technical writers are masochists

[Kevin Brown]

I've seen things like this on a number of programs.  It seems to mostly show up
on truly open projects with multiple developers who are working on the program
in their spare time.  They just want to get the coding done and leave
documentation up to the end-user.  Of course on these kinds of programs it's not
that hard if it has lots of users with varying levels of experience (like
ShowEQ).

Trent Shipley wrote:
> 
> <vent_mode>
> 
> Is it standard practice for the programming/engineering staff to say we have
> done a s??t-load of modifications to the software.  It is now on the server.
> Please log on and figure out what the modifications are.  We are much too
> important and busy to give you a list of the modifications.  When you have a
> list of modifications, please figure out what they probably do, then submit
> updated drafts of the documentation that we never reviewed the last time you
> submitted them for review.
> 
> What if the programmer is also the owner of the company?
> 
> They actually resent my asking for developer specifications, expecting me to
> configure the application, run test cases, and deduce from the application's
> behavior what functions, features, database fields, etc. actually do.
> Asking questions about the application is regarded as wasting their time
> with *estupiiid* questions.
> 
> </vent_mode>
> 
> Any advice on how to manage the manager?
> 
>    Any advice on how to *become* a programmer or manager?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2001 5:51 PM
> To: Trent Shipley
> Cc: Dennis Yowell (Dennis Yowell); Deborah Jackson
> 
> Trent,
>             There is a new version of DCX on the conference room system
> which has many of the new fields added to Cliacct and credcard.  Please
> review and update your IDT related docs.
> 
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