[TCP] looking for tech comm goofs and funnies
Hi, For a presentation on technical writing and communication, I am looking for some online examples of technical communications goofs and funnies. I want to know if anyone on the list has any favorites. Thanks and cheers, Sean DISCLAIMER: Important Notice * This e-mail may contain information that is confidential, privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail, do not duplicate or redistribute it by any means. Please delete it and any attachments and notify the sender that you have received it in error. Unintended recipients are prohibited from taking action on the basis of information in this e-mail.E-mail messages may contain computer viruses or other defects, may not be accurately replicated on other systems, or may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipient. If you are not comfortable with the risks associated with e-mail messages, you may decide not to use e-mail to communicate with IPC. IPC reserves the right, to the extent and under circumstances permitted by applicable law, to retain, monitor and intercept e-mail messages to and from its systems. __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] looking for tech comm goofs and funnies
I don't think its available online, but in one of our old versions of documentation (a maintenance kit for a printer), it had instructions to "hook the hook on the hook." :-) -Carla -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brierley, Sean Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 2:27 PM To: tcp@techcommpros.com Subject: [TCP] looking for tech comm goofs and funnies Hi, For a presentation on technical writing and communication, I am looking for some online examples of technical communications goofs and funnies. I want to know if anyone on the list has any favorites. Thanks and cheers, Sean - CONFIDENTIAL- This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential, and may also be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not review, use, copy, or distribute this message. If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply email and then delete this email. __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] looking for tech comm goofs and funnies
Hi Sean Not to be totally Politically Incorrect, but have you ever looked at http://www.engrish.com? Warning to anyone that hasn't seen it yet. Do NOT view with a mouth full of coffee! Unless, of course, your monitor is actually in need of a caffeine bath. ;) Cheers... Rick :) - Original Message - From: "Brierley, Sean" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 2:27 PM Subject: [TCP] looking for tech comm goofs and funnies > Hi, > For a presentation on technical writing and communication, I am looking > for some online examples of technical communications goofs and funnies. > I want to know if anyone on the list has any favorites. > Thanks and cheers, > Sean __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] looking for tech comm goofs and funnies
__ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] looking for tech comm goofs and funnies
I don't have this story online, but I have to share it. I reported to someone who took editing of his work personally. So that he wouldn't have to hear our criticism of his usually very poor efforts, he decided to publish one book without having anyone else look at it. When the printed copies came in, our manager proudly displayed the book to us and emphasized his personally signed introduction as the editor of the book. My office mate just sat back and smiled. In large letters at the top of his signed introduction was the title "Forward" instead of "Foreword." I don't know if he ever figured out that mistake. Donna - CONFIDENTIAL- This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential, and may also be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not review, use, copy, or distribute this message. If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply email and then delete this email. __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] looking for tech comm goofs and funnies
I had one writer on our team who gave me a technical document where he told the user to "wing it by the seat of their pants." Needless to say, we struck that out. On 5/7/07, Jones, Donna <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I don't have this story online, but I have to share it. > __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] looking for tech comm goofs and funnies
OK, I'm not really sure I think this is "funny" (since I'm spending a LOT of time rewriting the "output" from this person", but... You know how you usually write, when you tell a user to select a menu or menu option? "Select Menu > Menu Option" or "From the Menu menu, select Menu Option"? Well, this person writes: "Pull down the Keys menu, slide down to Share Key, then over to Make Shared." or "Slide down to PGP, then slide over and select Mount PGP Disk." I kid you not. ...sue P.S. And yes, I'm still cleaning up the writing! __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] looking for tech comm goofs and funnies
> -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Sue Heim > Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 4:49 PM > > OK, I'm not really sure I think this is "funny" (since I'm spending a LOT of > time rewriting the "output" from this person", but... > > You know how you usually write, when you tell a user to select a menu or > menu option? "Select Menu > Menu Option" or "From the Menu menu, select Menu > Option"? > > Well, this person writes: > > "Pull down the Keys menu, slide down to Share Key, then over to Make > Shared." > > or > > "Slide down to PGP, then slide over and select Mount PGP Disk." > > I kid you not. > Not as creative as "slide over," but a set of manuals I've recently inherited, which state up front that they assume the user is familiar with Windows, says, every time the user has to mark an area: "drag a bounding box around the area by depressing and holding down the left mouse button while moving the mouse pointer" (or something close to that). And that's by no means the worst offense in these manuals. Bob "Let what comes come, Let what goes go, Find out what remains" --Sri Ramana Maharshi __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] looking for tech comm goofs and funnies
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Robert Shelton > > > > Not as creative as "slide over," but a set of manuals I've > recently inherited, which state up front that they assume the > user is familiar with Windows, says, every time the user has > to mark an area: "drag a bounding box around the area by > depressing and holding down the left mouse button while > moving the mouse pointer" (or something close to that). And > that's by no means the worst offense in these manuals. I once re-wrote the manual for auto glass quoting/ordering software. The system displayed pictures of parts. Depending on ones selection criteria, several hundred parts might apply. The writer dutifully used the well-known letter for a variable. The end result was, "The system displays 'There are xxx pictures available.'" __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
