ON FORM, SUBSTANCE AND THE LAYOUT OF THIS SITE

Once in a while I’ve see complaints about the layout of this site, but more often than not they were lodged by those who cannot criticize the content due to lack of knowledge or intellect, so I did not much bother to respond. But Recently the criticism was by Dizwell, and since I certainly don’t count him among those, I decided to post here my exchange with him, to expound publicly my position on the subject.

Dizwell: Sadly, Fabian Pascal’s site, which probably shouldn’t really be called a blog in any case, though desperately in need of a renovation still looks as atrocious as ever, because it hasn’t had one -though its content remains of the highest standard. Blue, white, red, yellow and brown do not a harmonious combination make, I’m afraid! At least, not to these tired old eyes.

Pascal:

1. I hate website maintenance and must force myself to do it, since I don’t have another option.

2. Don’t care much about looks anyway. Was always a substance, not form person.

3. Given what it takes to deal with, it’s not that bad.

Sorry, guys, that’s about it.

Dizwell: It’s precisely because the substance is so important that the form is, too. There’s no real point in having excellent content if people are put off reading it; if it’s too difficult for anyone to navigate their way around it; if it tells people with visual impairments, effectively, to sod off; if it’s difficult to find the particular nugget of insight required. Good form is merely an aid to good content, no doubt about it… but the one without the other is in danger of pointlessness. IMHO, of course.

A good CMS could assist in removing any pain associated with website maintenance. Joomla! or Mambo, to name but two open source options, are very, very good, and very, very painless.

I should emphasize once more: I have the greatest respect for your content. But, to my eyes, the site really is that bad. I hope you take that the way it’s intended, too!

Pascal: Well, the site may not be pretty, but I don’t think it has the [esthetic] negativity that you describe.

I do not intend to waste 5 minutes on any software, regardless of how good or easy it is. I have neither the time, nor the inclination.

Those who don’t have enough motivation to read the content to put up with the form should not read it. It is not a site for the masses, but rather for the thinking practitioner, and I’m sure he can put up with it. It’s not the form that keeps [serious] people away from the site, believe you me.

Anyway, this is currently what I can and will do.

Dizwell: I didn’t describe any “negativity”, except for the fact that the site is as ugly as sin, and confusingly laid out as a result.

Investment in productivity tools is not “waste”.

It is indeed the form that keeps some people away from the site, take my word for it. I am, after all, as a visitor to the site and a consumer of its material, in rather more of a position to know that than you, merely the author, are.

It’s OK Fabian: I’ll still visit, because (third time of saying it) the content on your site is good. But that doesn’t invalidate anything I’ve said about its look and feel. You don’t have to get defensive about it, either. Or sexist about it: I’m sure there are “she” thinking practitioners as well as “he” ones.

Over and out.

Pascal: I believe that’s how you feel about the site, and I am sure others do too. However, I am a sucker for good organization (a requisite for database practitioners the bulk of whom do not possess) and I think it is good enough for the kind of effort I must put into it.

The site is free and despite how people (particularly americans) tend to think, it is much more for the benefit of the reader than mine. I am putting into it beyond the effort I can afford, the least the readers can do is to put up with it if they deem the content valuable (which they claim they do). Those who can’t, should not read it. It’s mainly their loss not mine, because my material is not available anywhere and it corrects material available everywhere.

If and when all those who deem the site so valuable stop paying lip service to it and start purchasing papers and attending/organizing seminars, I will consider some professional solutions.

We have a philosophical difference here, I’m afraid, not one of just esthetics and promotion.

Just FYI: I am hosted by a company which provides its own software, which is why I selected them: everything is preset and I have to just post HTML to it which I generate automatically from Word files. That makes it the easiest for me, but limits me in what I can do and what tools I can use. I myself don't want to do even any of that, but since I have to, I force myself.

Posted 1/13/06