Personally, I think that lots of links throughout a Transcript decrease its readability. I thought that was why we started having a "Characters Featured" at the top of a Transcript. I mean, sometimes links are necessary, but not every single time a character's name is mentioned. -- Tom


I don't see any decreased readability in this. I like having it, it distinguishes the character name from what's being said in a much more immediately-obvious way. Anyway, I've done more transcripts than any of you with this format and I think it's a tried-and-true method. Granted, the polls should show for themselves, but I would prefer to stick with the way I've been doing them. Also: I've been putting the Features: bit on the main page because that's a more logical place to put it than in the transcript itself. -- Gemini


Hey there, buddy. Uh, I didn't mean to light any fires here. I just noticed that this topic was brought up a while back and was never really resolved. Everybody is not out to get you, Gemini. We like you just as much as the next guy. Let's just wait for some votes and comments. -- Tom

You misread me. I'm just saying, as I'm the one who's done the most transcripts out of anybody, my opinion should hold a little bit more weight here. -- Gemini

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think that's just silly. Indeed, you've put a ton of work into the site and everybody really appreciates that, but it does not make your opinion better or more important than anyone else's. -- InterruptorJones

I am just trying to work towards agreement here, Gemini. I started this poll and discussion in order to kind of mediate the disagreement. Please do not make broad generalizations about my comments. I knew exactly what you were getting at in your first post. I just did not want to come out and call you on it callously. I disagree with you on the point that your having done more transcripts in any way gives you "weight." The wiki weighs the same for everyone. That is what a wiki is all about. -- Tom

I'm sorry, but I'm failing to see where you're reading all this stuff in about me being overly defensive and paranoid and making generalizations. Please point out my generalizations about your comments. I'm fine with the decision you guys make, it'll just be a tad more annoying to have to edit all 33 of my transcripts or so. Now, I don't think we should have the "Features:" bit at the top of the transcript, because that seems more fitting to be placed in the main page of the toon. A transcript just details what happens, you don't need a cast list beforehand for that. -- Gemini

C&P'd from Gemini's page:

Concerning links on transcripts, I think they're unnecessary. They significantly degrade readability (it's a lot easier to read text in one color than text in two different colors, much less bright blue underlined links) and offer no advantage -- having six links to the same character in the space of 3 inches doesn't do anybody any good. Having one link to each character at the top of the page is more than enough. Just my opinion, though

[snip]

The transcription standards were never finalized, unfortunately. I still contend that an email with a lot of dialogue is going to get really ugly with a new big blue link on every other line. I'm not concerned about ease of formatting, I'm concerned with legibility. And as I said, having 8 big blue STRONG BAD links in a row isn't helpful at all and doesn't increase usability.

I started putting the "Features:" list at the tops of transcripts simply because there's no reason to link to the same character more than once or twice on any given page, and having a single link to each in one place at the top of the page is just neater and doesn't cause consistency or readability problems. Having more links to the same page doesn't make it more accessible than having just one. And I won't get into the finer points of modern typography, but as I've mentioned plenty of times, all those links are just an eyesore. -- InterruptorJones