wydeboi's web wilfings
Comments on internet related issues, generally around accessibility, usability, customer relations and good practice.
Tuesday 29 May 2007, 3:10 PM
Accessing my ZDNet account
A weird thing keeps happening to me on the ZDNet. The only way I can describe it is that I am both registered and logged in and not registered and not logged-in.
It all started when I tried to save a link using the clip link button on an article.
The form asks for the link info and I add it and press Save this Link.
The page then says I need to confirm my email to proceed.
"Your email address must be confirmed before the link you created can be displayed."
Okie, I can do that. I finally find a way to do this by selecting a tab that makes the most sense. I ask to be sent a confirmation of email by following the link under the Mail tab, since I joined the site ages ago, when it relaunched and haven't the email recently to hand.
I receive said email promptly, follow the link and go to a page that says I need to fill in missing information highlighted in red and there is no red highlighted information and the only option is to log in, which I already am, as evidenced from the login account info at left. So for some odd reason, I need to log in to change information when I am already logged in...
So in order to continue with my account I need to provide information, but the request for information is not provided, but I need to supply it to proceed.
I often think that Kafka committed suicide when he heard about the impending computer, as if worried if he kept writing he might actually invoke the society he most feared; one which logic ruled but not one where the logic had any relation with sense.
I can only conclude that I am both logged in and my account not activated. Limbo, purgatory, queue going nowhere!
I have not been able to mail, comment, add links or reviews, in other words, make decent use of my account since ZDNet launched the new site. And before you ask, yes, I have cleared cookies and tried different browsers but surely Firefox 2 on a Mac was tested, and I should safely assume they are adhering to web standards and WAI standards?
The oddest thing is I have repeatedly used the support email as well as the "Like our new site" feedback link ever since registering but nothing ever seems to come of it. Not received a single email offering assistance or explanation. A bottomless hole going nowhere. Complaint window but no one on the other side.
Is there anyone in control?
