Font Size - Individual Needs or Appeal to Masses

[Enchant]

I noticed as of late, a new trend has been rising. Many forum admins are making thier font sizes smaller then the default settings. While this can make the forum look more sleek, organized and even professional, it is not with out its down side. There are many potential members who have issues with thier eyes. In most cases, the resizing of text can be adjusted on thier individual computers, however, there are times when that just isn't enough.

For the record, I have the smaller font on my own forum. However, when this problem was brought to my attention by one of my own members, I searched high and low for a solution. I had to take into account the coding already in place, the integrity of the current skins, and the possible inconvience to the other members. But because I value all my members I wanted to find a compromise. I finally found a code that could be modified and embedded within the coding of my forum and still not be disruptive to the current default layout. It isn't a perfect solution, and the larger the font size goes the more messed up my graphics become, but it was a compromise till I found a better one.

So I ask you this, when building or revamping your forum, do you take into consideration the individual needs of your members or do you try to appeal to the masses?

[September]

Hey, I am the exact member Enchant was talking about in her post.

I am legally blind in my right eye, and my visioin in my left eye is 200x400. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but considering perfect vision is 20x20, I think that's pretty bad. I am not eligible for laser surgery or anything, so my vision will probably get worse as time goes on. I wear glasses, and the font on my laptop is as big as it can get.

From my experience, when I see a site using the smaller taxt size. I don't even bother looking at it anymore. I just click out. I admit, the small text does look much better in many ways, I just can't see it. It really frustrates me sometimes when I find a site I might be interested in joining, but when I get there, I see that I can't read what's on the site. What's worse is when I've been an active member of a site that suddenly decides to use the small font. Often times, I just leave the site. Sure, I should've messaged the admin first to tell them of the problem, but it can be difficult to type out a message when you can't see the words.

I just want all admins and future admins to realize that the small text is a problem for many people. I am not the only one. Using the small text, can potentially turn away many potential members. If you're determined to use the small text, please do what Enchant did and add in a text adjuster. It might not be used by many of your members, but I assure you that the few who do use it will appreciate it.

[Candice]

So I ask you this, when building or revamping your forum, do you take into consideration the individual needs of your members or do you try to appeal to the masses?

When I make sites I try and take everything into account. I use to like typing in size 1 font but as of lately when I go back and look at old sites to reminisce in a way it bugs me to have to increase my font size on my computer just so I can read it. I mean its bad enough that people use font colors that are hard to read on their backgrounds without having to strain your eyes to pick up what it says.

The text on the boards already come in small sizes so I don't really see what need there is to make that any smaller. I mean I can understand why someone would want it to look like that because yes it does look nicer but it doesn't take into account the other members and how they might have trouble viewing the font size. Sure you can increase the font size on your computer but some don't know how to do that or might not even remember how to do that.

The size of text is something that any member, and staff member should take into consideration.

[sneer]

I feel that one really should take their members' needs into consideration, but personally, I'm not going to change my font size on any of my boards until I have a member or a valuable potential member that steps up to make a polite complaint.

As of the moment, mine is a small size, but not to appeal to the masses exactly. Instead, it's for my own selfish reasons. I just like the way it looks.
I might look into an adjustable code, now that I find that there's one out there available. Though, I probably won't until I get that complaint I previously mentioned.

[HoudiniDerek]

In terms of being an admin, I always use the default size unless I need a different size for emphasis or something. I do not enforcce a font size on my members, but few use a smaller size. So far no one has complained, but if they would, I would probably PM the member and let them know that if they continue to post in that size, members would probably not RP with them anymore.

[Narijima]

Since my recent return to ProBoards I've noticed the trend for small font. Even on boards where it's not set as the default people are using it in their posts. Personally, it drives me absolutely bonkers. My vision is just fine, but I still have a hard time reading it. I usually end up copy/pasting posts into a word document so I can actually read what I'm attempting to reply to (I'm too lazy to toggle internet settings based on what page I'm on).

My own forum sticks with the default text size. I don't have restrictions on what size members can use, though so far no one is using tiny fonts - or excessively large ones, for that matter. I rather hope it will stay that way, though I'm not going to complain too much if it changes. I figure, instead of changing things around too much, I'll let my members make the decision for themselves what size text they want to use - that way there's no "forced" norm.

Honestly, I really don't understand the draw of the smaller text size to begin with. Yes, it does look sleek, but only to a certain point. The inability to read it sticks out more to me than the overall aesthetics, but that's just me personally. If it turned out that the majority of the people on my forum wanted a smaller text size (or if the lack of said size was turning away large numbers of potential members) I would consider making a change. I tend to go with the whole "majority rules" idea.

[kelendria]

I could care less about font size for my forum.
But too big or too small however could put off potential members.
I tend to leave mine as default.
It is annoying though trying to read small font, it can look nice but I tend to click out if it is like this.

[~Akira~]

Personally I know how that is. I have horrible vision myself. Well not that bad, but I cannot see far so I have to wear glasses. But that means I can somewhat see smaller texts. I just have to squint closer to the computer and I hate that sometimes.

I personally have my members choose their own font sizes as long as it doesn't stretch the screen. It works out well enough and they are happy about it.

[Lovely[lovely]]

I think that the size of the font also should depend a lot on the color of your forum. If you have high contrast colors than it is easier to read a smaller font, but if the colors are already close together than making the font smaller will only make it more difficult to read. You also have to consider that even if people can read it, it can hurt people's eyes if they have to squint. I prefer the larger fonts personally, they may not look quite as nice, but reading small fonts on a computer is not fun. Back to the original question as to whether you should focus on individuals or appeal to the masses, I think you should focus on the individuals because often times one individual may bring up the problem, but lots of people will have the same problem.

[orangehairdye]

I have slight problems with my vision, so it is difficult for me to read the font when it is less than default, even though in my rp posts I always use size 1 because I tend to write so much and it does look better. On my forums I've never really considered using any font size other than the default because I'm usually just fine with it the way it is, unless I use a font that is larger than arial. But I must say I'm with malice && hair gel on this. Because even if I do have problems reading smaller fonts, I'll use them anyway just because it looks better. If someone complains, maybe I'd install that code mentioned if I can find it, but overall I'm selfish in that area, even if my eyes are strained in the process, too.

[veggiegirl]

May 24, 2008 9:36:40 GMT -8 Enchant said:

So I ask you this, when building or revamping your forum, do you take into consideration the individual needs of your members or do you try to appeal to the masses?

Absolutely! I have a very dark skin and have created a light version of that skin to offer my members an alternative.

I listen to any suggestion a member has to offer and will do anything I possibly can to make that member happy without compromising the comfort of the other members.

[Cat]

On my forum, I've kept the default font size settings, but i've changed the font to Arial, which makes the words appear smaller.

I'm a fond lover of the small text, and I personally have no trouble reading it. So far, i've only recieved compliments on the font size and font face, but if the members experienced problems using my forum I would definately change it to keep my members happy, as ultimately that's what being a good admin is about.

[rockerdude]

I appeal to the masses and not the individual needs of others. I know that sounds mean but I mean I rather have one person quit then the whole site quiting. But when someone complains. I always try to make them a layout that they can choose in the profile so the text is not too small.

[Lifeline - click my eggs?]

I used to be the obsessive small-font type person, but I've come to see that personally, I think that normal Proboards size 2 font is better than the size 1. It strains my eyes to look at a block of size 1 text. I keep the font large by default on forums, but allow members to change their font size to their needs.

[Gamoc]

I think that it is best to try to use the default font if you can. To try to make the skin look good with the default font size before making it smaller or bigger. If you would, for your own self, like to make it smaller, go to your computers setting and have it put smaller for your computer. Small font can be difficult to read and very perplexing to understand. Many people cannot see that well, and thus the smaller fonts make it harder for them. It is also annoying to read small font, too. You have to focus harder than you would for normal font, and human nature says that that is harder, thus making the forum more irritating to the user.