Sillybean

Things that make you look like an amateur on the web, part 2: special effects

• Mouse droppings. As annoying as pop-up ads — and the only way to get rid of them is to leave the site.
• Mystery meat navigation. Your visitors should never have to guess where to click.
• Transition effects.
• Java plugins or applets. These things are guaranteed to crash somebody’s browser, even if they work in yours.
• Javascript that disables basic browser functions (the right-click, the back button, etc.). Would you learn how to drive a car in a different way just go use one particular road? Why would you ask web visitors to? This includes using window.open() for links, since those links can’t be opened in tabs. This further includes Movable Type’s pop-up comments.

• Sounds that play automatically. I’m quite happy with my internet radio; the last thing I need is some lame typewriter sound effect interrupting me.

All this crap takes lots of extra time to implement, anyway. Just say no.