Website Gripes
I thought I'd continue my series on 'insights into my head'. I've covered a few themes, so here's a new one: Website Groans.
I appreciate everyone is different, and that is what makes us unique and the world interesting, but here are my views:
Website 'put me offs'
There are certain features of a website that will usually make me immediately move on, not read, or close down the tab. It would need to be a very compelling topic for me to stick around. I love casual blog reading but I have limits.
Substack
There's been enough written about this organisation and its stance on promoting accounts with a heavy ideology towards discrimination and prejudice.
I will never read anything hosted on Substack. I have standards I abide by and do not wish to encourage ethnocentricism.
I appreciate that the authors of sites hosted by Substack usually do not carry these views, but by me visiting I am contributing to the financial gain of Substack via advertising (or subscription). No thank you.
Facebook and X
Need I say more. Toxic cesspit of human behaviours. Breeding a society of narrow-minded, and poorly informed individuals.
I was once on FB and a enjoyed the interaction with my friends, but left 8+ years ago. I could see the writing on the wall. FB (and X) now decide what you see, and push virulent content to an unsuspecting audience.
The fact that both services are run by multi-billionaires with the morals of a pile of dog mess just adds to my case.
I despair at the number of small businesses who run their entire operation via Farcebook. In the punch of a few keys, someone in their ivory tower can adjust the algorithm, having an adverse affect on the marketing initiatives of said small producer. I especially cringe when the only way to discover the opening times of an establishment is via a FB page. Get a feckin' website! It's not hard. It's not expensive. It's yours, not an egotists.
Cookies
"We value your privacy. We will share data we collect about you with our 978 partners.... Click to accept... Dig deep into the options if you want to decline all the cookies"
Honestly, you do not give a flying fig about my privacy if you want to share it with your near 1,000 best buddies in data harvesting.
I immediately leave the website.
Popups
I've been on your website five seconds, why do I want to sign up for a newsletter, or rate the site I have only just landed on.
Oh, and hide the close button so that I can barely locate it to get rid of the popup. That's gonna make me love you so much more - not!
Paywall links
I accept that some websites want to make money from people accessing it. They are more than entitled to do so. We all have to make a living.
If you've made a decision to sign up to the Paywall, please do not share an article on socials as I can't read it. Duh!
I know there are sites I can visit to get through the Paywall really simply, but honestly I've lost interest in your shared link.
Small font size
Hey, I'm getting on in my years. My eyes can't read tiny writing. I love that all you cool kids, just making your way in the world of digital story-telling, are using micro-sized text as you have fresh young pupils and a flexible eye-lens. I need it a little bit bigger. It's nice and easy on the eyes, and helps me stay with you, read more and enjoy your work.
Dark Sites
Similar to the above. My middle-aged eyes don't settle well on a black background with purple text. Think about contrast.
I did have a moan about this same topic in August 2025. Sorry for the repetition. I'm six months older now.
So that's an insight into my gripes on sites.
What provokes your flight response when you land on a website?