Seriously, do we spend too much time worrying about this? What do we get paid for after all, to write documentation, so that’s what we should concentrate on doing. So what if no-one reads it, as long as I’ve done my job I’ll get paid.
And no, I don’t care if they don’t understand how to use the product properly, if they choose not to read the documentation then there isn’t much more I can do, is there? Yeah, they might get stuck but if I can learn it, so can they. If not then maybe they shouldn’t
Pander, pander, pander. I’m sick of it. The documentation is perfectly good and until people learn to read it then they really should stop complaining. Ohh and if they choose to look on the internet for an answer to their question, good luck! We all know that those bloggering things are a lot of rubbish and no, I don’t use that Twatting thing either, what a waste of time. Don’t even start me on Facebooks.
I’m perfectly busy enough, doing the job I was paid for, so yes, they should RTFM and it’s not my fault if they don’t.
…
Obviously I’m jesting, but this seems to be a bit of a hot topic right now, and rather than rehash what has already been said, I’d highly recommend you spend 10 minutes of your day reading the following:
- If no-one reads the manual, then why bother?
- If No One Reads the Manual, That’s Okay
- If no one reads the manual, that’s NOT okay
- Getting users to read the documentation
I guess it’s safe to say there are challenges ahead but hey, it’s a new year, what better time to start tackling them.
If you can get by without providing a manual for your product, chances are good that the world can get by without your product. ‘Nuff said…
Milan – I know what you are saying, but I think it’s the “manual” view that needs to change. Information can be delivered in a variety of forms.
Doing a job and getting paid for it is one thing, but the feeling that what you are doing is futile has some kind of spiritual impact, no matter how much you get paid.
I’m in the lucky position of working for an organisation that has an active and vocal customer base, meaning that I occasionally get to hear customer feedback on the documents I produce. Even if it’s becasue they spotted a mistake (happily that doesn’t happen often), it’s nice to know that the customers do RTFM!