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Did you consider giving the the user some way to configure the text color?

by frank2 7y ago

FpUser 7y ago
I only make configurable things that MUST be configured. I've long learned that my audience when it comes to handling software for better or worse has the average intelligence approaching that of my cat. Not trying to insult here. Just general observation
- JosefAssad 7y ago
  I've observed something not too different. I suspect it might be that I and my users are at different levels of zoom with respect to the product. They really don't think about it at all except for when they need to get specific tasks done that the product does well. They are max zoomed out. I necessarily am zoomed in to the entire product, from every lowly line of code all the way up to the aggregate product. I am max zoomed in. This leads to a sense of alienation when I observe the relationship between my users and my product. Sometimes it's simpler to think that I actually don't know my own product, so different is the perspective. Really it's a matter of how much the product occupies in my mind versus theirs; they are using it opportunistically and would prefer to spend as little time as possible thinking about it. Which I suppose is a good argument against over-engineering; for a mass market product, core features beyond the third will only be used by the developers. Anyhow, all that is to say I can understand your comment, and I often think that I'm lucky the emacs developers or GvR don't look over my shoulder when I use their software because they would give their cats Nobel prizes. :)
- xg15 7y ago
  > Not trying to insult here. Just general observation Sorry, still an insult. But ok. So your users have the intelligence of a cat and are generally really helpless with your software. Then the obvious way forward is to include non-discoverable features, hard-to-read text and extra-confusing mouse gestures...?
  - FpUser 7y ago
    Sorry, still an insult. Sorry I believe it is not because I did say "when it comes to software". I freely admit to being an imbecile in Quantum Chromodynamics. Same goes with my users. Many of them are actually lawyers, dentists and other rather well off people. I am sure they're intelligent in many fields. But for many of them the software is not their cup of tea. That's just life and I do not see too many Leonardo Da Vincis walking around. "Offering them hard to read text will help" - well I appreciate your sarcasm but allow me configurable option to ignore it ;)

Did you consider giving the the user some way to configure the text color?

by frank2 7y ago

Did you consider giving the the user some way to configure the text color?

I only make configurable things that MUST be configured. I've long learned that my audience when it comes to handling software for better or worse has the average intelligence approaching that of my cat. Not trying to insult here. Just general observation

JosefAssad 7y ago
I've observed something not too different. I suspect it might be that I and my users are at different levels of zoom with respect to the product. They really don't think about it at all except for when they need to get specific tasks done that the product does well. They are max zoomed out. I necessarily am zoomed in to the entire product, from every lowly line of code all the way up to the aggregate product. I am max zoomed in. This leads to a sense of alienation when I observe the relationship between my users and my product. Sometimes it's simpler to think that I actually don't know my own product, so different is the perspective. Really it's a matter of how much the product occupies in my mind versus theirs; they are using it opportunistically and would prefer to spend as little time as possible thinking about it. Which I suppose is a good argument against over-engineering; for a mass market product, core features beyond the third will only be used by the developers. Anyhow, all that is to say I can understand your comment, and I often think that I'm lucky the emacs developers or GvR don't look over my shoulder when I use their software because they would give their cats Nobel prizes. :)
xg15 7y ago
> Not trying to insult here. Just general observation Sorry, still an insult. But ok. So your users have the intelligence of a cat and are generally really helpless with your software. Then the obvious way forward is to include non-discoverable features, hard-to-read text and extra-confusing mouse gestures...?
- FpUser 7y ago
  Sorry, still an insult. Sorry I believe it is not because I did say "when it comes to software". I freely admit to being an imbecile in Quantum Chromodynamics. Same goes with my users. Many of them are actually lawyers, dentists and other rather well off people. I am sure they're intelligent in many fields. But for many of them the software is not their cup of tea. That's just life and I do not see too many Leonardo Da Vincis walking around. "Offering them hard to read text will help" - well I appreciate your sarcasm but allow me configurable option to ignore it ;)