The Casual Vacancy
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Do you hate the use of GIFs?
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Chrissie
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Sep 27, 2012 10:13AM

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I am so annoyed. I have been a member since 2007 and I have loved GR, but if this is the new direction it is going rapidly downhill. I think the author should realize what this is doing to her reputation if such people like her writing. I wish one could block all GIFs. I wonder if that is possible. If somebody know how to do that please tell me.
I am so glad that you guys agree with me!

They're part of experiencing the internet and social media websites so will most likely never go away.




Interesting you interpret it that way. I was under the impression that I was stating my opinion on the matter and explaining why I felt that way, and in no way did I believe I was being criticized just because someone doesn't like GIFs. I respect that some people don't like them, and I understand their point, and I wanted to express my opinion. And I added a GIF for humor.



They literally cannot access the words to express themselves.

However, many people on this site abuse and overuse the GIF in their so-called "reviews". GIFs can often express emotional reactions very well; but, it's nearly impossible to write a coherent, well backed-up opinion on a book when your "review" consists almost entirely of GIFs like these:

Once a user writes something that is made up of only exclaimations of excitement and/or emotional reactions, it ceases to be a opinion or an review. So in that respect, GIFS can be very ineffective. I would like for people to use GIFs in moderation so it has maximum impact, but that, sadly, probably will not be the case. As a young person and avid internet-er myself, I like using and laughing at GIFS. But, GIFS, when abused that way in some "reviews," really have no place in a review-oriented site like Goodreads. I agree with some of the people above, there should be a "block all GIFS" option on this website.
Also, an entire page I'm scrolling down bombarding me with flashing pictures can get pretty annoying when I'm looking for just a well-written opinion. And don't like my opinion? Well, you can just



People, you're on a website about books. About WORDS. Please use words to describe what you felt, what you thought. That can't be too hard if you read all those great books you wrote reviews about.


They're part of experiencing the internet an..."
Well, maybe you should just accept that not everyone likes this new trend (and it has nothing to do with books either). I guess what I am saying is deal with it that not everyone has the same attitudes!!

Exactly!

Definitely not very book-oriented, and just plain visually distracting. But then again, I find even book covers (especially if the title is not right beside it visually distracting).

GR is a place for people who want to talk about books. It is a place for people who delight in words. It is not about pictures and certainly not about animated ones. Not every place on the Internet has to be identical. If GR is going to be special we have to be willing to stand out from the crowd, stand up for what we think is important - the power of WORDS! Those loving animated pictures can create their own site. OR Please let those of us who dislike the animated pictures be able to block them.


That's a good point (if I have a headache, the GIFS often make the headache worse). Hmm, I might try to create a thread in the feedback section concerning this (maybe this weekend).

We all know that's not what it is. Stop playing it off as if your emotions are so unbearably new to you that you have never expressed them in words before. It's simply a trend, again, probably a result of Tumblr kids joining Goodreads.


You know what shows emotions? Words. Words like "immeasurably thrilled"; "so excited that I danced around the room wildly, throwing my hands in the air". That shows emotions.
You know what's disgusting? Being hit in the face with hundreds of pieces of copyright-violating visual vomit that shows people masturbating, talking about "Jizz in my pants", flashing rainbows and having fits. It doesn't "help show emotion".


If you don't like reviews with GIFs, don't read them. Don't complain and try and get Goodreads to ban them just because they're not your 'thing'.
A lot of the most popular reviewers use GIFs, and people love them. They make reviews more fun and interactive.
And I know what literate means, thanks. But you classified Goodreads as a 'literate site for book reviews' while others might classify it as ''A site to help people find and share books they love." (which is what Goodreads says themselves, fyi) and accompanying reviews with images is a way to share books.
If you want to pay someone to write your reviews, then you can make a fuss about it. But while there is still something called freedom of speech, and while the reviewers are writing their reviews because they want to and not because they are hired to, no one should be complaining.

Freedom of speech also means I have the right to complain about GIFs and to say that I despise them in reviews. I don't expect GR to ban them, but I would like to be able to block them because I find them distracting and they tend to give me a headache. Is that alright by you? Because if it is not, then you are being a hypocrite and using "free speech" only to get your own ideas hear or read.

I totally agree with you Jamie, if people don't like reviews with GIFs then they shouldn't be read them!
I'll refrain from using GIFs in this reply so I'll just type it in and refer to the GIF I would've used.
Katherine wrote: "But this is a literate site for book reviews. "Literate" means "using words"
Insert Nicholas Cage "oh you don't say" Face
Jeez condescending much?
The use of GIFs shows that people are excited about books! It means they care enough to take the time to use words and images to express how much they like or dislike a book.
Maybe it's not your cup of tea, but you shouldn't automatically assume that just because someone uses images in their reviews it means they're not "literate."
For the haters: I hope this gets stuck in your noggin' all day.
ヽ(゜∇゜)ノ Eeeeyyyy sexy laaaaaadyyyy
ヘ( ̄ー ̄ヘ) Op
(ノ ̄ー ̄)ノ Op
(〜 ̄▽ ̄)〜 Op
〜( ̄△ ̄〜) Op
(☞゚∀゚)☞ Oppa Gangnam Style

I didn't come to this _book review site_ to see a bunch of LiveJournal Hello Kitty orgasmothons from people too self-absorbed to understand that the world doesn't revolve around their unfettered delight. I came here, as I have for half a decade now, to see what other readers thought about what they read.
I honestly couldn't care less about what a 14yo Fandom Wank thought about the news of the book's impending release six months ago.
ETA: I removed the ADHD remark because it was inappropriate. I concede that. Now if only all the posters of the non-reviews would concede THEIR inappropriateness and remove those.

I don't mind them when used judiciously. They can be cleverly inserted into a witty review quite nicely.
Overuse makes my brain hurt, though.

I can show you many reviews that ACTUALLY review a book, while still using GIFS.
The fact that you refer to ANYONE as a "stupid ADHD brainfartathon" is extremely immature and insulting to people both with and without ADHD. I cannot believe someone who is ignorant enough to call reviewers illiterate would have the audacity to say something like that.
People like you are the reason there is so much hate in the world. Go crawl under a brick, there is no need for your offensive slurring anywhere in the universe.

That referred not to the people but to the endless "ZOMG Eleventy-ONE!!!! I'm So cannot wait for this aewsomenousss squee!!!" posts.
People like you are the reason there is so much hate in the world. Go crawl under a brick Irony much?

I am not saying everyone who hates GIFs falls into this category, but I was hoping Goodreads would not become one of the sites to make people feel so unwelcome. I am sorely disappointed.

I am not saying everyone who hates GIFs falls into th..."
Your gifs are inappropriate. You are not unwelcome. The stupid gifs are. You have a tumblr site. Keep them there.

I am not saying everyone who hates GIFs..."
Oh, jesus, I feel like I'm talking to a 5 year old.
I'm out.

I am not saying every..."
You are talking to a 42 year old disabled woman. As much as you are all "you are insensitive" I'm calling you and all the GIF users out. You are the insensitive ones. What you think is cute and funny and fun actually _makes many people physically ill_.
From the ADA Web Developers' Toolkit:
http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap5to...
Other considerations when developing websites:
include a “skip navigation” link at the top of webpages that allows people who use screen readers to ignore navigation links and skip directly to webpage content;
minimize blinking, flashing, or other distracting features;
if they must be included, ensure that moving, blinking, or auto-updating objects or pages may be paused or stopped;


I'm sorry that such a heated argument was so public. I'm not interested in pursuing it any further, and now that my inbox is filling with hate mail for no reason other than giving my opinion, I am officially done with this thread.
Good reading, all.
I agree that a million GIFs in one review like those in this thread are a bit much. But I do post GIFs in some of my reviews and will continue to do so. I review a lot of books on this site. Almost 400 to be exact. I run a blog as well. So for you to say that GIF users are not literate? YEAH...about that.
It's freedom of expression. I do believe you should have a way to filter them out if you so wish and I hope Goodreads is working on that fix. But I will continue to use GIFs when I feel it is right for the emotion I am trying to express. I personally love them. Anyway, just thought I would express my opinion.
It's freedom of expression. I do believe you should have a way to filter them out if you so wish and I hope Goodreads is working on that fix. But I will continue to use GIFs when I feel it is right for the emotion I am trying to express. I personally love them. Anyway, just thought I would express my opinion.


Honestly! This discussion is getting out of hand. Good thing I chose to unclick both boxes on the bottom of this comment box so its not going in my feed or my email.
Some reviewers are taking themselves waaaaaaay too seriously. As much as I love GR It's just a website guys.
It's really unfortunate when people get their feelings hurt and feel they need to take it to the next level and then the next, until all you have left is mutually assured destruction.
How can you be mad when a GIF like this exists in the world?

I don't know, Ivy, but I hope you didn't make it because I just stole it. It's adorable. That looks like a pukeface though. If you don't know what I am talking about, just look at my dog before she vomits. She smiles just like that. Hahahaha!

Not all of us are immature, Tumblr-using teenagers. I hope you realize that, because it sounds really bad when you write it in that manner. You're generalizing the category, and that's a horrible thing to do.
Sometimes words are not enough, and gifs are funny to use sparingly.

For the record, i don't own a facebook/twitter/blog/tumblr etc. only goodreads. That isn't right to call all of us 'immature.'
YOU DON'T KNOW US! at all, yes you can talk to us over goodreads. but that dosn't mean you know us. You don't. Just pointing that out.

And, again shall I remind you - I don't use GIFs (I really like expressing myself in writing), just like you, and yet I resent the approach. People should be allowed to express themselves however they'd like, as long as they're not bothering anyone - and no one's forcing you to read.
Though if it bothers you so much perhaps an agreement could be make that GIFs be under spoiler tags (can they?) so one could chose whether to look at them or not.




Are you not already using an extension or add-on for your browser which limits flashing pop-ups and advertising? Because you could easily use it to also block GIFs, and you could absolutely spare further demonizing an entire group of people at the same time.
If you're not, search for AdBlock and find the version compatible with your browser. This applies to everyone else having issues with GIFs.
And Katherine, I truly hope the days ahead see you in better health xx
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