On 2/10/01 5:31 AM, "Norbert Bollow" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hmm.. I don't think I'd want to use this for my "integrity in
> politics" site, because I think for the target group of that
> site, your system offers too many options, too many things you
> can click on, it's just too difficult to get overall comfortable
> with such a complicated system.
That's one of the problems. It's a site in transition -- I want to continue
supporting my mail lists as long as people want to use them, but I want to
also start changing the focus to the newer (hopefully better) technologies.
I'm not sure the site as it currently is written really helps users find
stuff the way it should.
Here's some stuff I think is wrong, or at least non-optimal. Sometimes it's
easier to know it's broken than to fix it. It's a damn sight better than
what it replaced, though, and a good stepping stone for refinement.
The biggest problem is the archives, where access sucks. On one hand, I feel
strongly archives need protection from the spambots and harvesters, on the
other -- they need to be easy to use and access. Currently, access is too
hidden, too confusing and slanted way too far to protection. I have some
ideas on fixing that, but haven't had time to work on them.
The front page is too static -- it needs to have 'stuff' on it to help
people understand what's going on. I'm investigating CDF/RDF channel systems
to allow me to build things like a "hot topics" listing that will
automatically update onto the front page as a draw-in further into the site.
If you go to the front page, there's very little there that makes the site
interesting or encourages users to explore further -- that needs to change.
Everything authenticates independently. A real problem, with n real
solution. It's something I've been whacking on a lot, and my current
thoughts are here: <http://www.chuqui.com/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?tid=74>.
I'm not sure what the best way to present some information is yet -- I keep
going back and forth. My ToS/Rules are static HTML, my FAQs are forum areas.
There are plusses and minuses to both approaches, but I'm convinced for
site-content like that, I need to go one way or another. Trying to both
depending on phase of the moon is arbitrary and I think it's confusing to
the user. Right now, I'm leaning towards using the forums only for user
content and static HTML for site content -- but I'm not sure that's right,
either. Yet.
> But I think I can use some of your ideas.
If it gives you ideas to work from, then that's great. I've given up trying
to have the answers -- but if I can give people hints that get them closer,
that's great.
--
Chuq Von Rospach, Internet Gnome <http://www.chuqui.com>
[<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> = <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> = <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>]
Yes, yes, I've finally finished my home page. Lucky you.
"He doesn't have ulcers, but he's a carrier."
