Wetlook World Forum

The technology today is so flashy (if you'll pardon the bad pun) that it's easy to get caught up in it, but every time you start relying on a glitzy new do-hicky you're making the Web more complicated, and the Web already confuses or frustrates the user far too often.  I have yet to see a web site that I cared about which actually needs things like Flash.  The vast majority can be done very nicely with HTML and jpg files and simple links, and even something as cool as Google maps somehow manages to provide all its functionality with nothing more than a bit of Javascript.

I realize that people are worried about viewers right-clicking to save all the pictures, but remember that anybody who has a "Prnt Scrn" key (i.e. everyone) can save the pictures anyway.

A famous quote here might be relevant:  "There's an old story about the person who wished his computer were as easy to use as his telephone. That wish has come true, since I no longer know how to use my telephone."  -Bjarne Stroustrup

I'm sorry to sound so negative, because I really do appreciate all the great material that is posted here.  It's just that my job is to make the Web so easy for my employer's customers to use that they don't even have to think about it -- and since I'm paid to be grumpy when things are needlessly complicated, that makes me a professional grump. :-)

And to compensate, let me say something positive:  Kudos to Nigel for his design of this site.  I /don't/ have to think about it - just click on the link and it does what I want and expect.  Great job.