This Site's "JavaScript Disabled" Message? Translation: "We Don't Care About You."
Alright, let's get one thing straight right off the bat: if I see another website throwing up a "JavaScript is disabled" error in 2024, I'm gonna lose it. Seriously.
The Digital Middle Finger
Look, I get it. JavaScript is the duct tape holding the internet together. It's messy, it's often insecure, and it's probably the reason your browser eats up more RAM than a crypto miner. But here's the thing: it's everywhere. And if your site is so utterly dependent on it that it throws a hissy fit when someone dares to browse with it off, you've got bigger problems than just a few lines of code.
This isn't about "accessibility," folks. This is about laziness. Pure, unadulterated laziness on the part of web developers who can't be bothered to build a site that degrades gracefully. "Degrades gracefully?" What am I, a freakin' tech historian? Fine, let me explain. It means that the site would still function, albeit with limited features, even if JavaScript is off.
I mean, come on, are we really still doing this? Are we seriously telling users, "Hey, your browser, your choice, your security settings...are wrong. Change them or get lost"? That's not just bad UX; it's hostile UX. It's the digital equivalent of a store owner slamming the door in your face because you're not wearing the right shoes.
And the worst part? They try to blame it on you. "Oh, it might be a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings." Give me a break. It's your janky code, plain and simple. Own it.
The Illusion of Choice
The error message I saw said, "Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser." Okay, let's unpack that for a second. "Check your connection"? As if my internet suddenly decided to take a vacation the moment I landed on your garbage website. "Disable any ad blockers"? So, you're admitting that your site is riddled with enough intrusive ads that people actively try to block them. Thanks for the honesty, I guess. "Try using a different browser"? Because switching browsers is as easy as changing socks, right? And offcourse, that will definitely solve the problem that they created.
The whole thing reeks of corporate arrogance. It's the kind of "we know best" attitude that makes me want to throw my laptop out the window. It's like they're saying, "We've built this thing, and if you don't like it, tough. Go somewhere else."
But where else is there to go? That's the real problem, isn't it? The internet has become so centralized, so dominated by a handful of tech giants, that we're left with fewer and fewer choices. We're forced to play by their rules, even when those rules are actively hostile to our privacy and security. As highlighted in a recent Client Challenge, navigating these digital landscapes requires a critical approach to the tools and platforms we use.
The Future is Still Broken
Where does this leave us? Probably nowhere good. We're stuck in a cycle of ever-increasing complexity, where websites become more bloated, more dependent on JavaScript, and less accessible to those who choose to browse differently.
Maybe I'm just being a grumpy old man yelling at clouds. Maybe I'm the one who's out of touch. Then again, maybe I'm not. Maybe there's still a place for a simpler, more open internet. An internet where websites respect your choices, instead of demanding that you conform to their narrow vision.
