Sept. 19, 2006; HW# 1; Reading Reflection

In this 1st chapter assigned [ch. 6 of Concise guide], I found myself yelling at the text: the idiotic actions of some people!!
As the authors had mentioned of the two big instances that annoyed me nearly to distraction, was the Challenger tragedy, and of 3-Mile Island.
Of the 3-Mile Island case: oh, boy, someone either goofed in a huge way or someone had the mistaken belief that 'no one will know'. Ha!
Of the Challenger space shuttle tragedy: why does management thinks "it" knows all the questions and the answers to those questions? The engineers, especially, in this instance, knew about the 'inner workings' than any one else. To my mind, the engineer had chosen to write, in a memo, in as strong language as he could without getting fired, about the O-ring problem, was right. However, he probably needed to deliver that memo, personally.
About this week's Tech. Writing work-- how much can I put forth in a resume or a cover letter? In Concise Guide, on page 100 the authors cite from a work entitled, "Media Ethics: Cases and Moral Reasoning" and from another,"The Art of Thinking: A Guide to Critical and Creative Thinking" (this title does intrigue me!) regarding more contemporary priniples of ethics versus the 1800's views, namely, of reasonable criteria.
Reasonable criteria involves the obligations, ideals of an individual (also applies to society--but that's for another class!) and the consequences of that individual's actions.
My obligation to a future employer would be to state truthfully my experience, in relation to the job I'm applying for; my ideals or values of dignity involve not lying on my resume; the consquence of being truthful are that the future employer sees how honest I am and with all other considerations. hires me!
What the author C. D. Wickens (whose work is cited in Concise Guide page 104) is sssooo true: as evidenced in the recent past, of a medication for Multiple Sclerosis. The manufacturer was so gung-ho about putting this product on the market, the manufacturer didn't test it thoroughly as it should been. Consequently, the medication was 'pulled' by the FDA because the medication was found to be unsafe.
About groupthink: there's a polital situation right now (Sept. 2006) that 'smacks' of groupthink [I won't mention names. . . ]. In regards to resumes and cover letters, just 'cuz everybody is formatting one way, doesn't mean its effective!
About our other textbook, "Ethics in Technical Communications"--jeepers, what a boring text, compared to "Concise Guide. . . ". Granted, it is informational, but eekk!