A fresh perspective from a "newbie"

Fri Mar 23 03:16:14 PDT 2012

Hi Robert,

If you (have the time to) browse through the archives, you will find that
the list is not very restrictive, although politics and any kind of
"flaming" are not welcomed. I have noticed only two posts now on politics,
so I would suggest that we ignore the whole thing and go on with our
businesses and discussions on FrameMaker in its wider context.

Kind regards,

Bodvar Bjorgvinsson
Iceland

2012/3/22 Robert M Graw <rmgraw at ra.rockwell.com>

> All,
> I'm new to the Frame Users group (less than two weeks) and I appreciate
> most of the postings for their value and insight. My company is upgrading
> from FM8 to FM10 so any comments and suggestions about FM10 (tips, tricks,
> warnings, etc.) are welcomed.
> It might not seem like my place as a "newbie" but Keith's extreme comments
> have served as a valuable reminder---aren't postings meant to be about FM?
> Business laws, Big B, or political affiliations have little bearing on how
> FM does or doesn't work. I think there have been enough replies to Keith of
> that fact already.
> My best recommendation for Ken in Atlanta is to find new employment IF that
> is a possibility because you're using FM in ways that most companies
> wouldn't, at least not companies who understand the value of safety and
> industry reputation. However, what people have suggested in the interim is
> very sound advice.
> To all, thanks for the postings and great reading material---keep it up!
>
> (Embedded image moved to file: pic27967.jpg)
>
>
>
> From:   "Rick Quatro" <rick at rickquatro.com>
> To:     <framers at lists.frameusers.com>
> Date:   03/22/2012 02:24 PM
> Subject:        RE: best use of graphics in FM (was: framers Digest, Vol
> 77,
>            Issue 17)
> Sent by:        framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com
>
>
>
> Keith,
>
> Your signature contains a definition of a racist. I wonder what you call
> someone who makes blanket statements about unions, "big business", and
> "republicans". I will be kind and call it stereotyping. It takes some
> effort and intelligence to research issues and discuss them on their merits
> instead of categorizing things according to labels, political talking
> points, and sound bites. But of course, this requires that we think, which
> is more work than many people are willing to do.
>
> Respectfully (your Republican friend),
> Rick
>
> Rick Quatro
> Carmen Publishing Inc.
> *** 585-283-5045 *** NEW NUMBER
> rick at frameexpert.com
> http://www.frameexpert.com
>
>
> Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:21:53 -0700
> From: keith.smyth at att.net
> Subject: Re: framers Digest, Vol 77, Issue 17
> To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
> Ken, it might be a good idea to inform you MANAGER of the Third Tort Law.
>
> You need to protect yourself by getting written instructions on what to
> include, and not include in the document. I saw this happen to an
> individual I was working with. Fortunately, he had signed instructions from
> the Product Manager to not include some safety instructions, as it would
> "upset the customer". So when a customer got burned badly, the customer
> went after the company, the company went after the writer, and the writer
> offered up the program manager, who got fired, and sued. Yeah, CYA.
>
> Tort's Third Law
> It is a good idea to be versed in Tort Law, specifically Tort's Third Law.
> The emphasis of the Tort Law is consumer protection.  Tort Law did for the
> consumer what the unions did for the worker.  According to the Third Law,
> "A product is defective when, at the time of sale or distribution, it
> contains a manufacturing defect, is defective in design or is defective
> because of INADEQUATE INSTRUCTIONS OR WARNINGS."
>
> This is important to any of us in the technical writing domain, as it puts
> the onus on us to provide adequate (and standard) instructions, which
> includes warnings in the instructions (and on labels if that is a part of
> our job). Most writers are completely oblivious to their responsibility
> under the Tort Law and many companies are equally oblivious (or choose to
> ignore).
> As such, they are also ignorant to the fact that they can be sued in a
> liability action, as a company and as individuals, for their failure to
> provide adequate instructions and warnings.
>
> To make matters even more complicated, it's a double-edged sword for a
> writer.   Business loves to hate the Tort Law and tends to kill the
> messenger.  If you, as the writer, are doing a proper job, you are the
> messenger.
>
> There are also very few places that teach you this stuff - even the
> university tech writing courses overlook it.
> If you muck around without knowing the standards and the law, you could get
> yourself and your clients sued.
>
> BTW, The Big B (big business) is currently throwing a lot of money at our
> political types to try and weaken the Tort Law and relieve themselves of
> the burden of liability (recalling those bloody toys that kill or maim kids
> is such a blessed nuisance and just munches away at the bottom line).
>
> In addition, any politicians who do not play ball will find themselves up
> against some pretty big bucks intent on running them out on a rail. The
> republicans in particular are fond of coming to the aid of Big B and can be
> counted on to slam dunk your protection under the current law.
>
> --
> Keith L. Smyth
> President
> Smyth Consulting
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Voting for someone because they are black is as racist
> as voting against someone because they are black.
>
> Beware an intrusive  government.
>
> GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Technical Documentation Consultant
>  _______________________________________________
>
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-- 
Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found
difficult and not tried.
-- Gilbert K. Chesterton
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