend.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Mine either.

So you're a fucking faggot "programmer"???
Sheesh... I should have known...

Programmers aren't faggots. Electricians are men. Designers are faggots.

 

[John Fields]

Programmers aren't faggots. Electricians are men. Designers are faggots.

---

_Some_ programmers are faggots.

_Some_ electricians are women and some are faggots.

_Some_ designers are faggots.

 

[martin griffith]

Programmers aren't faggots. Electricians are men. Designers are faggots.

sheesh, all this concern about faggots
who cares?

I worry more about people who dont enjoy cricket


martin

 

[Homer J Simpson]

I worry more about people who dont enjoy cricket

Some like them roasted and covered in chocolate.

 

[martin griffith]

Some like them roasted and covered in chocolate.

<sigh>
I thought french quisine wasnt welcome on sed.


martin

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

I worry more about people who dont enjoy cricket

I like the sound they make when you step on one.

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[John Fields]

sheesh, all this concern about faggots
who cares?

I worry more about people who dont enjoy cricket