slightly OT: preventing user stupidity

[Bill Vermillion]

if:
then: nm(30,*)="Joe Chasan"; dt(20,*)="Mon, Feb 07 12:08 "; 
if:
then: show ("1","1") "On" < dt < nm < "said:" 

On Mon, Feb 07 12:08  Joe Chasan said: 

> meaningless rant of the day: how far do you go to prevent user
> stupidity?

> program:  Q.  Do you wish to post now? (Y/N)
> user: Y

> program: Q. Are you SURE you wish to post? (Y/N)
> user: Y

> program:  Q. Are you REALLY REALLY REALLY SURE you want to post now? (Y/N)
> user: Y

> user: SH*T. i didn't want to post. time to call the consultant
> to drop everything and unpost the 63 places that get affected
> by my careless posting of data that was certainly not my fault
> that was posted in error.

> what to do?  obviously, the more questions you ask the more the user
> just answers by rote without thinking.  its not always appropriate or
> helpful to the end-user to have a corresponding unpost/undo routine.

> i've thought of; a) mixing up yes/no answers so that they can't
> press "yes" all the time

> (e.g. do you want to post? / enter Y to cancel post, N otherwise...)
> 
> b) forcing type out of word "Yes" or "Agree" instead of Y or N

> c) creating a random character sequence each time and ask user to
> type in to confirm post.

> draconion?  what have other people tried that would not make them the
> one least likeley to be invited to christmas party?

You say they don't read and just press the same key.

Q: Do you want to post?
A: y
Q: Are you sure you want to post
A: y
Q: Shall I cancel this post
A: y

And then the poster can complain :-)

Or from a long time ago

Q: do you wish to continue?
A: y
B; Are you sure you wish to continue?
A: y
Q: I don't beleive you.
<exit>






-- 
Bill Vermillion - bv @ wjv . com