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WebWord Weblog Posting Posting Date: August 08, 2002 Are 99 Percent of All Web Sites Obsolete? -- "What happened was pretty simple: the Web became commercial before standards were in place and before browsers supported those standards. Businesses began demanding sophisticated Web presences when there was no standard design format and no standard scripting language. We did whatever we had to do. We developed best practices that weren't always for the best." (Comments: This is an interview with Zeldman.)
Reader Comments...
Coming from the guy who espouses px for font sizing. uh huh. Posted by: Jack on August 8, 2002 10:33 PM
I think 99% of companies are scratching their heads thinking why they have spent so much on a web presence. Those were the years when salesperson were the kings! Bet that only comes around once in a life time :)
Good point. The majority of companies that have web sites or need web sites do not need database management or XML. They serve local customers and do not seek a global audience. They've invested a lot in their web presence with no payoff. They are hair dressers, restauranteurs, landscapers and florists. First and foremost their web sites are glorified brochures. In that glorious future when a majority of their customers use the Internet daily, they will expand their web sites to do little more than schedule appointments or reservations. If they need more, they'll tie into a national service - for example, florists using a national ordering system -- because an individual florist cannot afford to invest in a robust ordering system and maintain it over time. Standards pushers need to be careful that they don't continue to overhype the web. The revolution is over and we're still hungry and out of work. Now you want us to pick up arms and fight again? Posted by: Jack on August 9, 2002 12:47 PM
You can't "overhype" anything. The word "hype" already means "Exaggerated or extravagant claims". Common usage error. ;) That's like saying "adequate enough". Posted by: MadMan on August 9, 2002 01:24 PM
I respectively disagree with my esteemed colleague from the auspicious city of Bangalore. The phrase "over exaggerate" is commonly heard in the USA. While "over hype" and "over exaggerate" may be logically incorrect, they are accepted usage. They are the union, a fusion, of two words into a phrase that has the same meaning as the primary word, but that carries greater dramatic effect. And I, for one, believe it is common usage that defines a language, not companies that manufacture dictionaries.
That's the blessing and curse of the U.S.A - many words that wouldn't cross the lips of linguists (such as overhype) fall into common usage here. It makes for colorful speech, though. :) I do wish more companies would carefully consider their web presence. On several occasions, as part of researching a company I was considering doing business with, I have visited the website to find a blinking, horizontally ruled nightmare that looked like it was done by a second grader. It definitely turned me off to them. However, when I found a well done site (even a modest brochure-type of site), I felt better about them. Similarly, sites that did not need an elaborate flash introduction turned me off because they didn't seem substantive enough. I think it is important to send the right message via your web page. It would be cool if I could schedule hair appointments through a modest website, but if it has a flash intro, I know I'll be spending through the nose. Posted by: Lydia on August 9, 2002 03:03 PM
I know this is not a language thread, but my belief is that the English language is organic (well it is in the US )in that it changes and advances over time We must remember that Do'h! is now in the dictionary and that, to me, suggests you can say whatever you want as long as people get the jist of it. Viva La Revolution!
As Obelix would say, "These Americans are crazy!" ;) And it seems Ebonics is common usage over there too, but you aren't going to convince me to ever use it. :p Don't get me started on "reason why". Posted by: MadMan on August 9, 2002 05:13 PM
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