Style
Definately not a big fan of the design either - it's a strong, valid attempt, but it does not do HP justice. I can help if you like?
Also, if we're creating a community here for sites, please add a Harry Potter site I help manage. This is Harry Potters School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at (http://www.harrypotter.ca).
I'm not a big fan of the black backround and colorful links. Expecially with the white border. I would suggest leaving it with the default white wiki-style, it looks more professional. MadMuggle 01:57, 19 Dec 2005 (UTC)
- I've actually made a new version (without the black background) at User:Rainer/New Main Page Proposal. Have a look! «Rainer» 03:16, 19 Dec 2005 (UTC)
- Oh, much nicer! MadMuggle 06:27, 19 Dec 2005 (UTC)
better background be changed to be like that of Main Star Trek Wiki (http://memory-alpha.org).
- I still prefer a background with the torches (for a personal "touch"). The Chosen One (Choose me!) 16:19, 19 Dec 2005 (UTC)
Frankly this page is terrible. Get rid of the God-awful torches. The font is horrendous, the colours hopelessly distracting, the black background amateur. It is almost completely unreadable on lower resolutions. Let's get it simple, streamlined, default white wiki-style, although almost anything would be an improvement. Rainer's would be a good starting point. Just to justify what I've said. Surely this should be a site about informing. If we are looking to provide easy access to information the style in which we present that information should not detract from its readability. Simple and user friendly is the way to go. 86.145.198.172 12:05, 17 Jan 2006 (UTC)
- Well, thank you very much; for your information, I created the prototype. I agree that it isn't as professional looking as Rainer's, but we had to start somewhere. Now, about the font. Charlesworth is the closest approximation to the Harry Potter font I could find. Perhaps you don't have Charlesworth on your computer, which would explain everything. I'm quite aware that some people don't have Charlesworth in their computers, but maybe they should update their fonts once in a while? In case you were wondering, I have been trying to create a navigation portal for some time now. As you are perhaps aware, it's not finished, partly because Rainer created a much more "professional" looking main page, and partly because I have no time. "Simple and user friendly" is what I had in mind since the very beginning. I don't like to complicate things, you know. The Chosen One (Choose me!) 12:55, 17 Jan 2006 (UTC)
- Or perhaps you want us to replace the main page immediately? Btw, if you want something "professional looking," why not lift the German code [1] and picture and everything else? The cold Arial fonts and tables and lists so characteristic of them? And maybe you want some professional-but-terrible writing style too? Much more professional looking, isn't it? And maybe you'll start criticizing the text and "speculation" and want articles written "just like in Wikipedia." If you haven't yet noticed, this is not Wikipedia. We don't do things here like over there. The Chosen One (Choose me!) 13:06, 17 Jan 2006 (UTC)
- Is that a random dig at the Germans I see there? I'm sorry that my comments came across as they seem to have done. I was not trying to attack anyone personally but merely give an immediate impression about the page as a first time visitor. In hindsight maybe I should have been less vociferous, or, if your comments represent the standard attitude to new contributors, maybe I shouldn’t have bothered at all. No I don't think we should copy another site and I don't think I suggested that. I didn't say we should be professional looking. I don't think I said anything about writing style, or even mentioned Wikipedia. The fact remains that a combination of an unusual font that some users may not have; multicoloured text on a black background; centre justification; unusual layout of links; and titles that are insufficiently differentiated from links, combine to create an unattractive and unwelcoming main page that is not easy to use. Sanguini 14:01, 17 Jan 2006 (UTC)
- I don't remember saying that you suggested those things. It was just a guess about what you were most likely to say next, considering your harsh words and criticism. Anyway, the other fact, too, remains - the one that we had anticipated your comments for some time and had begun to take action even before you came along and said ... well, we know what you said. Please give us some time to act. The Chosen One (Choose me!) 14:53, 17 Jan 2006 (UTC)
- Reading back on what I said, I was definitely too nasty. So my apologies, you're right, my words were too harsh.
- I was trying to be constructive though, I'll try harder next time.
- I do think, however, that your assumptions about what I was likely to say (and your rather bizarre assertion that the German race is known for its devotion to the Arial font) were a little unkind and seemed to read as a deliberate misinterpretation of my motives.Sanguini 18:00, 17 Jan 2006 (UTC)
- this is my first time contributing at all to any wiki, so forgive me if the formatting is a bit off, here. but the main page has to go. and as the "creator", chosen-one you shouldn't be squabbling, you should be encouraging constructive change and trying to diffuse situations. ;o)
- i came here because im trying to find the best sources for HP info for use in a project of mine... so far it looks like this is one of the better, hopefully i stick around.
- -- essex --24.15.121.20 09:39, 22 January 2006 (UTC)