On another topic, I discoursed off-topic and was chastised; the suggestion was made to start a new topic, so here it is. In essence somebody mentioned some stuff to the effect that an “end user shouldn’t care what is or isn’t enabled” and that one cannot build a “nice and intuitive and interactive” site without JavaScript.
That last comment was like waving a red flag at a bull, so I figured I’d test it out. I bulled on over to Amazon after I disabled everything I could think of to disable. DOM storage, scripting, ActiveX, fonts download, etc… Amazon loaded just fine and presented itself nicely with all sorts of buying choices, all neatly ordered on the page. I ordered TurboTax; email confirmation arrived in my inbox within a few minutes. (I assume I’ll be receiving TurboTax since I checked the tracking number and it’ll be delivered tomorrow.) Granted there were some things missing, like suggestions of what I should buy. I don’t know, but that seems like a pretty good test of whether a website can function without scripting.
The problem with JavaScript is that anybody can make their fortune with web design. I don’t know their qualifications. They don’t even have to pony up the money for a compiler; they can just start typing. If I’m lucky, they took a course or more likely they just cut-pasted off some JavaScript repository on the web and came over to SitePoint for a little troubleshooting help, and then they want free-rein on my computers. Perhaps I’m too paranoid, but I paid for the computer, it’s mine, and if some JavaScript person screws it up I doubt they’ll be there wasting time fixing the problem (if I am even able to figure out who screwed up what.)
ok, I’m finished ranting.