On Thu, Aug 10, 2006 at 07:18:42PM -0400, David Spencer, MediaWiki User wrote:
- I feel it is a shame that the wiki publisher does not have the option
to code break out links to external web sites. It is very easy for those new to computers to head to a new link and forget what they originally were looking for on the original wiki. Then they leave our wiki.
- When I send someone to an external link from my wiki, I am not
responsible for the content of that external site. Sometimes "newbies" may think that I created the external link page too.
There's a maxim in the design field that you can get yourself in trouble by over-optimising for 1) untrained users or 2) too-slow hardware.
Ok; I just synthesized that now from things lots of other, smarter people than me have said. But it's still true. People have a tendency to try to make things easier for 'dummies' :-) while make much more important things much harder for 'smart people'.
On balance, it's probably much better for the entire audience to *train the non-savvy users*. If they can't be bothered to learn, then they're not *entitled* to have everyone else's work made more difficult on their behalf.
- FYI... I am a Mac user using FireFox. To make a break out link, all I
have to do is hover over the link, press lightly and choose "Open link in new window".
Mac mice have click-*pressure* sensors? Wow!
- The wiki I am developing is here http://www.christianmedia.ca
Interesting. I don't think I've seen anyone run a primarily-MW site where the front page *wasn't*.
Thanks again for all of your comments and words of wisdom. This is a very helpful listserv!
<pedant> "listserv" is a registered trademark of a mailing list software company whose products we aren't using. :-)
http://www.lsoft.com/corporate/legal.asp </pedant>
Glad we could help. And that we didn't scare you off. :-)
Cheers, -- jra