S[OFU] users don't read?

Question

We've all seen the excessive number of questions on MSO about the recent reputation recalc. It seems to me that the change was communicated in every reasonable way, but many seem to be able to miss the information bars on the sites, and on MSO when they go to ask about it. Is there anything else that could have been done to improve the process or is this just an example of what Joel meant when he said:

In fact, users can't read anything, and if they could, they wouldn't want to.

Also, is there anything we can generalize from this experience about communicating change in our own projects?

Note: This is not meant as a criticism of the team, but rather a discussion of how we can all improve our user communication.

Answer 1

I don't think the change was communicated clearly enough: The bar was/is only shown on Meta. Had it been shown on S(OFU), I'm sure the number of questions would have significantly decreased.

I don't think those users who are not around on Meta much, came here to complain about their reputation change, and overlooked the bar, are necessarily idiots. People don't read everything on a new site, and they don't have to. Putting the bar on SO proper would have worked better.

Answer 2

For the last vote on moderators, a message was displayed in the top info bar (like badge notifications etc.), doing that in this case would have been the most intelligent option, in my opinion.

Answer 3

As Aaronaught commented in this thread:

What we need is a big black-on-pink modal dialog in 72-point text that forces users to type out the phrase, in full, "I understand that my reputation has changed as a result of a recent recalculation and do solemnly swear not to ask any new question about said recalculation" before they're allowed to continue using the site.

You will never, ever get everyone to pay attention, no matter what you do - even a black on pink dialog box with a typed-out answer.

Answer 4

I'm not sure that something like this from time to time is entirely bad. We had a number of user who obviously care about Stack Overflow and how it works who were completely ignoring meta and the blog. Perhaps they won't make that mistake in the future.

To be clear: I'm not saying every Stack Overflow user must read the blog and post to meta. But the more who do, the better, and after you have a certain investment in Stack Overflow you ignore them at your own peril.

Answer 5

Putting a bar on top of the others sites wouldn't have made the change any more visible or less annoying to people anyway - people don't read.

It would, however, have brought the change to the attention of many more people who just wouldn't notice without being told.

Picking and using the right channel for communicating important information is probably the most difficult aspect of this process, and I believe it was done correctly.

Keep in mind that we're only 3 days into the change. After a week or three it won't matter.

Be patient.

Answer 6

I can reproduce this:

1. Buy take apart furniture
2. Put it together
3. Consult the parts list only when you find out that you are missing something. Consult the actual instructions when your end result does not quite resemble the picture on the box. Your version is likely better, at least as far as your own criteria is concerned. Criteria does not equal apathy.

Basically, down votes indicate missing parts. I can't fault people for not reading the directions, I seldom do so myself. I like it when people don't read my documentation, they tend to reveal bugs that testers (who read the documentation) have missed.

Try not to get so annoyed, its just human nature. Repetitive inane behavior demands a case in which it can become useful. Find one.

Edit:

It is also conceivable that some may be conducting breaching experiments, though meta would be a less than ideal place to conduct them.