From: utzoo!decvax!cca!Keith@sri-unix
Newsgroups: net.micro
Title: [Scott M. Hinnri:  Re: Consumer Reports wants Users]
Article-I.D.: sri-unix.2155
Posted: Tue Jul 20 01:34:33 1982
Received: Sun Jul 25 00:48:46 1982

Please reply to address below, not me.  I'm forwarding because of
a mailer problem.

----- Forwarded message # 1:

Date: 20 Jul 1982 0040-PDT
From: Scott M. Hinnrichs 
Subject: Re: Consumer Reports wants Users
To: Info-Micro-Request at BRL
Via:  Sri-Kl; 20 Jul 82 3:41-EDT

	I would beg to differ with you Byron, as to the value of
testimony from the professional community.  A prospective new user has
no past experience as to what has been and is now available.  The
comments from one who has past experience can be quite valuable and
only misleading if the person giving the advice does not take into
consideration 'where the user is coming from'.

	To say that the very people who understand the machines best
cannot give the best advice only suggests that they cannot communicate
their information, not that they are not the best qualified to
comment.

	What is needed is for us to come down off our high horse and
provide the information, for which we are qualified to give, in a
manner which is understandable.

	To be a wizard at what we do contributes nothing to anyone,
including ourselves, if we are not able to communicate it to those new
initiates seeking help.

	The very things that bug us will bug the new user as well.
While it is true that some things will not be immediately bothersome
to the new user, he will eventually become aware of, and irritated by,
the things we see immediately upon reviewing a product.

	We can continue to allow the knowledge we have remain locked
up inside us and grin at the floundering of the new 'lusers', firing
off incomprehensible drivel made to impress, or we can take the time
to think about their plight and give reasonable help.

	This responsibility rests with all of us each time someone
trusts us with a question in our field.

SMH
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