I suppose have quite a bit of "informal technical communication experience."
I'm decent at giving directions. I'm just no good at GETTING them.
I think IMing is fabulous. I use it all the time. It's one of the few ways I keep in touch with people when they are far away. (Yes, that means I hate the phone.)
I can explain. Sometimes, I can over-explain. Behold: the writer in me.
I can teach, I suppose. I can teach someone how to change their myspace page, how to upload something to a computer, how to program a remote control, how to make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich... But more importantly, I teach myself. I teach myself the things I need to know to get through life. At least, I hope I do...
"Help" is such a strange word. Helping implies giving assistance to someone who can't do it on their own. It can be true in same cases -- like lifting heavy objects, for example. But I'd rather not "help" someone. I'd rather be there to guide if they get lost or tumble along the way. I'd rather let them do it for themselves, and be there if they need someone to fall back on. Like holding my nephew's fingers when he learned how to walk... He did that himself -- I just guided him and picked him up when he fell...
I'm sure I have a lot more "informal technical communication experience" than this, but I made a list in class of things that were mentioned, and this is what I'm going by. Hopefully it is enough -- for now.
