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WebWord Weblog Posting Posting Date: August 04, 2002 WebWord Comment -- Huh? What's going on? I'm dizzy. Hell = frozen over. How long has it been? No. Sales. Pitch.
Reader Comments...
I feel honour bound to reply to that. At this moment I am updating my Alertbox Analysis site to reflect this article, and here are my initial thoughts: This article feels like it was written in the 1980's. At that time the HCI conferences I was attending were full of talk about new input devices. One person I remember talking about this stuff very entertainingly was Bill Buxton (that name always reminds me of our gren skinned friend.) I predict that we will soon see an article about the usability of Fast Food Burgers (that should help cover up the taste of the s**t), which will include a usability analysis on the interaction between the 'customer' and the 'server' (or whatever thay're called these days. Posted by: Mac on August 5, 2002 04:18 AM
It's a trick. He makes you read the entire article very carefully, and then re-read it just to be sure. Posted by: Jack on August 5, 2002 04:20 AM
I have to admit that I too have tired of Jakob's pitching. My gripe isn't so much that he pitches his and NNG's products and services, but rather that many recent Alertbox articles contain little more than a sales pitch. When I first started reading Jakob's articles (sometime in '96) they usually had some nuggets you could take away and use. Lately Alertbox topics seem pretty lightweight. Examples: Marginalia of Web Design - November '96 In contrast: I did a quick search and found that Nanomuscle and NN/g use the same PR firm...makes you wonder about any undisclosed reasons Jakob might want to pitch Nanomuscle. Although in this alertbox he did disclose stocks he owned, but failed to mention that his wife is CEO of one of the companies mentioned (Alom). All that being said, I still think Jakob has a lot to contribute to business and the "usability cause". Posted by: Usable Lyle on August 5, 2002 10:33 AM
Oops forgot to link to this to show that Nanomuscle and NN/g use the same PR firm. Bonus Limerick: There once was a Danish guru,
Damn, his wife even looks a bit like him, including that funny "guru" smile:
No-one say anything about the previous message. It is not fair. Please dont. I beg you. Posted by: Mac on August 5, 2002 12:39 PM
I know I do it so I am as equally at fault, but I think this is starting to become a de facto bash Jakob site. It is funny and it does provide a common bond amongst participants - did I say it was funny, damn funny actually - but I am wondering John, if for the sake of professionalism, that you don't link to JN anymore and we can focus on the real news. Maybe we can set aside one day per month for Jakob day or something. Disclaimer: I rarely take the high moral ground and only do so when I start to feel sorry for people. He means well and is just trying to leach all the money he can before it becomes passé.
JB, I have decided to stop linking to Jakob if I can help it. For example, I did not link to Becoming a Usability Professional on the WebWord home page. Quite frankly, I don't like to bash Jakob, or other people. I've been telling myself that I must act better and be more professional. WebWord must not become the Jerry Springer of usability. Posted by: John S. Rhodes on August 5, 2002 02:49 PM
I actually like the conversation that stems from the Nielsen links. At times, it morphs into genuine discussion on the issues of the day and the perspectives of the various posters here are relevant. After reading the "Becoming a Usability Professional" alertbox a couple weeks back, I was truly looking forward to the link here just SO I could see the conversation that ensued. Alas...I was disappointed. Also, don't underestimate the power of Jerry Springer. I wouldn't mind having some of his "success" even if it means giving up some ethics in public. What really matters is what's inside after all... Flame on, boys and girls. Posted by: jonathan on August 5, 2002 04:12 PM
I think Jonathan has a valid point. Maybe Jakob's polarizing points of view does actually create positive discussion. And JR, in no way would I suggest that WebWord is the Jerry Springer of the Internet....but that gives me an idea……………
JB, I've been thinking about sinking low into the depths of the usability sludge pit. I seriously wonder if the best way to get people to understand usability is to Jerry Springer it. Stop talking like priests. Stop playing games with data. Stop paying homage to gurus. Who wants me to do something like this? (Not necessarily here, of course.) Posted by: John S. Rhodes on August 5, 2002 04:32 PM
As long as it has in-family weddings and cousins sleeping with cousins I think you will have a captive audience...... maybe a really dumb audience, but captive none the less. My fear is that if you do to good a job, I will get no work done :)
Speaking of cousins sleeping with cousins...this from the old image archives.
It still freaks me out. Posted by: jonathan on August 5, 2002 06:39 PM
John, I would hate to see you stop posting links to JN altogether, as you do tend to choose thought provoking articles (even if they are sales pitches in disguise). I've never seen you openly flame JN (though joining in on the fun is hardly a crime). Today was the closest I've seen you come to an open comment that might be less than professional. But certainly not Jerry Springer like. That said, perhaps it is a good point that not posting to JN at all is a good idea just to avoid that kind of thing. Better to be safe than sorry. Still, it seems like a shame. And, Johnathan, that picture is really, really horrifying. My delicate sensibilities have been thoroughly stomped! Posted by: Lydia on August 5, 2002 09:18 PM
"Until next time, take care of yourself.. and each other"
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