This is probably the main reason I hang on the edges of the comics scene. I mean, I don’t have a problem with what Eric is saying here and in fact I agree with him, but “They need to kill the four column layout” just reeks of some kind of rotten superiority with a hint of paranoia. I don’t think I necessarily deserve more, nor do I seek praise from my peers and/or superiors. For all I know Eric is a really nice guy and if he’s passionate enough about good comics to post to this message board he must be. So why the negativity? Unfortunately it seems to be the standard in comics today. No wonder it’s all going down the shit heap.
Let’s push things forwards kids.
Oh, don’t worry about it, dear boy. A lot of people (mainly Americans) use violent terms as metaphors for problem-solving.
I’m not sure it “reeks of … superiority [and] paranoia”, but it’s certainly not helpful criticism. Besides, this kind of comment is hardly unique to comics fans, or even “fans” in general. Ask people why the don’t vote and many will say things like politicians are all useless/corrupt/the same. Hardly a reason to give up on democracy is it?
I actually agree that the four column layout is overegging it a bit. I take your point about working on the backend of things – the move to MT and so on – and that’s really showing through. However, I feel that your decision to de-emphasise the weblog was a mistake. The weblog is, in many ways, the powerhouse of the whole enterprise and needs to remain front and center (metaphorically if not geographically :) ). On the other hand, trying to emphasise some of the other stuff going on is surely a good thing.
Off the top of my head, here’s how I’d jiggle it around. Put the weblog on the left, filling about half the width. I like the two narrow, one fat column thing you’ve got going on, so I’d put the TRS2/Resources/BugWiki stuff in the remaining space. I’d relabel the Reviews box TRS2 Reviews. I’d break the sidebar up – Post with recent comments is useful, so I’d try and put that near the top. A big list of the monthly archives is less useful, so I’d put that in a box down the bottom of the page, if at all. I’d put the search box near the top of the page, and the Legal/Powered by and stuff down the bottom. If possible I’d see if I could get MT to randomise the Reviews/Resources/Elsewhere/etc boxes, so that each time the page is rebuild they appear in a different order. That way, when people come back to check the weblog, the might see a box they hadn’t seen before and so be tempted to investigate something new. Alternatively, I’d put a little navbar (say on the right of the blue divider with links to scroll to the different boxes).
I’d was going to email all this, but there you go.
Turns out the Eric in question has used BugPowder in the past. I’m not so much being sensitive as just illustrating why I generaly stay clear of these forums and the like – that kind of environment seems to take decent people and turn them into arseholes – Rich Johnson is a case in point. Lovely bloke in person, wanker on the web. I just don’t want to go there.
As for Jez’s comments, points taken. Along with others. Await version x.0.2 (or whatever)