Failed fanlistings
13 July 2007, 12:13 am. View comments. Filed under Rants, Web-related.
I recently spent over five hours compiling my Fanlistings page, browsing through a whole load of fanlisting websites listed at The Fanlistings. Through this process, I have mentally constructed a couple of my fanlisting peeves (very "popular" problems, mind you), but really, they could apply to websites in general too.
- A "Fanlisting" section for the navigation:
Bleach Fanlisting. Look at how much exploitable space there is on the navigation bar. And yet the owner has decided to put the most important fanlisting pages—rules, codes, join and members/fans—as internal pages of a "Fanlisting" section. Well if it isn't so obvious already, the site is a "fanlisting" to start with. Thus, in order to list myself, I have to go to the "Rules" page, back out, go to the "Codes", back out again, go to "Join", and if I have the time (which I wouldn't have by this point) I would've also liked to check out the "Members" but I would have to back out first. That's right, again.
If there really is no space, then put section sub-navigations elsewhere like I have on this site which is directly accessible to pages within each section so I don't have to keep backing out of every single page. - Hidden navigation links:
Italy Fanlisting. Joining a fanlisting is not a mission of hide-and-seek. "Where the heck do I go?" "Right. I have to squint my eyes to read the links." "I have to freakin' tilt my head sideways." Why is it so popular nowadays for fanlistings to use those ten-pixel pixel-fonts anyway?
Unfortunately, that's not the saddest case yet. I came across a fanlisting where I literally sat there staring at the screen for thirty seconds trying to find the links. I had to press my Tab button to make sure there is actually an existing navigation. In the end I found it hiding far, far away in the bottom-left corner of the layout and the colour was "perfectly" camouflaged into the design. (I can't find the site now but it's the best example of "hidden navigation" I've come across on the web as of yet.) - Ugly link codes/buttons:
Novellas Fanlisting. I like novellas, I really do. But this liking does not yet prevail over the discomfort I would receive to put that ugly code on my website. Worst thing is, there is only one 50*50-pixel code to "choose" from. A square would do so much better than a failed attempt of a book-shape. Ugly code options is the one main reason I have not joined many fanlistings of items I actually like. In terms of fanlistings, that's worse than having an ugly design. The codes represent the actual site!
- Ugly website designs:
Web Design Fanlisting. As I said above, ugly designs are not as serious for me as ugly codes for fanlistings and this example is honestly not one of the worst I've come across. But being a fanlisting for web design, it's a BIG failure in representing web designers.
If you can't design a good website then don't goddamn own the web design fanlisting!
So, for the default design, ten-pixel pixel-font links for a liquid layout. *Grunts* Personally, the other skin option is slightly better but still not good enough to host a web design fanlisting. Multiple skins for a fanlisting is completely pointless but the funny part of this is that the design thumbnails for skin-switching are round the wrong way too. Having some "spiffy" skin-switching option for non-returning visitors is just a show-off and coming back to the main point of all this, it does not enhance the visual quality of a plainly unattractive design at all. - Please provide an unlinked URL with the codes:
This one is quite minor and applies to all websites in general. Provide the site URL as you would like to be linked on the top of your link-in codes and buttons and keep them as unlinked text. I don't need to be taken back to your homepage at this point and do you realise that it's actually harder to highlight linked text than unlinked? Preferably provide emphasis to the URL text too by bolding, italicising or underlining it.
In the end, I still joined the web design fanlisting because the codes weren't exactly as ugly and my liking for web design actually prevails against the discomfort of joining a fanlisting with an ugly design. It's just a one-time thing. 
I want to start a fanlisting because... OH MY GOD there is no fanlisting for Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino or A List Apart! Then again, I really just can't be bothered until I finish this entire site and when that's done there'll just be more things I want to do. So if anyone wants to start a fanlisting for those two named items I ultimately wish to join, don't let me call it a failed fanlisting for having one or more of the characteristics I listed above. Good website design please because Rilla really likes Mocha Frappe and A List Apart. 
19 Comments »
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There are so many sites out there which have all these oh-so-common mistakes/problems. I think I would have ended up like them if not for feedback from others and reading tutorials or advice. Maybe there should be some sort of test you have to pass to make a site, especially sites which are part of some erm, "community", like theFanlistings.org. Though, it won't ever work because not everyone takes site-making seriously right? It should be done for fun too anyways. I think.. I'm confusing myself.
I've never drunk a mocha frappuccino, let alone been to Starbucks! Oh my, I am so sad. -
Oh, Rilla I would do it in an instant if I could code worth a hoot right now. I am still looking for all my fanlisting. I forgot about those when I set Amarantine up. Hmm...I will check on the downtime of Amarantine. It shouldn't of been down unless it was while I was re-creating the databases and pages of Amarantine. I will check that out, thanks for the heads up, Rilla.
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It's too bad that you don't need to have proper accessibility lessons to make a website. And those problems are so common, but every time I see a site like that, I usually leave. Especially for the 10px fonts. I'm nearsighted, wear glasses, and don't want to go back to squinting to read!
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I don't plan to co-own a fanlisting because it's too small
But if anyone's going to start one I like please notify me to join! O.O -
Sorry for being late, but, the new revamp and layout look gorgeous! I love the colors.
And too bad for stupidity. "Ugly website designs" Haha! You want to make a fanlisting of web design? I'm assuming you have browsed one millionth of the great websites out there, and you give me that crappy design you thought was so great. -
1. It's because those using Enthusiast don't know how to incorporate it elsewhere?
2. Yeah, I hate those too.
3. Back when I used to link buttons, if it was ugly, then I'd just make my own.
4. The example wasn't so bad, but you're right, there are a lot out there with either an ugly design or just an ugly graphic!
5. Usually I just copy&paste the URL when I first visit before I go anywhere else.
Skins are okay, but sometimes they're pointless since most of us only go there once. -
Some of my fanlistings are hideous, but I think people don't tend to care because they're on the site for maybe 5 minutes before browsing elsewhere. I just don't have the time right now to do anything with them... :S
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I actually kinda like the webdesigns layout.
It's like..original. I don't know. It's not clogged like the other ones. Though I guess it's not a very good representation of the webdesign community on its own.
Aside from the ugly fanlistings I hope you're doing well... XD I'm being attacked by a typhoon here in Japan right now. -
The last time I've surfed into a fanlisting was ... four years ago. Until I read this entry, I never knew they still existed.
And uh, when I try to recall how those fanlistings looked back then, I must say that what's written in this entry fits most of them to a T. Especially the hidden navigation links and the uh, website design.
As for the link codes, I don't usually bother about them. Text links are the best! Wheee. (: -
I can understand where you're coming from about the fanlisting things. But, I just never join those because 1) they really don't do anything and 2) sometimes, fanlisting designs might look ugly. Haha. I just don't bother myself with it.
But why close comments on posts so fast?
I wanted to comment on the other foot binding post you had 
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Hi, I'm actually the owner of the Bleach Fanlisting you've mentioned in your post. Even though I shouldn't feel too great about one of my sites being placed under the 'Failed Fanlistings' category, I still wanted to thank you for your advise. The constructive criticism should be helpful for me to keep in mind for the future.
And, actually the reason why there is a seperate 'fanlisting' section is because the site is supposed to become a fanlisting and fansite in one, that is why I've intentionally split the information and fanlisting section into two sub-navigatory sections. But I see now how that can be super annoying for visitors who only want to join the fanlisting in one quick browse. In any way, thank you once again for your time to look at it and the useful comments on it. -
I can make Mocha Frappes so much better than Starbucks.
I work for a bookstore that has a cafe. hehemwahaha. -
@Maria: It could be the problem with Enthusiast, but the least that could be done is to put sub-navigation links on each of these pages so backing wouldn't be required so much.
@Jem: I think I was being a little vague about "ugly web designs". Basically I think it's fine if it's clean, all the text is easily readable and it's easy to navigate around the pages. All the highly artistic skills may be redundant for fanlistings. But what I was thinking were ugly were the sites with minuscule font-sizes (even worse when they use image-texts so I can't increase the size), use of iframes, messy organisation etc.
@Hiro: We recently had a tornado around our area that broke some garages and roofs and stuff. But our house was strong and safe
@Brenda: Yeah. Text-links are fine. But I created my fanlistings page to show off a "graphical presentation" of my interests and style
@Yingha: I closed comments early because spam bots liked to attack my old posts. And since my code verification thing was built differently to other tutorials on the net I really don't trust it to be able to stand against those malicious and evil spam bots. Basically, I don't trust my own coding
Well it's because those tutorials wouldn't work for me so there.
@Linda: Oops. I did not think I was going to get caught by any of the fanlistings I complained about. I realised many fanlistings also had extra sections more than just the fanlisting so that's why I suggested putting sub-navigation links on these sub-pages. You know, I'm just lazy and I like being able to navigate around easily.
@Skye: Aww please send some mocha frappes over to NZ! -
I do not join fan listings because it's such a hassle to add all the codes and all. And I'm lazy
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As for #4 (an ugly website design) I HATE it when I go to sites and the don't look good at all. I think the quality of the site really shows in the layouts. Like when I'm looking for hosting, if a site looks like it was put together in 5 seconds, I'll take my business elsewhere!
Good luck with everything! -
Design-wise, I suppose the first fanlisting outstripped the others but I agree with the point about the content structuring. LOL, this being all very reminiscent of Captious Pedants.
But it's hard to see perfection everywhere. It's just best to blame them for ignorance. -
Wow.
You said the web-design one was bad, but I was *not* expecting that.
The butterfly thing actually freaked me out a little, there was just this sort of big green bug staring back at me from my desktop.
Aah.
And mmm, I <3 my Mocha Frappuccino in the morning. -
Though I don't know much about webdesign, it does seem a little odd to me that all these negative terms were used about these perfectly fine websites. Or maybe that's just something the common people, who don't know anything about this, would think.
Also, don't you suppose the term 'ugly' is not exactly objective? It could be very hurtful for the people you said this about, should they ever read it. And apparently one already has.
PS: There is something wrong with the code that needs to be entered
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Lol. Want me to co own it with you for A List Apart?
I love that site since you gave me that link which saved my life 
Lol, the web design one was terrible. It seems like a shame, dontcha think? ;)