Problem Programs
The reason most computer programs are confusing and hard to use is because they are written by programmers. Generally speaking, programmers are not some of nature’s better adapted creatures. In fact, you can tell a lot about the neuroses of a particular programmer just by using the UI they create.
A few minutes ago I was entering info on a web site. Apparently, I made a mistake on one of the fields because after I submitted the form I was was presented with the following error message
Number format invalid!!!!
That’s right, four exclamation points. It then cleared my info and made me start again. Clearly this guy has some major anger-management issues he needs to work through.
Equally bad are the programmers with decision anxiety. You know the ones. You tell the program to delete an entry and a message pops up asking
This entry will be deleted. Do you want to proceed?
Yes. Click.
Are you sure?
Am I sure?! Yes, damnit! Seriously, what are the odds of me having changed my mind in the last fraction of a second? Delete the damn record.