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Post by commond on Jan 22, 2023 9:20:39 GMT -5
I'm gonna double down on this. Any time there a design changes on popular websites, be it Facebook, Reddit, or Wikipedia, there's a backlash because people either dislike change or didn't feel the changes were necessary. Once they get used to the changes, they quickly forget their gripes. Wikipedia doesn't look the same as it did in the beginning. It's undergone several changes. They hadn't changed the skin in over 10 years, which if you ask me is where the backlash stems from. Folks are used to Wikipedia looking a certain way. The changes are fairly subtle as far as website changes go, and were made after a massive amount of consultation with Wikipedia readers and editors. I give it six weeks until folks are over it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2023 9:29:58 GMT -5
I'm gonna double down on this. Any time there a design changes on popular websites, be it Facebook, Reddit, or Wikipedia, there's a backlash because people either dislike change or didn't feel the changes were necessary. Once they get used to the changes, they quickly forget their gripes. Wikipedia doesn't look the same as it did in the beginning. It's undergone several changes. They hadn't changed the skin in over 10 years, which if you ask me is where the backlash stems from. Folks are used to Wikipedia looking a certain way. The changes are fairly subtle as far as website changes go, and were made after a massive amount of consultation with Wikipedia readers and editors. I give it six weeks until folks are over it. Yes, the majority of people will likely "learn to live with it", but doesn't mean it was a good design overall. Ask yourself this...if a design change is for the better, why shouldn't your immediate reaction be "hey, this is really nice!" Good design can actually do that. Not everything has to be "just give it a chance, you'll learn to like it". Getting used to something new is not the same as an actual improvement. When you go buy a car (which has MUCH more complexity to interact with), do you pick one that has a pleasant driving experience during the test drive, or do you pick one that is marketed as "different and not intuitive, but you should want it because once you get over your discomfort, we promise you it will be better"? No, if a new car can be pleasant out of the gate, so can a web site.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2023 9:38:02 GMT -5
It’s not a fact that people will learn to live with it. Some will, some won’t. But it’s subjective.
I, for one, rarely use Twitter now because the changes - from 2-3 years ago - still don’t suit me. And IMDb is something I rarely go to now because the changes aren’t making an impression on me.
Also, it isn’t because people don’t like change. That’s not a fact, again it’s the opinion of some (I know there are people who don’t like change in anything). I, for one, have found that many websites can and do improve. I certainly would not want the WWE website to look like it did in 2001 or 2000. Instagram’s interface has probably changed, but it worked for me. But sometimes things don’t work - and not just with websites. Have certain car features improved cars? Some have, some have not.
I don’t think every person forgets their gripes or gets used to a change. We simply have no choice. I even used the “Legacy Twitter” app for a while to make it look like the old one, but that app was discontinued. I never got used to it. But I stopped complaining because you’re powerless.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2023 9:48:51 GMT -5
The other modern trend that bothers me is the whole argument right out of the gate "people shouldn't whine because things look different". I've seen so many articles trying to defend Wikipedia and saying the problem is with the users "fearing change" or some such nonsense.
Yeah, blame the audience, that goes over great everytime. You literally don't exist as a product if the actual people who were using it don't like it, but instead it's "you're dumb, but we'll be patient with you while you learn to love this wonderful product we've gifted you with".
It's such an insult to people's intelligence. Innovative products create excitement right out of the gate, positive change occurs because people are inspired, not because they are berated until they acquiese. All the would-be defenders of the Wikipedia change all sound the same, that condescending little "rolling your eyes" at the unwashed masses. BOO I say, haha!!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2023 10:01:48 GMT -5
It does often seem like the default response.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been positive (not necessarily on a specific topic here) about changes. For instance, the BBC iPlayer app (via a smart TV) improved drastically a few months or so ago. It was a bit of an “analogue relic” compared with other streaming services’ apps, but the changes were good - and I haven’t heard any complaints. Nor with the ITV app, which has had a similar revamp.
But some things aren’t good. I hate how comiXology ceased to become an entity of its own (in a sense) and migrated to Amazon. I don’t like the changes to Wikipedia and IMDb.
As you say, innovative products create excitement right out of the gate.
I do feel cosmetic changes can be unnecessary. I mean, a modern Range Rover looks almost nothing like the original model. But I accept there can be practicality, especially when it comes to electric cars (I presume the often ugly headlights on some EVs are a practical matter). Wikipedia looked fine as it was for me and others.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2023 10:44:43 GMT -5
All the would-be defenders of the Wikipedia change all sound the same, that condescending little "rolling your eyes" at the unwashed masses. In re-reading this, I should also qualify my statement. commond, just to ensure I did not come across this way, that comment wasn't directed at your specific opinion. I was still referring more to the aforementioned articles I've read that not only take the position that folks are not good with change, but then really push the thought that we shouldn't even have an opinion in the first place because we don't know how to judge for ourselves what a better design is.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2023 21:54:39 GMT -5
Today is the 117th anniversary of the birth of Robert E. Howards, boron 1/22/1906.
-M
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Post by impulse on Jan 23, 2023 11:04:37 GMT -5
If you haven't noticed, you can hide the sidebar. It doesn't fully restore the full width for reading, but it's something. I would have preferred they change it so the content menu just stayed at the top of the reading window while you scrolled so it's always there. Or if they allowed users to drag and drop to adjust reading window.
But Wikipedia is something I use when I want some specific info, so general layout isn't super important to me. Same with IMDB. I'm there to check on something, so as long as it remains usable, I am not too fussed about the layout.
The new reddit layout absolutely sucks though. It sucked when it came out, and it still sucks now.
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Post by Cei-U! on Jan 28, 2023 15:36:35 GMT -5
After three years of isolation with only doctors' appointments, a couple of visits from Dr. Cyclops and one from Rob Allen, and a few hours at a local comics convention last October to alleviate the isolation, I'm actually going out tonight. I'm meeting up with a bunch of old friends at the Cloverleaf Tavern, legendary in Tacoma for its pizza, for an informal high school reunion. Am I running the risk of a second bout of COVID? Yeah, probably, but I just don't give a shit anymore. I need some fun!
Cei-U! Wish me luck!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2023 16:28:26 GMT -5
After three years of isolation with only doctors' appointments, a couple of visits from Dr. Cyclops and one from Rob Allen, and a few hours at a local comics convention last October to alleviate the isolation, I'm actually going out tonight. I'm meeting up with a bunch of old friends at the Cloverleaf Tavern, legendary in Tacoma for its pizza, for an informal high school reunion. Am I running the risk of a second bout of COVID? Yeah, probably, but I just don't give a shit anymore. I need some fun! Cei-U! Wish me luck! Have an absolute blast sir, it sounds like something like this is beyond overdue and just what you need!!
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Post by Batflunkie on Jan 31, 2023 18:38:53 GMT -5
Decided to pick up a camera from work today (Sony Cybershot). Sort of noticed it after two gentlemen had a gander at it and wanted it for myself. The picture quality on my phone has always been rather poor and muddy looking, so having a camera with 20 megapixels versus 5.3 made a world of difference. It also helped that I already had a spare Mirco SD card and adapter that slid in and worked just fine, was worried that I would have to buy a Sony branded Memory stick and an adapter for that too
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2023 12:03:12 GMT -5
Interesting way to avoid land tax in the 1500s:
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 1, 2023 12:25:15 GMT -5
Interesting way to avoid land tax in the 1500s: Invisibility? Not showing up on my screen.
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 1, 2023 12:25:55 GMT -5
Interesting way to avoid land tax in the 1500s: Invisibility? Not showing up on my screen. Well, now it did, just to make me look like a smart-ass!
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Roquefort Raider
CCF Mod Squad
Modus omnibus in rebus
Posts: 17,183
Member is Online
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Feb 5, 2023 12:51:16 GMT -5
After two days at -30 °C, I bought a jump-starting battery. Neither of our cars would start earlier this week, and by that I mean that the starter wouldn't even move. The batteries weren't drained, since once the temperature went back to a seasonal minus 10 everything worked fine. We just needed more power.
It's a sign of old age: we accumulate all sorts of tools that we're unlikely to use very often, but that we'll be glad to have when the need arises.
Mind you, #1 son owns a zombie-killing axe. I doubt he'll use that very often either, although it's cool as all get out.
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