The real reason animated GIFs are a bad idea

[CMUNSON]

This discussion of animated GIFs has been instructive, but now that we 
have laid to rest the issue of impact on the server (there is none), I 
feel it is necessary to point out that we should treat animated GIFs as we 
would a gun. Some people will have nothing to do with them as a matter of 
principle. Some people overuse them, thereby sometimes leading to 
unfortunate consequences for anyone who comes in contact with them (often 
friends and family). They should be used very judiciously and with care, 
and only when nothing else will do. By way of example, I suggest you 
visit the following page, which was pointed out to me by Thomas Dowling:

http://www.recordpub.com/rc/faq.html

I defy you to read the page. Your eye naturally wants to follow the 
moving target, thus causing a constant distraction. Does it add to the 
purpose of the page? I think not. Rather I think it *destroys* the 
purpose of the page (which, I believe, is to inform, not to entertain). 
Do you find it annoying? I do, and wild horses won't drag me back there. 
Is that what they (or us) want? Not I. Decide for yourself.
Roy Tennant


Roy: I can respect your feelings concerning the overuse of animated GIFs. 
Certainly there are many folks who don't know how to incorporate them 
effectively in web page design, but we shouldn't dismiss the entire use of them.
I think the same thing can be said about frames. I hate them, but will concede 
that sometimes they have their place and can be implemented successfully in 
specific sites.

Let's face it, the democratic, decentralized nature of the web means that almost
anybody can be a web designer, often without understanding the principles of 
graphic design. Nor do they understand the concepts of interface design or the 
effective presentation of visual information.

I think this is a good thing. It makes the web an interesting place and often 
provides comic relief, like the example you cite.

Let me provide my own example of BADDDD web design:

http://www.wlyn.com/


Chuck Munson
Webmaster
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Personal home page:
http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/1672/