I'm not sure to be honest. The title of the post is slightly facetious but really only slightly. I'm thinking I must have a problem because if there is no other way, and if this is not really a big problem for most web users, then it's my problem to deal with.
The immediate idea I have is not to used fixed layouts and less 'blurb'. I'm looking at the Opinion site at the moment (the design of which has changed since last night) and I'd prefer if instead of giving me a blurb about Nicholas Kristof's piece it just said Nicholas Kristof on the Millennium Development Goals.
I might look at mocking up an alternative, though. I'd like to see if I can come up with something that would suit at least me.