Just let me select text • Hacker News Board

Re: Just let me select text

#471

Post by aartaka » Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 9:41 PM UTC

Reubachi wrote: post #157

litver wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The post implied the opposite. However, if the German girl writes in German, probably she wants to date in German, the dating platform follows her wish by making it hard to extract the text, translate it, and eventually waste her time.

This is not at all the point of un-selecatable text development. I don't even want to ask how you came to this example. Every day this forum becomes more like reddit.

The post used an example of a Bumble match though. So it kind of makes sense one can discuss it alongside the main message.

Re: Just let me select text

#472

Post by aartaka » Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 9:43 PM UTC

litver wrote: post #65

oscaracso wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That was not implied by the post.

The post implied the opposite. However, if the German girl writes in German, probably she wants to date in German, the dating platform follows her wish by making it hard to extract the text, translate it, and eventually waste her time.

This might be one interpretation, but in my particular case she also set English as the language she can date in. And then, she was visiting Armenia, so it was unlikely she wanted to date in German exclusively.

Re: Just let me select text

#473

Post by aartaka » Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 9:43 PM UTC

bonoboTP wrote: post #141

cool-RR wrote: post #94

Dating apps are not meant to be efficient, definitely not to someone with a developer mindset.

Yeah, you're not supposed to switch to a different app. They want you to stay in the app and engage.

And that sucks.

Re: Just let me select text

#474

Post by 1bpp » Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 9:44 PM UTC

fletchowns wrote: post #373

zelphirkalt wrote: post #260

I have a habit of selecting and highlighting text on computer screens, while reading. I have no issues tracking lines usually, but somehow I still select and highlight. Maybe it is just easier to track lines this way. When I see some web page, that prevents this, then that website gets a -50 reputation score out of 100 in my book. So if the site is perfect in every other way (almost no site is) then -50 still makes i…

I think my text highlighting habit started in the late 90s when the prominent N64 website (what was the name of it??) would have text intentionally "hidden" on the page in the same color as the background, so you had to highlight to see it.

You might mean N64.com, which later evolved into IGN64/IGN

Re: Just let me select text

#475

Post by aartaka » Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 9:44 PM UTC

IncreasePosts wrote: post #182

pabs3 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can select the text by disabling CSS.

Or by visiting a rendering which doesn't support CSS at all: eg https://aartaka.me/select-text.txt

This hack is exactly why I do multi-format posts.

Re: Just let me select text

#476

Post by aartaka » Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 9:45 PM UTC

simianparrot wrote: post #97

leftnode wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that's the point...

I presume so but it adds nothing to the topic ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ

It does add a comic effect, so I consider it quite useful.

Re: Just let me select text

#477

Post by aartaka » Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 9:45 PM UTC

Skullfurious wrote: post #112

> I’m lonely. Like everyone-ish else. Naturally, I’m on Bumble. ... alright I see... >"(Because Tinder is a rape-friendly lure trap.)" I just sat down. Who the hell starts a conversation off like this?

I do. Because that’s the truth and a part of my life choices.

Re: Just let me select text

#478

Post by aartaka » Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 9:46 PM UTC

numbers wrote: post #175

I love posts like this, they reiterate the fact that people notice many different things about their experience interacting with your website, app, or product. I often find myself having the tiniest of complaints about using something but never get around to writing about it.

Yeah, that’s a really valuable thing to have an affirmation for one’s feelings and experiences. Especially when worded well.

Re: Just let me select text

#479

Post by aartaka » Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 9:47 PM UTC

chaboud wrote: post #231

Making the text on the page not selectable is chef’s kiss good.

Glad you noticed!

Re: Just let me select text

#480

Post by TeMPOraL » Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 9:50 PM UTC

catapart wrote: post #53

whstl wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

100% disagree. Not everyone is fluent in every language, and not every website works perfectly with the browser's translator. There will be situations where people will want to translate that ONE word that is actually in a button or tab, and isn't selectable because someone thought they knew better.

isn't selectable because it breaks the UX for keyboard-only users. Has nothing to do with "thinking" anything. It's about testing with accessibility parameters and knowing* what practical problems occur. If you really need to translate ONE WORD, it's not that onerous to type it. You're bringing edge-case hypotheticals to a discussion about practical functionality.

It's not about keyboard use, but about people worried those pesky users all just want to steal or plagiarize the intellectual property that is the website.