Technically Speaking

Technical writers are technically not just writers. They are interpreters, translators, communicators, and psychologists. Decent ones are also psychic and prescient. As such, I lament that I cannot hope to be even a decent one...

Although I am not a very good technical writer, I believe I can reasonably identify the results produced by one. Looking back upon the career of what would be the most successful example, I predict something like the following would be said...

"Mr. X delivered all his content in a concise, entertaining and seemingly effortless fashion. His readers found his material so appealing that learning was mysteriously converted from a chore to an irresistible obsession through his pen. Technical hurdles were not confronted, but dissolved as participants absorbed mountains of interrelated technical constructs in hypnotic fashion, not realizing the uncanny transfer of knowledge. He empowered the world with faculties never before imagined. The collective human capacity increased exponentially as a result of his eloquence. Hunger, war, corruption, violence, and all ailments that once contributed to human suffering were dispatched with fluency in his wake. The world we live in now, with its enlightened and mysterious glow of transcendent bliss, can be almost entirely attributed to the work of Mr. X. Once exposed to his contributions, no soul can return to their former depraved existence, and virtually all now share in the endless bounty of life, love, and happiness.

Yet, we never knew who Mr. X actually was. In fact, we cannot explain or even identify what he actually wrote, as his work was generally not signed. We can only identify his writing by the one characteristic..the mark of authenticity: that everything he wrote is so familiar and seemly that upon exposure we instantly believe that we already knew it. This poses a conundrum for most: how do we discern between the abilities he delivered to us, and those we discovered on our own?

There are a few with capacity to separate those concepts learned from Mr. X and those obvious to them before. This quiet minority still defends Mr. X against his assailants; the masses who attacked him for his efforts. How could anyone antagonize Mr. X, you ask? It is quite easier than you might think. While opening doors, Mr. X also revealed new ones that exposed dangerous complexities. By revealing the nature of our existence, Mr. X brought many proud souls to their knees in frustration, horrified to observe aspects of nature they had so long concealed. Many would not accept the responsibility of the truth, shielding their eyes from the empowering language before them, terrified. Many, ill-prepared for authority over their own lives, could only recoil to the shadows, perpetual victims. Still others refused to acknowledge his submissions altogether, and roamed in a meandering stupor of ignorance and confusion, unconsciously begging for meager scraps that they could neither assemble nor digest. Many were easily assimilated by the terrified. What Mr. X offered, while true, was not popular to a powerful minority who tended to occupy far less than they believed, and had far more to gain than they were capable of imagining. To absolve their fear, Mr. X was compromised materially and physically; two aspects of his existence that were of little value of him compared to the value he placed on his offerings for posterity. It is quite curious that, as a technical writer, he seemed not to have objectives beyond technical writing itself. Few today engage in this trade for amusement.

But was it only for amusement? His motives were mysterious and uncomfortable. He seemed not to write for income or esteem. The removal of fear was not his goal, as his writing did far more to provoke than relieve it. For what sake he acted is mysterious. A man without chains is threatening by nature. We confront one with nothing to lose as we confront a suicide bomber itching for destruction. How do we negotiate with one as comfortable with death as life? What truth can there be in his words? What can we have in common with such a figure? We take comfort and delight in he who can be bribed, rewarded, or punished. Mr. X, while qualified as a technical writer, was lacking in these most important worldly skills...

So today, after the conclusion of Mr. X's short and miserable life, we tip our hat to the technical writer who gave us everything we have. We also blame him for all of our problems and we scorn him for not giving us more than he did. Indeed, only a cruel heart can have such power and yet leave worldly suffering intact. Most importantly, we accuse him of exposing truth about the nature of some things we might have rather left hidden. For that, he may never be forgiven. I conclude by insisting that Mr. X's words be attacked until the end of time, or until they are refuted, whichever comes first."