"Do You Remember Meeeeeeeeeeme"

[dr4b]

Hi, I answered in zqfmbg and megami's journals so in theory I have to post this here. And in turn if you answer, like every other ANSI Standard Meme, you post it in yours. Etc.

"Add a comment to this journal telling me what you remember about first meeting me (online most certainly counts; if you have a choice between online and in person, I'll request the most amusing :-) I'll respond to each comment with my memories of you."

Comments

[cellio]

You showed up for a job interview and you actually seemed to understand programming, which put you ahead of most of the tech writers I've interviewed. So then I gave you my "what's wrong with this reference page?" test and you found all the booby traps I had in there, including the ones I only expected senior geek-writers to get. So I figured we had to hire you, and then you even turned out to be a cool person. :-)

[dr4b]

That interview still sticks out as one of the crowning achivements of my life :) Because I think Claritech really shaped a lot of how I work as a technical writer, and it sort of embodies what I think the ideal environment for a programmer writer should be like. I have never since then gotten to say things like "Why is that method static? You might as well make a consistent interface and not have to change the API later.." and had people go "Hey, good call." It was like a place where you did a project, proved yourself, the whole company knew what you were capable of. At Amazon I find myself having to reprove myself all the time to get the same level of respect I had at Claritech.

Anyway, I remember how it took me like four months before I got up the courage to ask you about your eyesight. And then a few months after that, Ralph started inviting you and Dani to his Sunday dinners, which is where I really got to know you guys, and was good, because it meant we continued to stay in touch after the Claritech implosion. I still regret having only made it to one On The Mark concert in all the time I was in Pittsburgh, too.

[cellio]

Claritech really shaped a lot of how I work as a technical writer, and it sort of embodies what I think the ideal environment for a programmer writer should be like.

I agree. Claritech was the first place where I had that ability, too (well, discounting my first job, when I was half programmer half writer and too green to really contribute like this). You'd think that Transarc, my first tech-writing job after being a full-time programmer for several years, would have given me that ability, but some of the programmers I worked with there were pompous twits who discounted all writers, and that put a damper on things. At Claritech, people listened to input and were willing to argue with anybody. :-) I've been able to do the same kinds of things at my current job, and it's great.

I'm so happy to have been able to help another writer get to this point. :-)

Anyway, I remember how it took me like four months before I got up the courage to ask you about your eyesight.

I didn't mean to be intimidating. Sorry 'bout that.

Sunday dinner has been really, really great for me. It's so spiffy to be able to socialize with, and get to know, your coworkers! (Well, ex-coworkers now, but... it helps everyone stay in touch.)