[thelist] RE: checked vs. unchecked boxes
ANDREA STREIGHT
astreight at msn.com
Thu Oct 21 09:40:01 CDT 2004
While I think this question is exhausted, I had to comment on the well
intended but erroneous statement that "leaving a box unchecked is making a
decision for the user as much as pre-checking it is."
Now come on. You can't be serious. Or does it depend on what the meaning of
"is" is?
Leaving boxes unchecked is not making a decision for users, it's putting
that decision into their hands.
Likewise the statement: "leaving a box unchecked is pre-selecting the NO
option."
No way. This is the whole point: Leaving the boxes unchecked is precisely
not pre-selecting anything for the user.
If this is not clearly understood, I give up.
It's like the term "pre-marital sex." If you never plan to get married, it's
not "pre-marital", it's "non-marital."
Giving the user choices is not to be described as "pre-selecting" the NO
option. It's giving the power to select or not select to the user.
I hope we don't have to discuss mousetraps and why it's wrong to disable the
browser Back button now.
Steven Streight
STREIGHT SITE SYSTEMS
Web Usability Analysis
Web Content Writing
Online & Direct Marketing
astreight at msn.com
www.vaspersthegrate.blogspot.com *Web Usability*
www.streightsite.blogspot.com *Mentally Correct Marketing*
www.ArtTestExplosion.blogspot.com
*Experimental Computer Art*
www.stcsig.org/usability/newsletter/0408-user-observation.html *latest
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