I posted this to a STC listserv, but it applies to all STC communities. Sorry in any of the crudeness used in making my point offends.
Context: A new STC Community extended an invitation to join to several STC mailing lists, and the discussion quickly turned to “Oh jeez, another tool? (Google Groups) How many is STC going to employ? What about consolidation?”
My post:
Stepping on my soapbox for a minute.
Yes, yes. I know, new technology, doesn’t quite fit with the others.
Pain in the ass. Yep, check, gotcha. But really, consider the
following:
* The STC is broke.
* The STC is employing archaic tools, currently (yes, we’re working on that).
* Communities are looking for/needing something else NOW, not at the
speed of STC committee approval resource appropriation bureaucratic
nonsense.
* The communities are offering you something!!!
Really, we can all bitch and moan about multiple group platforms and
scary new social networking technology that OMG, wants my freakin’
birthdate???? AHHHHH!!!! IT’S EVIL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Or, we can see this as an opportunity to get more out of our
communities while the STC slowly shifts gears, as an opportunity to
try out these new and varied tools and be able to give an informed
opinion about them when STC is ready to decide on a platform, and as a
means of boosting our own skills with these new technologies in
support of our own professional growth because they ain’t goin’ away,
folks, and you’ll find yourself using something like them at work soon
if you aren’t already.
Stepping off my soapbox now.
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In other words, it’s good enough for the professionals, but not good enough for those who should be so lucky as to have a chance to learn something. Is that what you were hearing? LOL!
Hello
I honesty think the STC need to bring in consultants to get their act together. With all the talent they have at their disposal, it beggars belief that they can’t form a coherent strategy.
Unless they get organized I can see it sinking in the next 5 years.
Why would any (new) tech writers pay good money to join this org?
They have the knowledge buy can’t see to move ahead.
Maybe it’s internal politics, not sure.
Regards,
Ivan Walsh
Technical Writer, Beijing