Stupid Messages
Here's a message I got from a web site today:
Why is it stupid?
Not because it doesn't tell you anything useful (like: what was required, and what is the "correction procedure").
Not because it is repetitive and redundant.
Not because someone thought that an unknown code number would be helpful in any way (I guess they had a -108 or -212).
Not because the popup window gets in the way of doing anything about the error or omission.
No, it's stupid because it advertises the lack of forethought and testing that went into that web site. Comedian Bill Engvall used to have a routine about "stupid people should carry signs" -- well, this is a sign displayed by the web designers. (didn't even have to hand them one, they made their own!) The rest of the web site may look very professional and polished, but when something like this appears - my estimation of the designers' capabilities drops like a rock.
Most software error messages really are trying to tell the user something useful (even if many users won't read the message in front of them, or if they have to look up the terms in the manual they never opened). But messages like this... well, it looks like they didn't even try.
I also have to wonder: how much tech support time and money is wasted because a software or web site developer didn't spend the few extra minutes to provide helpful messages?
Why is it stupid?
Not because it doesn't tell you anything useful (like: what was required, and what is the "correction procedure").
Not because it is repetitive and redundant.
Not because someone thought that an unknown code number would be helpful in any way (I guess they had a -108 or -212).
Not because the popup window gets in the way of doing anything about the error or omission.
No, it's stupid because it advertises the lack of forethought and testing that went into that web site. Comedian Bill Engvall used to have a routine about "stupid people should carry signs" -- well, this is a sign displayed by the web designers. (didn't even have to hand them one, they made their own!) The rest of the web site may look very professional and polished, but when something like this appears - my estimation of the designers' capabilities drops like a rock.
Most software error messages really are trying to tell the user something useful (even if many users won't read the message in front of them, or if they have to look up the terms in the manual they never opened). But messages like this... well, it looks like they didn't even try.
I also have to wonder: how much tech support time and money is wasted because a software or web site developer didn't spend the few extra minutes to provide helpful messages?