My wife, bless her soul, knows nothing about technology, and would be happy to forget even that much if possible. There’s no way I could say to her, “you have this problem? Install FireFox” (BTW, the kids have figured this out for themselves and prefer Firefox). And I think the same can be said for most “non-technical” users (we will skirt the “who should be responsible for maintaining all of these casual user’s systems” discussion if you don’t mind).

Anyway, “I” can fix this font problem for myself by using an alternate browser for TBP. I’m spending this much time griping about it because I believe that most casual users use what they get out of the box which is IE, and this unfortunate ugliness makes Barry’s blog look bad, whether it’s his fault or not, it’s his problem because it makes him look sloppy. You and he can say, “well, it doesn’t happen to “me” so it isn’t a problem” but that doesn’t seem at all professional or responsible (especially if one is also fund-raising, soliciting clients, etc.). I’m sure BR has bigger fish to fry, but that’s why God invented Interns.

In any event, as a clearly fruitless expenditure of “my” time, I’ve sent Barry a number of suggestions on how to avoid/deal with this font issue. Aside from being obnoxious for the pure pleasure of it, I think my conscience and desire to help have done all they can.

(It’s most likely a result of pasting Word stuff with heading levels into a post, but can be circumvented simply by not using big fonts or at least resetting back to the normal one at the end of the post. There are many Google-serchable things around about this — TBP isn’t the only place this happens).

BTW, the “poem” poorly illustrates what a comment looks like when blown up to huge font size (due to the window size staying the same and word wrap). Good TelePrompTer replacement, I suppose.

You have hit mainstream. You are constantly promoted as having called the bottom in March by MSM. You have remained bullish (kudos to you, I can’t say the same, and I’ve lost out because of it, lesson learned – do not fight the trend, luckily I have, fingers crossed, 50 years in front of me, I digress) despite a few cases of highlighting possible imminent drastic declines which have all proved false (in good company there).

Now that uncertainty has returned to the markets, Johnny Retail is starting to get shit baked and is thinking you know what is coming thanks to Bail Out Nation and recent media appearances. Hence the arrival of certain individuals who do not add much to discussion and have not learned a damn thing since October 2007 except Barry Ritholtz is a fairly bright guy.

Unfortunately I don’t think the numbers substitute the quality of the discussion forums anymore – content is still informative. No doubt about it BR, this is your blog and of course you are entitled to your opinions and content – like I need to remind you! However, I think you alienated much of your “hardcore” following with the GS bonus postings over the summer – you and I exchanged a few thoughts at that time. As you might have noticed, many regulars are M.I.A. since then.

Anyways, those are my insights since you asked. Best of luck in the coming few months. I think Johnny will need it but am hoping you won’t.

p.s. A common response by those of us in the technical persuasion is “Thing 1 is broken? Use Thing 2

———–
@bergsten..

I suspected folks here were using IE… But if you go to Firefox you don’t have to give up your IE and there actually is a little symbol down on the “lower right” that allows you to switch over to “IE” if your are searching or posting. (I know it’s that “learning curve thing”….but why folks can’t get used to the simplicity of Firefox has been beyond me. Maybe because I started out on Netscape…and so trusted Mozilla over Microsoft is why I can become like those Apple Folks who believe in “purity.” But, that said, I have a few people I’ve told to try Firefox who have managed to go back and forth between the two and been okay.

The BIG FONT just hasn’t been an issue and its interesting to know that it seems to be “IE” users having the problem? I don’t get that “teeny” long lined poetic thing that your posted in your earlier post either. Looks like a poem from my 7th Grade Reader. SHEESH…it’s gotta be bad if you are getting THAT along with BIG FONT! :D

I don’t use “Outlook” either…use Thunderbird for e-mail. Many small business folks are using Firefox and Thunderbird…but we folks are a start up Small Business (hanging in there and hiring) and the outsourced tech folks we can afford to hire on ad hoc basis (meaning we can only afford emergency calls) all use Firefox/Thunderbird and “free ware.” GoFigure….? Then there’s the Apple Folks who NEVER HAVE ANY PROBLEMS….

The problem with this argument is that many people don’t want the cost, disruption, or complexity of having to use two Things or remember when/how to switch between them depending on which bug they are trying to avoid.

It also lets the developers of Thing 1 off the hook.

(having said that IE 8 is replete with weirdness bugs!)