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web sites, contempt

updated wed 18 oct 00

 

Mike Gordon on mon 16 oct 00


Janet,
I agree with you and applaud you for your simple and honest opinion. I
made a comment myself in the very begining, but it seemed the subject
went on and on so I quit reading, until I saw the word " contempt"
Then I had to respond.... If we can't accept each others opinions and
comment .. if we want....with respect then I think we need to look deep
and re-think our status in this world.We are all potters or clay
sculptors, we love clay and I would hope that we would respect all
others with the same love. There is too much hate in the world as it is.
But Good hearted sarcassm if fine with me!!! Mike Gordon

Carrie or Peter Jacobson on mon 16 oct 00


In light of Janet's post, I'd like to remind everyone that Jim Syndor asked
the entire list for critiques of his site. He has offered two gracious
thank-yous, as well.

His courage in asking for response has given a number of people on this
list, myself included, the chance to venture into relatively new territory,
and discuss, in general, the concept of design and how, specifically, it can
be used to reach a goal. I appreciate the chance not only to share what I
know - which, in my original post, I stressed came from, yes, the old world
of paper and newsprint and other inky realities - but also to read what
others, more expert at the use of cyberspace than I, might think.

In Jim's first response to the list, he went into some of the subtleties of
designing pages, of using color and art to move readers through the page,
and some of the difficulties of having unlimited space. Fine points, all,
and distinctly beyond anything I brought up. I was using Jim's site not as
an example of all that is wrong in website design, but as a jumping-off
point for a discussion of the principles of page design.

I never tried to pass myself off as an experienced web designer. In fact, I
said I'd never designed a web page.

Janet Kaiser on tue 17 oct 00


In the light of Carrie's post and following the
introduction
of the "C" word in the subject line, I would
like to repeat I was not responding to any one
person or any one post. It is a mystery why, but
FYI and future reference, Clay Art is delivered
in sporadic fits and starts here in Wales and I
saw neither of the original posts referred to...

However, I did read several musings about web
sites, including some pointed references to "too
personal" pages and sites which crash systems. I
tried hard to put those personal comments into
the context of the whole and yes, I did express
my opinion on more socially acceptable ways of
expressing ones opinions directly to hard worked
web site developers... Apparently a crime!

I take exception to being accused of contempt.

I think I made it perfectly clear in my post,
that it was just my own take on web site
development by potters and others who may be
thinking of setting up a site. Like a lot of
people on this list, I speak in extremes to make
a point, but if we put in all those ifs, ands,
and buts it would take forever to write about
anything. Is this contemptuous? I think not!

In a nutshell, I said be careful of who you hire
and pay... That is the advice of one friend to
another, not someone who is out to bedevil
anyone and everyone who undertakes web site
design. If I trod on your toes, I am sorry, but
it is a big bad world out there and it does not
hurt to be reminded of that once in a while.

Indeed, I could have added you have to pass
exams and convince your peers of your worth in
older technologies and professions like
plumbers, hairdressers, electricians, doctors,
etc... Where is the "quality control" for web
site developers? And what about fair rates? £25
per hour minimum here locally in Wales where the
minimum wage is £3.70 and I earn about 50 pence
as a self-employed person. Twenty five pounds
may not sound a lot to the inexperienced, but
golly, if I had had to pay that for all the work
I have done to date myself, it would be around
£200,000 by now. So was it wrong to warn those
setting out? I think not.

If there is a secret list of those who are
allowed to say anything at all, no matter how
brusque, rude or personal, as opposed to the
rest of us who cannot say boo to a goose without
ruffling feathers, would someone please let me
know? It seems to me there is an ever increasing
degree of intolerance and desire to take offence
here these days. It is an undesirable trend
which I suggest everyone try to nip in the bud.

As someone recently said, where no offence was
intended, we must depend on our social skills to
recognise that fact and not jump to obscure
conclusions. If you shudder with disgust each
time you see the name of someone whose opinions
will upset you, just do us all a favour and hit
that delete key before you read a single word.

That works nicely for me, even if I do miss some
interesting, informative and imaginative items
every once in a while. Life is too short and it
is not good for your blood pressure or stress
levels to get embroiled in personal contretemps.

End, Finis, Schluss

Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art . Capel Celfyddyd
HOME OF THE INTERNATIONAL POTTERS' PATH
Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales Tel: (01766) 523570
E-mail: postbox@the-coa.org.uk
WEBSITE: http://www.the-coa.org.uk

----- Original Message -----

> In light of Janet's post, I'd like to remind
everyone that Jim Syndor asked the entire list
for critiques of his site.