3 ms·

How is it screwing you? At most it is a minor inconvenience.

benmathes 16y ago
My copy buffer is my copy buffer, and a fundamental aspect of computer interaction. It does not belong to The New Yorker or Techcrunch.
- Kadin 16y ago
  That's a good point and I agree, but why then do browsers let this sort of crap happen? Why do they allow JavaScript to modify what gets copied to the copy buffer, rather than just copying whatever you happen to select from the rendered page? I can't think of any good reason why that functionality should be allowed. The copy buffer should be as off-limits to the JavaScript VM as the contents of my hard drive. So while the developers of this "feature" and the websites that implement it are partially to blame, I think there's a flaw in browsers that's allowing them to do it in the first place. There aren't nearly enough fine-grained controls over JavaScript in modern browsers, given the really obnoxious shit that's beginning to be done with it (JS-based popups and popovers). Browser developers have left an opening for abuse and, particularly with the last decade-plus of WWW development in the rear-view mirror, we shouldn't be surprised when it gets abused in really user-hostile ways.
  - daleharvey 16y ago
    browsers dont have access to the clipboard, but they should do for the same reason word, spreadsheets, photoshop, ..., every other major desktop application do have access. This is a core piece of functionality that is a major part of building usable applications. yes they can be abused, you can make red text on a green background, or phish someones bank about and steal thousands using this technology, banning it isnt the solution.
  - chc 16y ago
    Why do operating systems let this crap happen? If a Web application mustn't put things on the clipboard, surely that applies to programs not written in Javascript as well. The idea that Web browsers shouldn't allow Javascript to do hardly anything is a large reason why the Web's "open platform" is getting kicked around like an empty can by closed platforms.

My copy buffer is my copy buffer, and a fundamental aspect of computer interaction. It does not belong to The New Yorker or Techcrunch.

Kadin 16y ago
That's a good point and I agree, but why then do browsers let this sort of crap happen? Why do they allow JavaScript to modify what gets copied to the copy buffer, rather than just copying whatever you happen to select from the rendered page? I can't think of any good reason why that functionality should be allowed. The copy buffer should be as off-limits to the JavaScript VM as the contents of my hard drive. So while the developers of this "feature" and the websites that implement it are partially to blame, I think there's a flaw in browsers that's allowing them to do it in the first place. There aren't nearly enough fine-grained controls over JavaScript in modern browsers, given the really obnoxious shit that's beginning to be done with it (JS-based popups and popovers). Browser developers have left an opening for abuse and, particularly with the last decade-plus of WWW development in the rear-view mirror, we shouldn't be surprised when it gets abused in really user-hostile ways.
- daleharvey 16y ago
  browsers dont have access to the clipboard, but they should do for the same reason word, spreadsheets, photoshop, ..., every other major desktop application do have access. This is a core piece of functionality that is a major part of building usable applications. yes they can be abused, you can make red text on a green background, or phish someones bank about and steal thousands using this technology, banning it isnt the solution.
- chc 16y ago
  Why do operating systems let this crap happen? If a Web application mustn't put things on the clipboard, surely that applies to programs not written in Javascript as well. The idea that Web browsers shouldn't allow Javascript to do hardly anything is a large reason why the Web's "open platform" is getting kicked around like an empty can by closed platforms.