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Comment by superkuh | Hacker News Reader

"Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site."

Sorry but your website needs HTML for readers to care.

What's really bizarre is that they actually deliver the article content in the initial HTML response. It's just hidden using CSS. You can read it by turning off CSS for the page.

That's completely bizarre

Every time someone turns off javascript something bad happens. Right? I'm not sure but I think too many websites use javascript nowadays. Disclaimer: I'm browsing with IE6 with javascript enabled.

You lost me at IE6...

Haha if it was good enough for grandpa, it's good enough for you!

Very proud of you.

You're really speaking for a minority there. Most people browse with javascript enabled and I don't think developers should even cater for non-javascript users anymore.

> I don't think developers should even cater for non-javascript users anymore.

What do you mean by 'cater to'? If you mean 'develop primarily for,' sure. If you mean 'tolerate,' then you're part of what's wrong with today's Internet.

Well you're being left behind.. so bye.

We already have to deal with multiple versions of multiple browsers on desktops, phones and tablets, on screens with a wide PPI range. There's no way to justify more work by saying that some people want to browse the web without javascript, or with text browsers.

Why?

Are you using plain text browser? I don't get why torture yourself with disabling JavaScript for everyday browsing.

Privacy (fewer trackers), fewer advertisements, better security. I don't personally do it but to some those things are valued more highly than the ability to read an article.

You can always disable by default and enable for the sites/applications you trust.

Yes. I understand that. I also use adblocker and Ghostery.

But I don't comment to whine that my uBlock broke that website...

> I don't get why torture yourself with disabling JavaScript for everyday browsing.

The counterpoint is why should websites force users to run javasript in order to read plain text? Its not necessary. Why should websites torture users by requiring them to run code which is not stricly ncessary for reading the article?

Because they're not interested in only getting you to read the plaintext.

I get your point and I'm on your side, generally speaking. But if you place this much value on any given piece of news, then maybe it shouldn't be free.

> But if you place this much value on any given piece of news, then maybe it shouldn't be free.

Definitely agree.

Why torture yourself? Because you don't want to get owned by evil javascript malware perhaps? There is an extension called NoScript that is quite popular with security-minded folks.

No, it needs HTML for silly technologist not to whine when their browser extensions break the web.

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