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To me, that's just not right.
I can see if the page content requires the user to have JavaScript enabled, or if you send old stubborn NN4 users to a page asking them to upgrade .. But to mess with things the user has learned to trust, that can be very dangerous.
If you don't want them to use the back button, consider loading the page in a window where the navigation bar has been removed. If you don't want them to see the location bar, do the same thing.
Did a never-ending series of pop-ups ever convince you to do anything? Did a stealth bookmark every entice you to click? Or a disabled back button actually convince you to buy?
Sometimes new Web Designers want to implement every new javascript or applet or embedded midi file they can find... just because of the "new-ness" and the "cool" factor. These budding developers need explanations as to WHY attempting to control visitor's browsers shows poor form at best and rudeness, even maliciosness at worst.
Most often the "newbies" will show restraint when an explanation is given. They usually move from "javascript takeovers" to Flash, where undoubtably their creativity and unbridled energy will result in a flash site that will "Wow!!" us all! After the 3,250kb load-time of course! ;)
Others... more experienced Webmasters will attempt "takeovers" full well knowing the intrusive nature.
Thank goodness for Opera & F12!!!
That's also why people are more and more, I think depending on a few trusted sites; often they find about them off the net. They depend on these for their info and the links out. One of the reasons why people are using search engines much less now than 2 years ago for finding information on the Net.
A lot unortunately is due to all the affiliate material on the Web. Now i know a lot of our WMW collegaues use affiliate links which are fine when you have content on your own and use affiliate links intelligently to gain from your targeted audience. But there are so much businesses that run affiliate farms. They have no interest in subject matter other than to make money from affiliate revenue and go to incredible lengths to get it, as they have no substance themselves. These make up a great proportion of people using these cunning stunts. They can assume different identities, and continually change them.
I agree with Doc and tedster. Legitimate sites never NEED to use these techniques. What im worried about is that people are being directed/advised to turn off js for example, when js can be used for GOOD!
Doing business on the Web automatically means carrying a heavy load due to these short term charlatans and the reputation they give all who work on the Web.
I'm far beyong the idealistic "Web is for everyone" catchcry of several years back now. Too many shysters have taken advantage, and i tend to support most proposals that will allow us to know who, exactly, is responsible for a web site or email communication. The person who changed your default browser page, or sent you spam, or fiddled with your favourites list, ir delivers delayed pop unders can be traced back with some effort, but privacy advocates do tend to make the job more difficult in many cases.
What im worried about is that people are being directed/advised to turn off js for example, when js can be used for GOOD!
Very good point Chiyo! Yes, there is no denying the enhancements and added functionallity javascript offers. What is sad is that we have reached a point where "disabling javascript" while surfing definately has its strong points as well.
As this point in time, I would say it is safe to assume the MOST surfers doing so with javascript disabled are well aware of WHEN they need to re-enble scripting inorder to experience certain functions of a particular site. With the Opera browser, F12 and a click, and I'm set either way.
I don't find it an inconvenience at all... in fact I LIKE having the option available, it allows me, as a surfer to retain control.
Unfortunately, the general surfing public probably has little clue to what javascript even is, let alone what it can do.
Somewhere, a compromise between user-control and site-design may have to be considered. It is VERY unfortunate that there are those Webmasters who would ruin it for us all.
Tough call either way.
For me, with the ease of "F12 and a click," I think I will choose to retain control and decide what "scripts" I want enabled.
These tactics only infuriate visitors - including myself and I always vow I'll never, ever return. The occasional popup ad is enough to run me off from sites if I am in a hurry looking for something.
So.....most of these tactics are used by internet cowboys and newbies that are fascinated with the latest bell/whistle.
Oh, and Chiyo, I trashed an ISP's startup disk and cancelled my account when their start-up program to connect me to the internet changed my browser home page. That's a really low thing...changing people's browser home page.
Exactly. I'll remove everything on a small in-site or 3rd-party pop-up if needed. If the pop-up content is small and quick to the point then there is no need for location bar, status bar, nav bar, etc. More times than not, the user is either going to click on the link/form or close the window, not type in some new URL on that pop-up. I'm not going to leave all those options there if they are not needed.
Those pop-ups draw in A LOT more clicks than having the actual link on the main page so I'll continue to leave it that way.
Honestly, haven't we all played around and created some really useless (and sometimes quite scary) functions, just because we could? Thank goodness we're smart enough to know not to use them all the time though! ;)
Not hardly. The units he built out had to be redesigned in a hurry - they couldn't come near the sales figures we got from stores that allowed the customer to browse, wander, and MAKE CHOICES.
And the customers complained loudly - usually to the cashiers who were being quickly demoralized. Funny thing, the average sale in these units was often up a bit - so there was "some" truth in the strategy. But total customer count was abysmal, so the total sales numbers were also in the tank.
The obvious point for me was that respect for your customer is an essential part of business success. In a competitive economy the customers must choose you, and they won't choose a business they perceive as abusive.
Respect .. Allow choices ..
(Ehm, but in the background we still have control .. The trick is just to let the user think he does!)
I find it helpful to think in terms of "degrees of freedom" and "probability functions"...but then I've rarely found a field of human activity that couldn't best be understood in terms of analogies with quantum physic (it has been pointed out to me that I am deeply and irrevocably strange, no need to tell me again)
"degrees of freedom" are the ways in which a user may alter the situation...the user wants a maximum number of these, that makes them feel good...the user does not want to be confronted with a huge range of possibilities to decide between...that's where "probability" comes into it
from any set point on the web the user can go literally anywhere else on the web...what I try to do is increase the probability that they will go where I want them to go...not to limit their options, because that makes them feel like they have less control...but to make my preferred option/options seem much more inviting than the alternatives
You offer choices, all of which are designed to move towards the offering party's desired goal's
Real world salesmen are VERY familiar with the technique: Do you want a blue car? Or a red one? You like red? Fine! Do you want "your" red car with whitewall tires" Or raised letter? Great! Do you want to pick up your red car with raised letter tires tomorrow? Or do you want to drive it home today?
Very simplistic example, but the principle is the same... Offer choices, but offer choices designed to "motivate" towards a goal.
That is why PPC search listings have survived and so far exceeded virtually everyone's expectations. PPC listings actually had less of the worst types of spam and sleaze than other search engines of the time (AV and Ink for instance).
Sure, many of us here (a majority in this forum, and still a minority in other forums) are interested in more than 'tricks' and 'scams'. This is a forum for professionals, serious e-business people. People who care about building a reputation, a name, and a business. But there are still plenty of others around.
The internet is still very superficial. The vast majority of users have to decide who and what to trust on mere face-value. It is all so insubstantial, so intangible, and all so very easy to appear from nowhere and disappear the same way with whatever money can be grabbed from suckers.
The cures will come, but right now they are intollerable to many. This is the WWW, the Wild West Web, with large open spaces, few if any long-standing traditions, and almost no law outside a few marshals and local lawmen. It is filled with outlaws and opportunists, but also with us pioneers. Laws will only come later, when enough pressure is applied to governments by large corporations, unions and the masses. For now, all we can do is build good settlements to attract those who can apply that pressure to our cause.
Ammon Johns
