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3 edits | reply to jDyno
Re: Dvorak embarrasses himself on CSS instead of Macs this time
Those who know, do. Those who don't, are Dvorak.
I think I've finally figured out his recipe: Take a few blanket statements that are so vague anyone can find "truth" in them. Mix in a quick compliment to take away the sour (and any appearance of partiality). Sprinkle on a liberal dose of half-truths and combine with blustering ignorance. Make sure all theories are half-baked. Publish. Repeat.
Dvorak is a journalist, not a web designer. The technologies aren't bad. He simply doesn't know them. I'd love to see him write an article about rebuilding a car engine. "What's with all the grease? These engines all need lubrication. You'd figure after 100-plus years of development, the internal combustion engine would be friction-free by now." And so on.
I am a web designer and have been for about a decade now. (I've actually been a journalist, but that's a different rant.) Sure anyone can learn some basic Photoshop and a little HTML and throw together a web site. Many even look good. But to really pull it off elegantly, whether with pure CSS and standards-compliant or tables, font tags, and blank gifs, requires a deep understanding of the underlying standards. HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc. It also requires understanding that transcends the technologies themselves, such as user interface design, accessibility, usability, and just being able to get that message out. If you have only partial knowledge or fail to understand the why of things, you're going to fall short. If your knowledge of the technologies is lacking, you might miss out on salient points that would help you.
It's clear that Dvorak isn't approaching this with a designer's mind so much as he probably wants his designs to coalesce in front of him automatically, delivered by some machine god that already knows what he wants. Too bad such a thing doesn't exist.
Yet, he has valid complaints under all the ignorance. Working around browser inconsistencies is a bit of a pain, but do any amount of web design and you quickly learn what these problems are and, more importantly, how to avoid them. Most important, however, is that as a web designer, it's your job to do know these workarounds and employ them. In an ideal world, it wouldn't be necessary, but name a profession where all things are ideal. If you don't the tools that are available or how web sites are designed and built you can quit the business, learn how to deal with it or make your own browser.
Better yet, Dvorak, hire a real web designer who know what he's doing and save the bitching for how Microsoft Vista will stink. Or rule. Or how Apple is finally (after 20+ years of waiting) going out of business. Or not.
Maybe we should be happy that Dvorak got a new theme about which to espouse his tremendous ignorance. Really, stick with something you're qualified to do. Something along the lines of "Would you like fries with that?" Dvorak exists to blather on about things he knows little about, get some attention and move onto the next target of his ignorance. The part about "cascading" really proves that out.
CSS is hardly perfect, but it's a damn good tool, and (for me, a professional) works better than any alternatives. It's not easy, but it's not meant to be. Until it becomes easy enough that anyone can do it by thought alone, I'll still stick with effective. |
