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Do not ask more than you need

24. July 2008 by Dmitry Dulepov
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There is a very nice principle for designing web sites. It sound likes this: "Do not ask from user more than you really need".

I often remember this principle when I go to download sample chapters of free demos from web sites. Many of them ask for lots of data. Why, for example, they need to know my social security code or phone number? Or why do they need my e-mail if I want to download the sample chapter? Do they want to spam me?

I usually refuse to give such information because I do not see why they need it and how they will use it. I am not paranoid but I do not see a need to give my details to every unfamiliar person or company.

Why am I writing about it here?

I read buzz.typo3.org very seldom and even never write comments there. Today I decided to write a comment. Look at the screenshot:

Why does buzz.typo3.org need my e-mail? I trust typo3.org team but I am sure they will not really contact me due to my comment. Neither they verify this address, so I could write complete stupidity there. Why then? They force me to type it but do not use it.

I can only conclude that it is simply bad default configuration. I do not know who created buzz.typo3.org but he definitely did not test it thorougly for usability.

It is an important issue when you make your web site. Check that you do not ask more than you need.

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8 Comments

  1. on Thursday, 24-07-08 22:41 Ingo
    I asked myself exactly that two days ago. What do YOU need my email for?
  2. on Thursday, 24-07-08 23:40 Frank
    At first: buzz.typo3.org use your email for http://www.gravatar.com

    At second: Why do you ask for an email? Look at your own comment form: Mail (will not be published)

    ;-)

    _Frank
  3. on Thursday, 24-07-08 23:52 bart
    but it is not required :)
  4. on Friday, 25-07-08 09:59 Stephan
    I actually agree with you, but I use the e-mail box to check whether his comment is really serious. If he use on the first view valid e-mail address, the chances increase that his comment will be published.
  5. on Friday, 25-07-08 20:52 Steffen Müller
    What about the defaults of comments extension?

    Remove email from the required fields:
    http://bugs.typo3.org/view.php?id=9054

    patch appended.
  6. on Saturday, 26-07-08 14:58 Dmitry Dulepov
    I do not *require* e-mail :) The purpose of this field in my blog is to allow me contacting people if they ask for it or if they say something really interesting for me. But I never ever *require* e-mail.

    Steffen, Comments extension was created for a project, where e-mail was required. Later Comments was made public but defaults stayed.
  7. on Tuesday, 29-07-08 19:21 Anoop
    Dmitry, I completely agree with your post. As someone who works in a educational institution when ever I work on surveys or "information" gathering I have to first think do I really need this information. Especially since our students are younger 16-21...patience is not a priority. If you want responses "Do not ask for more than required" to rephrase your line : )
  8. on Tuesday, 05-08-08 05:30 Faisal
    Can any one help me about apply track backs using timtab???????????

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