Users, Freakers, Losers, Drivers...
All of the quotes used in this entry are from Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
When I first read this line and its fellows, I thought, "Finally! Here's something I can use in my argument about differing writing styles and how it's hard to switch back and forth between them!" It's kind of sad how happy I was.
Cutting down on your verbosity is an awesome talent when writing for the Web, news writing, and for directions on websites, but it becomes difficult to step out of this way of thinking and writing when you have to write an eight page research paper in one night (oh yeah, you didn't start until 11:00pm the night before. Have fun!). But even when you manage to find sufficient time for longer papers, you need to realize that styles are truly different. I almost feel as if I can't sum everything up in a few sentences, make my point clearly and succinctly because I need more than two pages (maybe three if I have a big topic). There's actual pressure to have a lot of words = more pages = hopefully better grade! Put on your racing gloves, folks. This one's gonna be a hairpin!
I completely realize that this is my own personal issue, but quite frankly, I'd rather look stupid standing stock still, staring at a store's aisle signs or wandering in and out of said aisles to find a product than to ask someone for help. I think that the search is half the adventure (barring my being in an extreme hurry and ready to snap at the first innocent bystander). So naturally, when I read this passage I thought, "I pray that I'm never in a situation where a person (possessing all of their faculties) continuously comes up to me visit after visit and wants to know where the same item is!" Here's a hint: It'll be bad.
Persistent Navigation = Good. Everyone likes to know where they are. And if you don't, then all the more power to ya. So, it's not hard to figure out that complete and user-friendly navigation bars will bring in more bees than that other guy's site that goes every which way. With great (clear) navigation, I think the user should want to say "Mommy, I'm home!" whenever they come back from another part of the site.
Now, it should be known that I love to drive. There's simply one problem: I hate city driving! I always feel as if I don't know where I'm going because the signs are small enough to be nonexistent; there never seems to be enough time before exits to move over to the correct lane; and don't even get me started on the buses/trollies ONLY streets! (Bad experience if ya catch my drift.) So what's all this blathering mean? Simply put, make your web site's signs big, easy to see, and high speed driver friendly!
ZOOM, ZOOM!
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I especially enjoyed reading your first couple of points - I identified with these exactly! I too find it hard to switch from very pointed, direct writing that is appropriate for news writing and web writing, to writing that requires a more extensive approach. Like you said, a research paper and other such documents require a lengthy development with multiple sections and arguments. But I also see the merit the of web writing skills in these types of writing. Even though they are more complex, you still want to strive for succinctness. However, you wouldn't apply as harsh editing/text elimination rules.
I’m also the type of person that would rather search for what I need than ask for assistance. In stores and on the web, I think direct assistance should be a last resort. If the store/site did its job, you should have no problem finding what you need on your own utilizing the tools provided for you.