4 ms·

thanks, i read the article. footnotes are convenient when reading a physical object because, as you imply, more information right there can be distracting. ho

thanks, i read the article. footnotes are convenient when reading a physical object because, as you imply, more information right there can be distracting. however if you choose to go find the footnote, that's up to the reader and would objectively qualify as a distraction. similarly, a link with no hover over text is left for the reader to choose to click or not. this IS a footnote in a sense and is the modern paradigm used for digital reading.

Retric 16y ago
I think, having a link in the middle of a sentence is more distracting than using a footnote style link at the end of the sentence. EX: The war of 1812 was started by the United States in response to a series of trade restrictions (do you want to know more?) to impede on-going American trade with France. Vs. The war of 1812 was started by the United States in response to a series of trade restrictions to impede on-going American trade with France. (do you want to know more?)
- jpwagner 16y ago
  no, more like: The war of 1812 was started by the United States in response to a series of trade restrictions to impede on-going American trade with France. Vs. The war of 1812 was started by the United States in response to a series of trade restrictions to impede on-going American trade with France.4 4--trade restrictions <www.somelamewebsite.com>
  - Retric 16y ago
    I often find when I am reading Wikipedia or tvtropes.org just processing all the great links takes significant effort. AKA why do I have 15 tabs open. So my text (would you like to know more) is trying to represent that choice. And my point is the presence of a link or a footnote both represent the option to learn more and when creating content deciding where to place those links is important. PS: Wikipedia uses both and I find the footnotes are far less distracting.

4 ms·

thanks, i read the article. footnotes are convenient when reading a physical object because, as you imply, more information right there can be distracting. ho

by jpwagner 16y ago

Retric 16y ago
I think, having a link in the middle of a sentence is more distracting than using a footnote style link at the end of the sentence. EX: The war of 1812 was started by the United States in response to a series of trade restrictions (do you want to know more?) to impede on-going American trade with France. Vs. The war of 1812 was started by the United States in response to a series of trade restrictions to impede on-going American trade with France. (do you want to know more?)
- jpwagner 16y ago
  no, more like: The war of 1812 was started by the United States in response to a series of trade restrictions to impede on-going American trade with France. Vs. The war of 1812 was started by the United States in response to a series of trade restrictions to impede on-going American trade with France.4 4--trade restrictions <www.somelamewebsite.com>
  - Retric 16y ago
    I often find when I am reading Wikipedia or tvtropes.org just processing all the great links takes significant effort. AKA why do I have 15 tabs open. So my text (would you like to know more) is trying to represent that choice. And my point is the presence of a link or a footnote both represent the option to learn more and when creating content deciding where to place those links is important. PS: Wikipedia uses both and I find the footnotes are far less distracting.