4 ms·

I use the arrow keys to scroll when reading web pages. This site uses JavaScript to add behaviour to the arrow keys for a reason I cannot fathom. Web developers

I use the arrow keys to scroll when reading web pages. This site uses JavaScript to add behaviour to the arrow keys for a reason I cannot fathom. Web developers, please avoid JavaScript at all costs. Unless you know precisely what you are doing, you will only mess up a user’s experience. As for the actual article, this: “3D printing will be poised to suck the value out of manufacturing.” Sounds like a good thing to me. If we make all our own jobs obsolete, then our economic model will have to change so that we don’t starve to death in the ensuing abundance and leisure. Of course, just because manufacturing and, say, agriculture can be done by automatons doesn’t mean they should be. Even if some can’t fathom it, a lot of people genuinely enjoy getting their hands dirty. Will they be allowed to farm for pleasure when the robots do all the necessary farming?

JacksonGariety 14y ago
This is correct.
dbz 14y ago
I simply left the webpage after scrolling up and down a few times in confusion with my arrow keys. I don't believe I've ever missed important content after leaving from a webpage that can't give me a proper user experience.
cabalamat 14y ago
> I use the arrow keys to scroll when reading web pages. This site uses JavaScript to add behaviour to the arrow keys for a reason I cannot fathom. What would be useful is a web browser that simply refuses to change the behaviour of common idioms (such as down arrow).
greggman 14y ago
Unfortunately google also overrides the cursor keys on search results. I hate it. But it puts the site in question in good company :(
green7ea 14y ago
I know what you mean. I use hjkl to navigate (vimium). Many sites who are careful about not overriding arrow keys don't imagine someone using other keys to navigate.
mistercow 14y ago
Another annoying "feature" of the page is that ctrl-f is overridden to take you to their FeedBurner page. Why that would ever need a keyboard shortcut is beyond me, but assigning it to ctrl-f is just crazy.
- PJones 14y ago
  And it breaks the back button when it does it.

JacksonGariety 14y ago

This is correct.

dbz 14y ago

I simply left the webpage after scrolling up and down a few times in confusion with my arrow keys. I don't believe I've ever missed important content after leaving from a webpage that can't give me a proper user experience.

cabalamat 14y ago

> I use the arrow keys to scroll when reading web pages. This site uses JavaScript to add behaviour to the arrow keys for a reason I cannot fathom. What would be useful is a web browser that simply refuses to change the behaviour of common idioms (such as down arrow).

greggman 14y ago

Unfortunately google also overrides the cursor keys on search results. I hate it. But it puts the site in question in good company :(

green7ea 14y ago

I know what you mean. I use hjkl to navigate (vimium). Many sites who are careful about not overriding arrow keys don't imagine someone using other keys to navigate.

mistercow 14y ago

Another annoying "feature" of the page is that ctrl-f is overridden to take you to their FeedBurner page. Why that would ever need a keyboard shortcut is beyond me, but assigning it to ctrl-f is just crazy.

PJones 14y ago
And it breaks the back button when it does it.