The fuck off contact page • Hacker News Board

Re: The fuck off contact page

#131

Post by foxglacier » Mon, Dec 08, 2025, 1:44 PM UTC

dicethrowaway1 wrote: post #117

alex_suzuki wrote: post #112

A lot of comments recommend just putting an email on the contact page, which I agree is nice. Related question: do good, privacy-preserving, cookie-less alternatives to reCAPTCHA exist?

For email, I've had some luck just modifying the page with JS that's either indirect or obfuscated enough that the address can't be pulled directly from it - e.g. "var email" is the address encrypted with a fixed key, the JS decrypts it and then alters the HTML. It can obviously be bypassed by using a JS runner, but it seems to be enough of a hurdle that few spammers bother. "You don't have to outrun the bear", as it…

I have my email in plain text on every page of my site. I get about 1 spam per day that I see in my inbox on Gmail. I suppose Gmail filters even more silently. It's been working fine for over a decade. Is there some scale of site popularity where it becomes a problem?

Re: The fuck off contact page

#132

Post by unixhero » Mon, Dec 08, 2025, 1:53 PM UTC

Insanely compelling webdesign.

Re: The fuck off contact page

#133

Post by knollimar » Mon, Dec 08, 2025, 1:53 PM UTC

pmx wrote: post #81

Rebuff5007 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The expertise offered here is "how to build a website". If the client is insisting that the dev use a specific javascript library, that would be odd. The client here is just requesting specific content on their website , similar to someone requesting a granite countertop in their kitchen; that seems fine, even if its not particularly classy or aesthetically pleasing to the contractor.

It's more similar to someone asking for a cardboard countertop - any contractor would be well within their rights to tell them it's a bad idea and would be negligent if they didn't.

It's more a matter of not the right use. Cardboard is inherently shitty.

I'd say L shaped island in a tiny kitchen. It just needs a bigger kitchen

Re: The fuck off contact page

#134

Post by secult » Mon, Dec 08, 2025, 2:06 PM UTC

Oh I love the contact page forms, usually this being the only interactive part of a otherwise static website. Either they crash with a visible 500, or they crash in the background, or the mail goes into who-knows-where, as it was set by a guy that left years ago.

Re: The fuck off contact page

#135

Post by bichiliad » Mon, Dec 08, 2025, 2:15 PM UTC

egorfine wrote: post #105

savolai wrote: post #56

Wow I love the design of this site. Really hit some right notes for me. If you’re going to talk about reviving the ”old web” on hn, please follow through and reach for the originality level of this. So many thoughtful details.

It is truly an excellent design. Thus I am so grateful for the "Reader mode" in Safari that allowed me to actually read the article.

I think they updated the site to mention this, but the gear in the lower-right corner lets you read in a non-pixelated font.

Re: The fuck off contact page

#136

Post by kspacewalk2 » Mon, Dec 08, 2025, 2:17 PM UTC

nephihaha wrote: post #57

Urgh... One of the worst things, when you want to contact someone and they have hidden every means of doing so. It reflects badly on the companies that do this and questions why such pages exist to begin with. I understand why companies hate spam, but when a company hides customer service, that should be a major red flag and reeks of cowardice. Customers can and do have major problems, not just Karen type issues, but…

It's all dependent entirely on scale. If a bajillion customers have major problems (whether actually major or in their mind), you have to triage and the first tier won't be experts with excellent command of English. Support is fucking expensive. Everyone wants bespoke service, but if you are not a customer, or if the amount of business you bring does not justify the expense, the support level you want cannot be provided in the long run.

Re: The fuck off contact page

#137

Post by ubermonkey » Mon, Dec 08, 2025, 2:26 PM UTC

savolai wrote: post #56

Wow I love the design of this site. Really hit some right notes for me. If you’re going to talk about reviving the ”old web” on hn, please follow through and reach for the originality level of this. So many thoughtful details.

Real talk, it's the first site I'm going to forward to people because of its design and implementation in at least 15 years. This is remarkable work.

Re: The fuck off contact page

#138

Post by ubermonkey » Mon, Dec 08, 2025, 2:27 PM UTC

stavros wrote: post #129

esseph wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Click the Maximize Window button on the top right.

Wow, thanks for the tip. I didn't expect to need a manual to read a blog post.

No manual required. You just have to recognize very common icons.

Re: The fuck off contact page

#139

Post by stavros » Mon, Dec 08, 2025, 2:33 PM UTC

ubermonkey wrote: post #138

stavros wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, thanks for the tip. I didn't expect to need a manual to read a blog post.

No manual required. You just have to recognize very common icons.

That's more than I've needed on any other post.

Re: The fuck off contact page

#140

Post by gethly » Mon, Dec 08, 2025, 2:35 PM UTC

> A “fuck off contact page” is what a company throws together when they actually don’t want anyone to contact them at all.

Yeah, I so hate this. And I don't even get how is this legal since every business is required by law to have its contact and business details listed on their page.