None Techy Plea!

[Jayne]

Hi,

As you all know i'm the worse techy person in the world :lol: But as I have found out from PM's and emails I am not alone.

Please everyone, when answering a post, please answer it on the forums and not through PM, so that all of us none techy people can read the answers. Please make your answers easy to understand, not everyone knows what a mega tag is etc, some of these people who have contacted me are too embarrased to post, in case they look stupid.

I'm not bothered if I look stupid as long as I get the answer to my question, but not everyone is like me.

Please spare a thought for the none techy business person

Jayne

 

[clairemackaness]

I am also far from techy and not embarrassed to shout it from the hill tops. I think we should start a plain english campaign on UKBF from today.

 

[TWD-Tony]

It's sometimes hard for someone to write about what they know without forgetting that some people may not understand the more technical side of things...

I for one am going to start using the UKBF "plain english" charter from now on

I do try and explain things as I go... but sometimes you just havent got the time!

Tony

EDIT: I have started using the UKBF "Plain English Charter" here http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=29599#29599

 

[Rob Holmes]

It's sometimes hard for someone to write about what they know without forgetting that some people may not understand the more technical side of things...

I for one am going to start using the UKBF "plain english" charter from now on

I do try and explain things as I go... but sometimes you just havent got the time!

Tony

EDIT: I have started using the UKBF "Plain English Charter" here http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=29599#29599

OK - I just edited my whole post as it looked and read like a grumpy old man...

Heres a summary of it..

Maybe (and please don't be offended) people could also get a bit more techy.

Maybe use Google if theres is phrase you don't understand. Here (using the example above of not knowing what a meta tag is) is the response on Google to the question "what is a meta tag"

Here

What I am saying in response is yes I WILL read the Plain English Charter through and make an effort to talk about things as simply as possible - but if people don't understand something 100% then don't just switch off - use it as an opportunity to learn and not make an expert explain things like they are talking to a 3 year old.

</rant>



Rob[/url]

 

[mumper]

I agree with Rob,

If you don't understand something, don't be embarrassed to ask or look on Google. We all know the jargon and technical terms of our own professions and use it without thinking - it's not a put-down to others, it's just habit.

Members on this forum know that if a question is asked no matter how obvious the answer might be to some, there will always be a helpful response from the other members.

Remember - nobody knows anything until they ask.

 

[webit]

It’s an interesting point. I, like I suspect most people, can switch from Technical to plain language as required by the audience. Whilst some concepts require a lot of effort to explain to a non-technical audience most of the time you’ll find that if people are talking technical language it’s between themselves and is a requirement.

It’s a very common problem for non-techices and all the documents I write always state the technical level of the intended audience.

As an old manager said 'He always wrote at a level where his mother could understand it'

(but I suspect his mum was a MIT Undergrad)

 

[Jayne]

Thanks everyone, the people who have contacted me, should feel better about posting now.

I myself are trying to learn the techy stuff and i'm enjoying every min' of it. It's a bit like jigsaw puzzles, you start with the 50 piece ones and work up to doing a 1000.

So all none techy's on here, don't be afraid of posting, they're all lovely on here and will always help you. I don't mind if you still want to contact me, but remember i'm learning too, so could give you the wrong answer :lol:

Thanks

Jayne

 

[Rob Holmes]

So all none techy's on here, don't be afraid of posting, they're all lovely on here and will always help you. I don't mind if you still want to contact me

I'm happy to be contacted via PM too if you want an explanation of anything 'website-techie' sort of thing

Rob

 

[DuaneJackson]

My opinion is that we should avoid using techie terms or jargon where a more common (and easily understandable) word will do.

But if it's going to take an extra couple of minutes to explain something in non-techie terms it's best that you use the jargon. Then, the onus is on the person being helped/advised to google the term to find out what is meant. S/he will probably learn a lot more in the process.

 

[APRogers]

IMHO, asking a question, technical or otherwise, implies a genuine desire to know the answer. There is a danger that, in pitching the response at too low a level of understanding, the real meaning may be lost or, worse, confused.

I agree in principle that those replying should make an effort to dejargonise (new word?) their response but not that they should leave out relevent technical terms, particularly those essential to the explanation.

Industry acronyms are a perfect example of something that should be explained up front , before being repeated elsewhere. This is however a convention usually observed in writing instructions, not carried over to internet discussion fora.

Plain English is a good idea but let's not take it too far. As in all things, the best way is somewhere between the two extremes.

Regards

Alan

 

[hunny]

Hi all,
Er - I own up - I think this one is aimed partly at me, i tend to PM folk (hi Jayne) as I have not been able to understand a lot of my replies in the past, its not to say that I am non-appreciative of help but I end up feeling despondent - only towards myself. Its not through lack of trying to get my head around techy words, I do, I search the net, have bought books, but in practice its not that easy for some of us.
Anyway, now I've "come out" I will go public again (please see my recent post (internet & IT) and thank you all in advance for your help & simplicity!!

Cheers,
Hunny

 

[Jayne]

Hi all,
Er - I own up - I think this one is aimed partly at me, i tend to PM folk (hi Jayne) as I have not been able to understand a lot of my replies in the past, its not to say that I am non-appreciative of help but I end up feeling despondent - only towards myself. Its not through lack of trying to get my head around techy words, I do, I search the net, have bought books, but in practice its not that easy for some of us.
Anyway, now I've "come out" I will go public again (please see my recent post (internet & IT) and thank you all in advance for your help & simplicity!!

Cheers,
Hunny

I wasn't going tell them one of my PM's was you :lol: I like learning the techy stuff, but it's slow going

Jayne

 

[Rob Holmes]

I'm even too scared to PM sometimes

Rob

 

[Jayne]

Yes, I'm a scary monster :twisted:

Jayne

 

[hunny]

Hi Matrixx,

Your too busy being bored!!!!!!!!!!
I just couldn't stop laughing at your posting - you can't leave it at that - there must be more? :lol:
Anne