What, pray tell, is wrong with black text on a white background? Or at the very least, personal tastes being what they are, any significant contrast between text and background?
Let's let readers judge for themselves: http://i.imgur.com/6Qtch.png
That's gray.
> Perhaps it looks different on different computers.
Yes -- something that's not true for black text on a white background.
> I am NOT a designer though, so I won't even pretend to argue the current design is optimal.
In that case, a more conventional design might be a better choice -- one in which the contrast between text and background is sufficient to render your pages readable.
I've always favored sites that set themselves apart with their atypical content rather than their atypical color choices.
There are many examples of practical color choices. Everywhere you look, there are sites with reasonable choices. HN, for example.
Or visit the most popular web sites:
http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/most-popular-websites
Notice anything? All of them have black text on a white or very light background. No exceptions.
I regularly see HN posts get downvoted simply for being negative, regardless of the topic. In this case, I think the criticism is both justified and constructive. And I see you agree. :)
> I didn't even finish the first page, let alone put up with such a design as my daily news reading.
I think it's an age thing. There's a certain age at which adorning oneself in dark colors makes one cool, above it all. And designing one's pages according to accepted norms makes one a sell-out. I would be more certain about this were it not for the fact that I am so old that, not only was there no Internet when I was young, there wasn't even FM radio. :)
(1) <cost> The "brain damage factor" is relevant tradeoff to consider, if and when present;
(2) <information efficiency> or lack thereof is a nother key determinant of success; and
(3) <threshold competence> failing to understand (1) & (2) damages credibility ever-so-slightly.
Let us not forget the subject: competition, criteria, and selection of optimal media platforms.
Finally, this article // is a bit // <Exit through the Gift Shop> // with its finish.