Comments and accounts
You may have noticed that there’s no way to make non-anonymous comments without logging in. (Of course, you can simply put your name in the body of an anonymous comment.)
This software behind this blog — Blogware — was designed with a “membership has its privileges” philosophy. By giving readers Blogware accounts, it’s possible to create special members-only areas that are not visible to non-members. For instance, this blog has some super-secret sections accessible only to people within my section (Innovation and Research) of the company for which I work (Tucows). I could also create sections in which I grant certain people author status, so they can post their own articles — a collaborative blog, if you will.
I don’t agree with making users sign up for an account just so they can leave comments with their name and URL attached. I think that although signing up for an account is a quick process, it makes my readers jump through unneccesary hoops for “benefits” of dubious value. I think that the “if you get an account, you’ll get cool privileges” line of thinking is the kind of tunnel-vision one gets from working on a piece of software without getting a detached third-party point of view (and, speaking as a programmer and software designer, I’ve fallen into that trap myself).
(Please keep in mind, that this sticking point about accounts aside, I’m enjoying using Blogware.)
However, I have agreed to give this system a try. if you have an opinion on this subject, please let me know through by leaving me a comment or sending me some email.
How to get an account
If you would like an account, the sign up process is simple. Go to the account signup page. Fill it out, then submit it. You will then receive an email asking you to confirm your request. Once you have confirmed your request, your account will be automatically activated.
I fyou have any questions, let me know in the comments!
9 replies on “Comments and this blog”
Ah, giving up personal info for the sake of being ‘logged in’. All in a day’s work! : )
So, is there a “click here to sign up” link somewhere on your main page, other than in that entry? I don’t see it. 🙂
colin roald.
Joey,
the new “look” on this sight is refreshing and it looks light it fits the bill… the removal of your email address as a link from your byline is a bit of a backward step, but if that is all I can pick at, then you are doing pretty well 🙂
I already commented on your old Happiest Geek site about what I think about the new way to comment, but I’d like to add that the links for comments and trackbacks are too damned small. I don’t know if that’s the default template or if it’s something you did, Joey, but a bigger target is easier for me to hit (Fitts’ Law, for those of your with user interface theory experience). Maybe if the word was a link as well instead of just the number of comments or trackbacks?
Ralph Brandi
I think I will stay Anonymous tbit for now.
tbit
The current look of the blog based on one of the default templates — I just haven’t had time to make the site look more like “me”.
I *am* opting for a cleaner, lighter design than the old AccordionGuy site, but minor tweaks aside, I won’t get much of a chance to change the look for a couple of weeks.
I can see it now – AccordionUI!
That would be an “AUI” (pronounced: “owie”)
🙂
It’s a little disconcerting that when you post a comment, it shows up with your “nickname” attached, not your account name.
Now I’m thinking about doing an experiment to see what happens if I set my nickname to “Anonymous.”
Rich