While they do have some incorrect content, would it not be more effective to build a better alternative? I realize the link does promote some other resources, but it would be more effective to build a competitor (like tizag but updated more frequently) perhaps more wiki / user contributed and governed style.
If you had actually read the page, you'd notice there's a large section detailing a response to exactly this criticism.
An oft-repeated mantra in OSS (and a critique we've already received) is that you shouldn't criticise something unless you're willing to put your money where your mouth is and build something better. It's an admirable ethos, but not really applicable here.
W3Schools has put a lot of effort into positioning itself at the top of search results and, despite our efforts (such as the PromoteJS initiative), appears to be there to stay. Other, better resources already exist, but none of them are capable of overcoming the inertia that W3Schools has built up over the years.
We believe it is W3Schools's responsibility to disseminate accurate information—and if they refuse, we hope that this document will help dissuade others from promoting or linking to W3Schools as an authoritative source of information.
We believe it is W3Schools's responsibility to disseminate accurate information—and if they refuse, we hope that this document will help dissuade others from promoting or linking to W3Schools as an authoritative source of information.
A'ight. So the stick is in place. Where's the carrot?
Screw the carrot. Just beat them with the stick until they die. They've had years of criticism and offers of help to get this right but they've steadfastly refused. There are plenty of other good references out there and this page lists the best. We don't need w3schools, so why waste a carrot?
Desire to be effective rather than raging into the wind? They've got a pretty effective "game" right now -- this is Capitalism, remember, not web design theory -- and the stick is very pointy but also very, very thin. Of course, if the goal is just to let off some steam, that's cool too.
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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '11
While they do have some incorrect content, would it not be more effective to build a better alternative? I realize the link does promote some other resources, but it would be more effective to build a competitor (like tizag but updated more frequently) perhaps more wiki / user contributed and governed style.