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As part of my not-formally-discussed day job, I help people write. When they have some manner of internal communication they need to send out via e-mail, particularly if there's some kind of technical information they need the masses to comprehend, it ends up on my desk. This has nothing to do with my title or official function, mind you; it has just evolved that I am one of the "go-to" people for wordcraft.
I try to be understanding of the varying skills involved here. Many of these people work pretty much exclusively in numbers, so if it can't be expressed in a grid they get scared and insecure. Nonetheless, I can't help but be annoyed when I am given a long document to polish, and it's been typed up in Microsoft Excel. When they get to where they think the line should end, they just move down a row and start typing in a new cell.
This is where my better nature gets me in trouble. If I was sane I would reject it utterly, and tell them to do it themselves. But then the communication would just go out as an Excel attachment without any further explanation, and that would annoy me more, as I would end up getting the questions. So instead I am copying and pasting the whole damned thing into Word so I can start formatting and editing it.
Some days I wish I had never seen a computer.
6 Comments:
It's just your nature to try to create more understanding in the world...
They write up docs in Excel? That's like using a rod and reel to take your dog for a walk; you can make it work, but neither party will be happy and you'll probably end up getting bit in the ass.
Wow! I'm seriously impressed that these people can function. :) I'm impressed by your inherent class. Positive you didn't laugh in their faces or throw your monitor at them.
What are they thinking? Wordsmithing in Excel? That's like me trying to do math on an etch-a-sketch. Not gonna work! MKH, you have the patience of a saint. :-)
Hilarious story. Dumping text written like that into word is pretty simple though, isn't it?
It is simple, but I wouldn't do it. I'd give it back to them and tell them to cut/paste it themselves....but I'm not a very good co-worker.
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