Note to Reviewers
First off, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this page. I have decided to include this page to clarify some issues I have had in the past when submitting my site to reviewers for review. I guess, in a way, it is easier for me to just state out right why I do or don't do things in the beginning. So here goes…
- Quick Jump:
- Splash Pages
- Scripting / Coding
- Navigation
- Layouts
- Color Scrollbars
- Tag Board / Guestbook
- Visitor Content
- Originality
Splash Pages
I do not and will not use a splash page. I see no other purpose in them than to give the requirements for viewing a page and showing the web-related things you have joined. I try to design my sites to be compatible with most all browsers. On the issue of the links, why send a visitor away from your site before they even view it? In my mind, it makes no sense for me to use one and so I don't.
Scripting / Coding
I know my scripting and coding skills aren't perfect, but it's something I'm working on. I currently use Wordpress. I know there is a possibility that I may even manage to screw that up. It is a work in progress and I am trying to learn. I have discovered that I learn best by trial-and-error. If errors are found, please point them out – just don't lecture me on “Bad Coding”. I don't like being lectured on what I already know.
Navigation
I prefer simple, non-cluttered navigation on my pages. I have divided all information on my site into sections, linked, and then explained them. It is easier for people to navigate if they don't have to search through countless useless things to find the type of information they are searching for.
I use breadcrumbs instead of back links on my pages. I find it easier to list previous links in order and let the visitor decide where to go back to. This works better for me because a visitor can enter a site from almost any page and in using breadcrumbs they can easily navigate to other related sections without being sent out of the site through a back link. Besides, don’t be lazy. Your browser already offers you a back link.
Layouts
I favor simple, easy to load layouts with few images. I'm impatient by nature and don't like waiting on graphic heavy sites to load. I can't expect a visitor to want to wait for any graphic heavy layouts to load either.
I don't like designing with images as the main focus. There are still some people who browse without them. Out of curiosity, I suggest that you disable images in your browser and surf the web a while. It's interesting to see how much you can really miss without them. This site is content focused - and I don't see any reason to use layouts that rely heavily on images for appeal. Don't get me wrong, I do want my site to be visually appealing. I do not want to sacrifice speed or functionality for it though. I do not wish to use image maps, large useless header images that take up half the screen and serve no purpose, and/or images that do not belong to me or that I don't have direct permission to use.
Also color combinations are chosen for visual appeal and then edited as needed to fit guidelines for accessibility for those with visual impairments. They are not always the original colors I chose. They end up darkened, lightened, or otherwise changed in the process. They are usually as close to the original as I can get them while still staying in the standard accessibility guidelines. See the “Accessibility Statement” for more information regarding the designing of layouts.
Color Scrollbars
I will not use color scrollbars. Please, don't even mention them. First of all, they are not valid coding. Second, they do not work in many browsers - including the one I use.
Guestbook
I have owned other sites in the past and have used both tag boards and guestbooks on them. They both became more of a place for drama than anything that could be considered constructive. People may use the contact page to contact me. I have no desire to add either a tag board or a guestbook to this site. I have enough drama in my life with out adding to it.
Visitor Content
Personal Site - as defined by Anna Kirstin - mine, mine, mine! This site does not have any content aimed primarily at pleasing visitors. I hate to break hearts, but amusing visitors is not my goal in life. I add content that I want to file and keep up with that I also think might amuse someone in the process. Keeping the world entertained for hours is not in my job description. It is not a REQUIREMENT. That being said, I do want to try to please visitors. However, I am not going to change my way of doing things or add material I do not like for the sole purpose of keeping others entertained. It defeats the purpose of a “Personal Site”. My goal is to please myself first.
On the subject of offering tutorials, I AM NOT QUALIFIED to write tutorials and I am intelligent enough to know that. Let's not populate the internet with lousy tutorials. If there is something that you think I would be genuinely interested in, then by all means – suggest it. I would even appreciate the tip. I only ask that it stays within my skill level and my interests.
I would rather have a little bit of content I know a great deal about than a great deal of content I know little about.
Originality
Personal pages have become about as original as cereal at breakfast. It's odd because people really are originals and unique, but we just need to accept it, there is only so much you can do with a personal website.