I wish people would stop acting as though Vincent Flanders has any qualifications to talk about web usability.

Read my rant here...http://crocolyle.blogspot.com/2002_04_21_crocolyle_archive.html#75838500

Posted by: Lyle Kantrovich on April 28, 2002 01:40 AM

 

Judge a man not by how many degrees he holds, but what he says.

Just a general principle, not necesarily disagreeing with you here. Let's not close the door to people who don't have a Ph.D in HCI, eh?

Note that I haven't expressed an opinion on Flanders' rants. Don't want this thread to take a "Flanders rocks/sucks" turn. ;)

Posted by: MadMan on April 28, 2002 11:45 AM

 

I hope he doesn't really think the ALT attribute is just for the blind.

Posted by: Matt Round on April 28, 2002 01:15 PM

 

Just to clarify, *I* don't have a PhD in HCI, and I don't think you need that to be "qualified" as an expert. But I haven't seen anything from Flanders that goes beyond a "gee that sucks" about an obviously "sucky" page.

What kills me is that there are plenty of really qualified people out there that could be highlighted instead of Flanders. People like Rolf Molich, Jared Spool, Peter Merholz, Christina Wodtke, etc., etc.

Like Flanders says, he's a marketing weasel (and ex-system admin) -- I suppose it's the "weasel" part that prevents him from pointing interviewers to the real experts.

Notice on my blog I do take him to task for what he says.

Posted by: Lyle Kantrovich on April 28, 2002 08:56 PM

 

I look for two things in a guru...

1) Succinct, powerful writing I can use as supporting material when fighting the good fight (in committees, with your boss, etc.).

2) Discovery of a new or unrealized design issue. Or giving a name to an issue we've all grumbled about, but never formalized in our minds.

The term "mystery meat navigation" is a household word (in my house anyway). I don't frequent Vincent's site and I'll never buy his book, but that has nothing to do with credentials. I look at Mystery Meat as a sort of one-hit-wonder.

A Ph.D is not necessary for anything, except getting a job. (oops!) So do consulting, write a book, and blog away, until you have that piece of paper that makes you legitimate in the eyes of foolish people. (I prefer seasoned real-world experience over a piece of paper.)

Posted by: Jack Schonchin on April 29, 2002 10:35 AM