A rant by any other name is still a rant ... no?

NOTE: This is content from the web re:Brand posts going back to November 2010. We have kept the re:Brand posts as a legacy archive but, on a go forward basis as of October, 2011, the new DATA eh? content takes over this space.

This just in to the Comments Wall:

This website remains an embarrassment, year after year. Show us the money, or at least some results for our money ON A REGULAR BASIS. Why don't you use maps like the ones that real folks use everyday? Why is there no directory of staff and services? Why is so much old information still available? And who really cares about a 're:Brand'? Aren't grand scale website overhauls (at long intervals) generally accepted as folly now? Who's running the show? No more excuses.>

 I always like it when people sugar coat their statements like this - perhaps it would be better if they told us what they really feel. But, seriously, the above comment - and ones like it on the wall - do nothing to enable us to make a better website.  All it is is a rant and that may fulfill a need (one we haven't offered up previously) but, again, doesn't offer us anything of value.

Note: I suspect the reference to the "maps" is related to the launch of a new maps for road closures (http://map.toronto.ca/roadrestrictions/index.jsp). The mappers are indeed looking for feedback. It could be they haven't seen it - hard to tell. 

A while back I wrote about customer service being only as good as your last performance.  That would appear to be true here again - for the current web has clearly failed this person. But, and I'm speaking personally as opposed to "Mr. re:Brand", I would really like to see some more positive energy around the fact we are inviting comment at all.  Isn't that a small victory for the masses?

Up to a year ago, commenting on the City of Toronto web pages was impossible. Not that we need a pat on the back for the small step but it is a significant step! I really see it as half full as opposed to half empty.

So, why not take advantage of the opportunity and give us some tangibles?  In fact, we're giving you an idea of where we are headed with our Lucky 7 - you can react from there.

Oh, I would agree that few care about the "re:Brand" per se - it's not very sexy or cool. Some days I wish I was blogging about the environment or world peace or music. But, that being said, I care about toronto.ca. Speaking this time for all of us on the re:Brand team, we do care about making a better user experience. So, give us something to work with - it's well worth your time.

We were talking the other day about having a "half full" stance on our project ... a little later a colleague used the term "that's a real can of worms" about another topic ... right away a different colleague added: "yes, but it's a half full can of worms"  - cute!

25/2010