In recent years, it seems use of an “Are you sure?” prompt in computer programs is increasing. It seemed to start with tthe Windows 95 Recycle Bin, but now it seems like “Are you sure?” is everywhere.
Want to rename a file? “Are you sure?” Delete it? “Are you sure?” Save it in a different format? “Are you sure” Uninstall it? "Are you sure? “Are you really sure?” “You’ll get all these great benefits if you keep the program; are you absolutely sure?”
There are other times when a program will generate needless prompts; these seem to be on the rise, too. Exit match.com messenger, and you’ll get two promots; “Match.com messenger will now exit” and “Match.com messenger has exited.” Isn’t this a bit too much?
Most people I know hate “Are you sure?” prompts. Wht, then, have programmers been using them with increasing frequency? Why no way to turn the “Are you sure?” prompts off?
Well, the “Are you sure?” prompt has a purpose – if you’re deleting a file, for example. Strangely, you’re actually allowed to turn these confirmation messages, while ‘Are you sure you want to end this FREE ad-supported program?’ software doesn’t give you that option.
What annoys me even more is software that insists on minimizing to the system tray when you click the Close icon, and sometimes even when you use File/Exit. Often, such programs give you a pop-up informing you that it’s being minimized to the system tray, or asking you if you’re sure you want to make the FREE DOWNLOAD slightly less accessible. (Usually, you do get a ‘Don’t ask me this again’ checkbox.) If I want to minimize a program, I’ll minimize it. If I want to close it, I don’t want to have to close it twice – and confirm twice.
Another thing that annoys me is the proliferation of programs that insist on having a system tray icon. I currently have about 12, and many of them can’t be hidden or represent some annoying ‘quick start’ option that forces me to load software I rarely use.
Oh, and, while I’m at it, I don’t like how computers use the first person (like ‘My Computer’, ‘My Documents’, ‘myEwhatever.com’). The computer is a device with which I am communicating, not an extension of myself – it should be ‘Your Computer’, ‘Your Documents’.
The “Are you sure?” type of dialog boxes have an important place when the user is about to make a change that can’t be undone or if the action might have unintended repurcussions. Even in the case of deleting a file, an action that can be undone, a verification prompt is a good thing since it’s so easy to accidently delete something, and the unsophisticated user may not know what has happened.
Of course anything can be overdone. I don’t have Match.com, so I can’t comment on it, so do you have any other examples?
In Win 98 (and possibly XP) if you go to start - Run then type “msconfig” without commas - then go to “startup” tab- you can uncheck many programs that otherwise would automatically load each time you load windows as long as you can identify them in the list. Then they can be opened in future when you need them. and shoudn’t appear in the system tray every time. Not all programs will obey this every time but most should.
— Most people I know hate “Are you sure?” prompts.
Yeah, but paranoids like myself like them. If I’m on autopilot, the reminder gives me a chance to re-evaluate my options, as it were.
<<The system tray issue is another matter. Memo to Redmond: It’s my computer and my RAM. I want control over it, especially when I’m (ahem) using an unstable operating system.>>
Manual override: a good thing.
In Win98, msconfig can also be accessed via the Start Menu:
Accessories -> System Tools -> System Information ->
Tools Menu -> System Configuration Utility -> Startup tab
This helps if you forget the name of the program (msconfig).
You know, I’ve noticed a lot of these “deliberately annoying” interchanges lately, and they seem to be eerily close to the Sirius Cybernetics robot personality concept. Douglas Adams must be laughing himself silly on the other side.
I saw a popup once where a window came up asking me to install a program (“Are you sure you want to install and run [name of program], distributed by [name of company]?”). When I clicked “No” I got a second popup that said “Wait! You forgot to click on Yes!” So in this case, whoever made that popup was apparently hoping against hope that even after I specifically indicated that I didn’t want it, maybe I would suddenly change my mind or something. :dubious: