[Sigia-l] Tag separators in text fields - standardise please

[martin.fietkiewicz at gmail.com]

2008/7/30 Paola Kathuria <paola at limov.com>

> martin.fietkiewicz at gmail.com wrote:
>
>> Even periods are better separators than spaces imho.
>>
>
> If, for example, 80% of the tags on Flickr are single word,
> why should I be forced to separate with a comma for the
> unlikely event that I might want to tag with a phrase?
>
>
Fair enough, with those kinds of stats you shouldn't... but then how do you
deal with phrases?  I like tagging with phrases as much as with single
words, and it has uses beyond my mere whimsy (I'm thinking of the "white
house" example).



> When you touch-type, do you know where the comma key is or
> do you have to look down at the keyboard?
>
>
I'm next in line for one of those keyboards without anything written on the
actual keys.  But fair enough, the bulk of internet users still type with
two fingers while gingerly looking at the keyboard lest they singlehandedly
screw up this whole DARPA experiment for everyone else.  Still, a comma is
not that much more of a cognitive load than a spacebar hit, imho.  Right up
there with the ENTER/RETURN dragon.



> When tags are mostly single words (which is my premise),
> having to add commas is an unnecessary requirement. I find
> it a hassle and am surprised that no one else does.
>
>
I have been known to invoke the comma-spacebar combo in my sleep between
ALT+Tab finger twitches.  It feels weird to type a comma alone, actually.
Or a period without two spaces on its tail.



> Hypothetically, if 80% was the average for single-word tags,
> would you really still argue for commas as separators when
> people enter a series of tags on a web site?


No, I suppose I wouldn't... however, only under the proviso that phrases and
hyphenated words don't get the short end of the stick.

Martin