This is definitely the most interesting article I have read in a month. Call me shallow. Call me weak. Call me simple. I don't care. This guy is telling it like it is and his message is strong. Right or wrong, I'm impressed, very impressed.

What am I talking about? I'm talking about the presentation style. The conviction. This guy is strong and bold; something not seen enough in web design and usability. Too many wimps. When Jakob Nielsen is the strongest force in usability, well, you know you have a marketing problem. Visualize usability and what do you get? The image of old, dry genitalia. Folks, we are stale but it doesn't need to be that way. Usability is hip. Usability is cool. It just isn't sold to people the right way.

Instead of saying shit to describe the shit we see, we say stool or crap or turd because we are afraid to offend people. Damn. Many of us are young, but we are so freakin' crusty. What a shame. What a crying shame.

I swear that I am going to do something about this. Usability is kick ass and I'm simply going to have to do something about it. It is time to rise to the occasion. It is time that usability is brought out of the shadows. If I need to dumb things down, if I need to shout, if I need to beat the shit out things, I'll do it.

I'm going to rise. The rampage begins and I swear to you here that I am going to light some things on fire 'cause I am sick of the stick in the mud image, and the old, crusty, cranky portrayal of all things usability. Rise.

Posted by: John S. Rhodes on July 26, 2002 08:41 PM

 

Go John!

Posted by: Ron Zeno on July 26, 2002 11:50 PM

 

Many of us are young

On what basis do you infer that, John? How old are you, for example?

"Old, dry genitalia" is something I'd never visualised, and I'm trying very hard not to. Drat!

Posted by: MadMan on July 28, 2002 02:30 AM

 

You're definitely on the right track with the swearing and slang. That's, like, guaranteed hip factor!

Posted by: Lydia on July 30, 2002 03:56 PM