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Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

blog.nuclino.com

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Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#3

An often overlooked benefit of writing documentation (regardless of whether anyone will read it) is that it forces you to explain everything in a structured way and discover things that can be improved or simplified. Same principle as rubber duck debugging.

Sounds similar to teaching a subject, or making a presentation about it. You will be forced to learn it very thoroughly yourself. "best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else".

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#5
I'm cable guy. If you are working on data center, there is chance we already met.

I've crimped so many RJ45. Can't count.

Before CAT6 it was simple. After CAT6, all vendors starting produce their own.

This is my best manual all time. I love Penduit manual.

http://www1.panduit.com/heiler/InstallInstructions/N-COPN295...

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#7
post #6

> If any brown M&Ms were found backstage, the band could cancel the entire concert at the full expense of the promoter. I really don't think this would stand up in court. Does anyone know of any concerts cancelled due to minor issues with the rider?

I don’t think it would matter whether it held up in court, because superstars probably had much more power and leverage than concert venues so the venues wanted to keep them happy.

I also don’t really buy the explanation that brown candy would indicate that the facilities weren’t structurally/electrically safe. I think it’s more likely that the band were just a bunch of spoiled jerks.

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#9
post #6

> If any brown M&Ms were found backstage, the band could cancel the entire concert at the full expense of the promoter. I really don't think this would stand up in court. Does anyone know of any concerts cancelled due to minor issues with the rider?

The brown M&M's were supposedly a canary that prompted a line-by-line check of the technical specifications of the production for errors, which would then be the grounds to cancel the show. Snopes has a good article[0] on the Van Halen rider.

[0]: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/brown-out/

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#10
post #4

Another tip: when writing communication (like email), start with TL;DR. Explain quickly who should read it and why. Start with the important stuff first, follow up with details and less important stuff.

Without actually writing 'TL;DR' though. A well written email, letter or anything really, usually starts with the gist of the message. "Don't waste people's time" by fluffing up your texts.

(Unless it's a novel, but then the goal is to build up a story to an apotheosis)

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