Is SI really trying to kill Fannation? Seems like it, doesn't it?
I have a new computer. I have the fastest internet access available. I use Google Chrome as a browser which is supposed to speed up internet access by stripping away all the extra junk that slows things down.
And still I have problem after problem trying to access and use Fannation.
Why?
Because SI is trying to leverage my use of this website as much as possible to make money and to show off its wares. How many videos are trying to run on this page even as I'm writing this? Two? Three? Four? How many flash scripts? What else?
And it's worse because, to get to the point where I can read or post a blog, I have to navigate through three levels of pages, all of which automatically start running all that stuff as soon as I reach them. I have to stop all the videos from playing on every one of those pages just to get reasonable performance from the site.
And the site so badly overloads me that, when I come to press "Publish" at the bottom of the page, more often than not the program freezes, forcing me to block and copy my entry, exit completely from my browser and start again.
I enjoy Fannation a lot. I like reading what you folks write and I like knowing that you're getting a chance to read what I write. I like finding out what's happening and seeing how popular some stories are. I like the comment functions and I enjoy just feeling like I'm a part of the sports community.
But a lot of that good will I'm feeling is slowly being replaced by frustration. I feel like, even as I'm getting angry at how poorly this site runs, so are so many other people who might just be giving up and moving elsewhere. That's no fun. That undermines the purpose.
SI and their web team need to figure out a decent balance between the performance of this website and their ability to take advantage of the fact that it can be popular with fans and, therefore, a good market to exploit commercially. They need to realise that videos eat bandwidth and sap performance. They need to deal with the source sites that slow down the delivery of content to Fannation. They need to make sure that we actually continue to enjoy coming here.
Because, if they don't do some rebalancing soon, they're going to kill what's left of the golden goose and lose all of Fannation's committed participants.
Cintia Dicker
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Comments (42) Add A Comment
Mark, I use Firefox and if you use the adblock plus plugin, you can block the videos, the SI swimsuit banner, and the any other ads that drive you nuts. It helps tremendously.
Even with that though the site has a serious lag issue that causes pages not to load, comments to be double and triple posted (or just lost entirely) etc.
You're not alone in your frustration.
LoveItHateIt
Portland, OR
Total Comments (11675)
Tremendous help with the adblock plugin. I will try that. I might have the latest equipment but I sure don't have the latest technical knowledge! thanks for the tip!
markwwnb
Total Comments (94)
When I switched to Google Chrome two years ago, I was unable to post at SI without translation problems (line-breaks, toggle-bar, etc). Seeking answers from SI staff went unanswered. I now switch back to Internet Explorer, temporarily, when posting on SI. So far, it works.
Steven Keys
Duluth, GA
Total Comments (116)
Thanks Steven. I've noticed the posting problems with Chrome too. It also happens (or at least used to happen) when you use a Mac to post on the site. Crazy. So now I read Fannation using Chrome and post using IE too.
markwwnb
Total Comments (94)
Nice job, I think you covered everything, except maybe they could delete profiles that haven't been used in over 5 years, they didn't have any trouble deleting comments, so why stop there... Its too bad that all this will fall on deaf ears as I doubt anyone from SI will ever read it....
~Foxy~
Springfield, MA
Total Comments (6831)
Adblock Plus is the only way to go. Get it here for firefox.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/adblock-plus/
UB bulls
West Buffalo, CA
Total Comments (8642)
The swimsuit banner might not be so bad if it wasn't huge and didn't have auto-playing videos that consume bandwidth.
Add a rule
||sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012_swimsuit/partners/*
I also use a rule
||i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/swf/4.1/global/*
To get rid of the annoying Sports Illustrated video section on FN
In general, you can right click on any part of a web page and select the Adblock Plus menu item to block that item on a web page.
UB bulls
West Buffalo, CA
Total Comments (8642)
LOL!
Sweets
Total Comments (6748)
Perfect example of a company too big for its britches. Nice blog.
Atro SYB
Total Comments (12701)
Good points, although SI's website is slowed down by the same videos/ads you lament here on FN.
smart alec
Total Comments (1056)
Somewhere a SI exec is singing "I don't care" by Kevin Meaney.
AllStarz Ruinating…
Total Comments (19284)
+1 Billion!!!
Formerly from Ewa…
Sand Patch, PA
Total Comments (6015)
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