1 of 31

Everyone’s a player (in a mid-90s MUD)

(They/Them)

Kenzie Woodbridge

2 of 31

Let me tell you what I’ll tell you

  1. Context
  2. These are the people in your docs neighbourhood
  3. MUDs and Player Type Theory
  4. Connections and implications for documentation
  5. Challenges, solutions, and strategies

Me thinking I’m just sooooo funny - throughout.

@rainbowkenz

3 of 31

1.

Context

@rainbowkenz

4 of 31

BCIT:

  • 5 campuses
  • ~2700 faculty and staff
  • ~50,000 students (FT+PT)
  • >500 credential programs

@rainbowkenz

5 of 31

Me: Kenzie (they/them)

@rainbowkenz

Docs are

awesome!

6 of 31

Documentation:

  • Developer Docs
  • User Docs
  • User Manuals
  • Knowledge Bases
  • Code Samples
  • Release Notes

  • Requirements
  • Code Comments
  • Embedded Help
  • UI text
  • Decision Logs
  • Meeting Minutes

@rainbowkenz

Docs are

many!

7 of 31

2.

These are the people in your docs neighbourhood

@rainbowkenz

8 of 31

“Sprout”

  • Support desk
  • User focused
  • Broad technical experience and knowledge

@rainbowkenz

9 of 31

“Turnip”

  • Specialist developer/�Server administrator/DBA/etc.
  • Knowledge focused
  • Deep technical experience and knowledge

@rainbowkenz

10 of 31

“Kale”

  • Developer/project manager
  • Sufficient technical experience and knowledge to accomplish the thing
  • Likes to win
  • +4 CHA

@rainbowkenz

11 of 31

“Broccoli”

  • More of a lifestyle than a technical role
  • Hierarchy/power focused
  • Unknowable technical experience and knowledge
  • Undermine everything

@rainbowkenz

12 of 31

3.

MUDs and Player Type Theory

@rainbowkenz

13 of 31

Richard Bartle & Roy Trubshaw

MUD:

Multi-User Dungeon

Place your screenshot here

@rainbowkenz

14 of 31

Interact

Act

Players

World

“Socializer”

“Explorer”

“Killer”

“Achiever”

@rainbowkenz

Player Type Theory? What’s that?

15 of 31

Caveat Time!

The full compexity of the human experience cannot possibly be summed up with a simplistic “There are four types of people” declaration (or a “There are four lights” declaration for that matter) and I want to assure you that I am not attempting to do so. You are a complicated and wonderful human being with many many facets and so am I and all of us together are only a small part of the amazing complexity available on this beautiful planet we live on, which itself is only a tiny part of the amazing complexity and beauty and depth and interestingness of the universe and all of this is available for deep and interesting conversation, as am I after this talk, so don’t worry. Together we can combat the slow trundle towards oversimplification, but this is just a 30-minute tech writing talk so I had to follow the KISS principle, though I don’t like that because “stupid” is an ableist slur which I prefer not to use. Also, climate change is real and caused by human activity!

16 of 31

4.

Connections and implications for documentation

@rainbowkenz

17 of 31

Interact

Act

Players

World

“Socializer”

“Explorer”

“Killer”

“Achiever”

@rainbowkenz

18 of 31

Users

Technology

Interact

Act

Players

World

@rainbowkenz

Docs are for everyone!

19 of 31

5.

Challenges, solutions, and strategies

@rainbowkenz

20 of 31

“Sprout”

Socializer

  • User focused
  • Broad technical experience and knowledge�
  • Natural documentor�(may need support)

@rainbowkenz

21 of 31

Socializer/Sprout documentation support

Public Support Strategies

Expect to:

  • Advocate for them to others
  • Give public kudos
  • Include them where they are excluded

Structural Support Strategies

Expect to:

  • Provide templates
  • Provide a repository
  • Assist with writing/editing and publishing
    • Specialist Writer Mentor
    • Buddy System/Peer Review
    • Docs Sprints

@rainbowkenz

22 of 31

“Turnip”

Explorer

  • Knowledge/exploration focused
  • Deep technical experience and knowledge�
  • Natural anti-documentor

@rainbowkenz

23 of 31

Explorer/Turnip documentation extraction

Reframing Strategies

Demonstrate that documentation:

  • Shows off expertise
  • Is another thing to have knowledge of
  • Keeps icky users away
    • By sending to docs first
    • By giving others the ability/access to fix problems

Writing Support Strategies

Expect to:

  • Reduce barriers (provide templates, repository, etc.)
  • Rewrite docs for audience
  • Not sweat the small stuff

@rainbowkenz

24 of 31

“Kale”

Achiever

  • Achievement focused
  • Documentation opportunist
  • Love “events”, hate slow-grind operational work�
  • Inconsistent documentor

@rainbowkenz

25 of 31

Achiever documentation gamification

Gamifying Strategies

To motivate achievers:

  • Post doc writing/review stats
  • Make doc authors visible
  • Advocate for docs as critical success criteria in projects

Achievement Support Strategies

Expect to:

  • Be available on short notice
  • Provide and enforce templates, structure, etc.
  • Outsource maintenance
  • Publically thank them

@rainbowkenz

26 of 31

“Broccoli”

Killer

  • Hierarchy/power focused
  • Motivated by the frustration of others
  • Will never, ever review or update�
  • Inconsistent documentor
  • Element of destructive chaos

@rainbowkenz

27 of 31

Killer/Broccoli documentation… something

Self-protection Strategies

Protect yourself:

  • Keep discussions public
  • Document everything (ironically)
  • Engage Turnips in the struggle

Go Forward Strategies

You should:

  • Ally with others
  • Treat agreements like contracts
  • Follow up/escalate
  • Expect but not tolerate delays and power plays
  • Make them the defenders of the project

@rainbowkenz

28 of 31

  • Docs are awesome.
  • Theory is great and also fun.
  • Crucifers are tasty.

@rainbowkenz

29 of 31

Users

Technology

Interact

Act

@rainbowkenz

How can I help?

How could you not know?

On time, on budget!

I ruin everything.

30 of 31

Thanks!

Let’s chat?

You can find me at:

@rainbowkenz

kwoodbridge@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/kenziewoodbridge/

@rainbowkenz

31 of 31

Credits

Special thanks to all the folks in the world helping others (sometimes for free):

  • Presentation template by SlidesCarnival
  • Pictures of Hats from www.villagehatshop.com
  • Player Type Theory proposed by Richard Bartle
  • Workplace bullying advice by Captain Awkward and Ask a Manager

@rainbowkenz