But... I use Textpattern?
If I had a nickel for every time someone told me my site looked like a default Wordpress install I’d have enough to buy a gun, just to shoot people who tell me that my site looks like a default Wordpress install, of course.
What gives a layout that distinct “default Wordpress” feel? Is it the lack of blending, the lack of tables, the idea that maybe, just maybe, focus on content is more important than having a graphics intensive layout (but only sometimes)? Whatever it is, my site just has that default feel to it. So much so that I get e-mails from people who think I’ve downloaded and installed a theme from someone else, so they can find out where I got my super cool default Wordpress look.
The funny thing is is that I get the majority of these comments when I’m not using Wordpress. In fact, when I actually use Wordpress people appear to view my site in a different way (in a non-default Wordpress kind of way) which is pretty funny because Wordpress is Wordpress and nothing else is Wordpress (with the exception of the rip-offs, of course).
I’m guessing that people associate the plainer, minimalistic layouts with Wordpress because Wordpress, in a sense, popularized them. Before everyone started downloading Wordpress themes the majority of bloggers in my age bracket used blends and absolutely positioned layouts. Now the trend is to download a layout and modify the crap out of it so you can look like you know what you’re doing while not doing anything. What these people don’t realise is that these so-called default Wordpress layouts existed before Wordpress came along and they’ll exist long after Wordpress dies.
The next person who informs me that my site looks like default Wordpress is going to get e-stabbed in the e-eye with an e-fork. Like seriously.
If you liked this article then why not subscribe to the feed?
On older posts comments are usually closed, so if you'd like to discuss this topic with me then please contact me.
#1
I can see why you get to be so frustrated about the comments considering that all you’ve done is make your site more focused on the content instead of graphics. I’m sorry that its so steressful for you too though because you must feel like people discount your site somewhat because of it. I’m sorry!
#2
I din’t think it looks like a default wordpress theme AT ALL. Ok, so I’ve just seen that light green with white one… and this is nothing like that.
Then again, I’m not sure WHAT they mean by default, when I’ve been told that my layout version 11 (vera.squirrelism.net/layouts/ver11.jpg) looked like a default wordpress theme too… even though I’m pretty certain I hand coded the whole thing. I’ve only inserted some wp functions into the index page… but who knows. Incidentally, this came from a WPR site.
Personally, I like simpler layouts more. And the fact that people atually take the time to tell you it looks one way or another means that they actually stay long enough to see that. I’m not really sure how long MY visitors stay. I never get many such comments…
#3
I can understand your frustration completely. This doesn’t have a default feel to it at all. Like you said, you have everything focused on content, which is very nice, verses graphics. I can give more appreciation to the writings found here because they are easily read.
Hi I'm Becky, often referred to as The Knitting Hillbilly and Pussybear, owner of this site and general nuisance. I'm a knitter, serial complainer, known whistle blower and I run the ever popular
Add to