In the words of Homer Simpson - "Just because I don't care doesn't mean that I don't understand".
I think the recent slashdot poll was directly tied to the redesign. Slashdot audience is getting older, the crowd is now mid-to later in their careers. I can see that - I've been a consistent reader since 1997.
So, Dice decides it is time to rejuvenate the website. I suspect that the objective is to pare down the number of crusty old coots, who block ads and otherwise freeload, and get the "hip, young" crowd that now hangs on Reddit and what not. It sounds like someone with experience in marketing had a hand in this.
The problem as I see it is that Slashdot is more of a Saab of web/news industry. You have a specific image, and a dedicated customer base. Historically, attempts at rebranding and reinventing oneself, in particular for a company with that kind of background, are generally not successful. This is particularly so when a rebranding is done in such an obvious, hamfisted way.
Dice was never a particularly web-savvy company. I've been using them as long as I've been a slashdot reader. Dice (no offense) is a poorly designed concentrator for all the spammy recruiters out there. It's a bit of a cesspool, but it serves its purpose. However, given their history and performance - it is highly unlikely they have sufficient web/social/marketing expertise to turn this site around.
Slashdot hasn't been as exciting as in the past for a while now. What it needed is fresh ideas, better ways to get involved in duscussion, *more* interactivity and possibly ability to connect among its users (I don't suggest it become a facebook, but it's has a long way to go in improving social side). Slashdot will not, in my view, benefit from gaudy pictures, "web 3.0" design and general dumbing down. You will not get the "hip crowd" and you will lose your current user base. Look at Saab for guidance.
It's already happening, that's why Slashdot as of late has accepted so many pro-drug stories that come from extremely dubious and biased sources like NORML. They want to appeal to the hip young potheads that blatantly violate the law and are more concerned with getting high than doing anything productive with their lives. They don't want the adults who are actually functioning, contributing members of society and couldn't give a shit about getting high.
BINGO! They're throwing the old audience over the nearest deck railing to make room for a renovation to lure a new, younger crowd.
A similar situation faces -- stick with me on this -- the National Hockey League. There's a much greater awareness in pro sports about concussions and player safety. But all the obvious, easy things the NHL could do, like requiring full-face helmets and banning fighting, would send the old fans screaming into the streets. But there's no way the NHL can break out of 4th place
I used to drive a Saab 9-3. When GM took over, I did not buy another Saab, because I did not like what they did to the brand. I held onto it for as long as I could, then changed brands entirely. GM will never get my money specifically because of what they did to Saab.
The same will happen here. If at some point I can't get Slashdot without it looking more or less like Beta does, I'm probably just going to stop bothering with the site altogether. Lose the pictures. Don't make me click "more" to RTFA. U
Slashdot hasn't been as exciting as in the past for a while now. What it needed is fresh ideas, better ways to get involved in duscussion, *more* interactivity and possibly ability to connect among its users
I almost want to say I feel a little sympathy for them when you say, "Slashdot needs new, fresh ideas!", they apply their misguided ideas of what new direction Slashdot needs, and everyone yells at them. Then they try to compromise (at least that's what it's supposed to sound like) by saying "we'll take it slower" but everybody continues yelling at them. Pride is a big thing, and it seems to me it's a fundamental part of their marketing jobs; they can't just "give in" and say, "Okay, we'll leave Slashdot th
needed is fresh ideas, better ways to get involved in duscussion, *more* interactivity and possibly ability to connect among its users
Yes -- give users the option of accepting private messages from other users. Often I've come across a comment whose author is clearly an expert in some field, and I've wanted to pick his or her brain.
If Slashdot enabled this kind of collaboration among experts, it might actaully become the enabler for breakthroughs in various fields, such as particle physics or computer science.
Hi! I'm 24 years old and I've been lurking on this site for 9 years. I just wanted to add to the parent's comment and point out that technically inclined people will want what technically inclined people want. Function over aesthetics will always rule as #1 for us, no matter our age.
"You" (as in those in charge of the beta) seem to have the idea that you need to target a new "hip age group", and not just the technically inclined. Be warned that the young folks like me DO NOT WANT a nonfunctional shiny new w
The only way to learn a new programming language is by writing programs in it.
- Brian Kernighan
Listening? Not too sure. (Score:5, Insightful)
In the words of Homer Simpson - "Just because I don't care doesn't mean that I don't understand".
I think the recent slashdot poll was directly tied to the redesign. Slashdot audience is getting older, the crowd is now mid-to later in their careers. I can see that - I've been a consistent reader since 1997.
So, Dice decides it is time to rejuvenate the website. I suspect that the objective is to pare down the number of crusty old coots, who block ads and otherwise freeload, and get the "hip, young" crowd that now hangs on Reddit and what not. It sounds like someone with experience in marketing had a hand in this.
The problem as I see it is that Slashdot is more of a Saab of web/news industry. You have a specific image, and a dedicated customer base. Historically, attempts at rebranding and reinventing oneself, in particular for a company with that kind of background, are generally not successful. This is particularly so when a rebranding is done in such an obvious, hamfisted way.
Dice was never a particularly web-savvy company. I've been using them as long as I've been a slashdot reader. Dice (no offense) is a poorly designed concentrator for all the spammy recruiters out there. It's a bit of a cesspool, but it serves its purpose. However, given their history and performance - it is highly unlikely they have sufficient web/social/marketing expertise to turn this site around.
Slashdot hasn't been as exciting as in the past for a while now. What it needed is fresh ideas, better ways to get involved in duscussion, *more* interactivity and possibly ability to connect among its users (I don't suggest it become a facebook, but it's has a long way to go in improving social side). Slashdot will not, in my view, benefit from gaudy pictures, "web 3.0" design and general dumbing down. You will not get the "hip crowd" and you will lose your current user base. Look at Saab for guidance.
Re: (Score:-1)
It's already happening, that's why Slashdot as of late has accepted so many pro-drug stories that come from extremely dubious and biased sources like NORML. They want to appeal to the hip young potheads that blatantly violate the law and are more concerned with getting high than doing anything productive with their lives. They don't want the adults who are actually functioning, contributing members of society and couldn't give a shit about getting high.
Re: (Score:0)
BINGO! They're throwing the old audience over the nearest deck railing to make room for a renovation to lure a new, younger crowd.
A similar situation faces -- stick with me on this -- the National Hockey League. There's a much greater awareness in pro sports about concussions and player safety. But all the obvious, easy things the NHL could do, like requiring full-face helmets and banning fighting, would send the old fans screaming into the streets. But there's no way the NHL can break out of 4th place
Re: (Score:0)
Saab? As in bankrupt and whose pieces were eventually bought by a Chinese consortium?
Yes, learn from Saab. (Score:1)
I used to drive a Saab 9-3. When GM took over, I did not buy another Saab, because I did not like what they did to the brand. I held onto it for as long as I could, then changed brands entirely. GM will never get my money specifically because of what they did to Saab.
The same will happen here. If at some point I can't get Slashdot without it looking more or less like Beta does, I'm probably just going to stop bothering with the site altogether. Lose the pictures. Don't make me click "more" to RTFA. U
Re: (Score:1)
I suspect that the objective is to pare down the number of crusty old coots, who block ads and otherwise freeload, and get the "hip, young" crowd
what makes you think young people don't block ads and otherwise freeload? they probably do it better than the old farts
Re: (Score:0)
Enough people seem to genuinely care about the slashdot *community* that it almost seems as if a non-profit propped up with user donations would work.
Re: (Score:2)
Slashdot hasn't been as exciting as in the past for a while now. What it needed is fresh ideas, better ways to get involved in duscussion, *more* interactivity and possibly ability to connect among its users
I almost want to say I feel a little sympathy for them when you say, "Slashdot needs new, fresh ideas!", they apply their misguided ideas of what new direction Slashdot needs, and everyone yells at them. Then they try to compromise (at least that's what it's supposed to sound like) by saying "we'll take it slower" but everybody continues yelling at them. Pride is a big thing, and it seems to me it's a fundamental part of their marketing jobs; they can't just "give in" and say, "Okay, we'll leave Slashdot th
Slashdot could be so much more (Score:2)
needed is fresh ideas, better ways to get involved in duscussion, *more* interactivity and possibly ability to connect among its users
Yes -- give users the option of accepting private messages from other users. Often I've come across a comment whose author is clearly an expert in some field, and I've wanted to pick his or her brain.
If Slashdot enabled this kind of collaboration among experts, it might actaully become the enabler for breakthroughs in various fields, such as particle physics or computer science.
Re: (Score:2)
"I think the recent slashdot poll was directly tied to the redesign."
Slashdot still has polls?
I have not seen one in years, I thought they decided it was too much work and discontinued them.
Perhaps they actually just made them dependent on javascript?
Either way they were effectively removed so far as I and many other slashdotters are concerned.
Re: (Score:0)
Hi! I'm 24 years old and I've been lurking on this site for 9 years. I just wanted to add to the parent's comment and point out that technically inclined people will want what technically inclined people want. Function over aesthetics will always rule as #1 for us, no matter our age.
"You" (as in those in charge of the beta) seem to have the idea that you need to target a new "hip age group", and not just the technically inclined. Be warned that the young folks like me DO NOT WANT a nonfunctional shiny new w