Eham and gray font

[KD0VEY]

What's the deal with the gray font in the forums? I have noticed several forums that use it. Everyone I have talked with about it says it is irritating and too hard to read - And sometimes impossible to read with tablets and phones. I have created dozens of websites and none of customers even consider gray font for those reasons. So, anyone know why so many sites are now using gray font?

[KE3WD]

The font you view is a property of your own machines' Browser and Settings. 

[KD0VEY]

It would be nice if it was as simple as changing the font selections on my computer. Unfortunately, while changing to the computer's rather than the site's font makes the font easier to read, it also eliminates many parts of the page so navigation is almost impossible. It would be easier if site webmasters just understood that their priority should be ease of reading, not some cool look that has never beed substantiated.

[KU7PDX]

I'm really not sure what this "gray font" is that you're referring to. I just pulled up eHam on my Android phone and tablet and the forums are very easy to read without any issues.

[K8AXW]

It would be easier if site webmasters just understood that their priority should be ease of reading, not some cool look that has never beed substantiated.

AMEN!! I've often wondered why such intelligent people who have the ability to build a nice web site blows it with something as simple as not using colors that are easy to read!!

[K5TR]

What's the deal with the gray font in the forums? I have noticed several forums that use it. Everyone I have talked with about it says it is irritating and too hard to read - And sometimes impossible to read with tablets and phones. I have created dozens of websites and none of customers even consider gray font for those reasons. So, anyone know why so many sites are now using gray font?

This is the first complaint about it that I recall hearing.  I will be happy to explore changing it - I will test things to make sure changes do not cause issues.
The shade is pretty dark it is #444444

Thanks for the input.

[KA5IPF]

What's wrong with black??? No need to get fancy. It's visible on white or light grey backgrounds.

Clif

[KD0VEY]

FYI: I did a search on google about it. It seems to be a trend - there are 16 million hits for people complaining about sites with low contrast fonts.

[K1CJS]

A simple fix is to adjust the brightness of your device.  Most smartphones and tablets have the adjustment available under settings.

[KD0VEY]

Brightness has no effect on the bad decision by web designers to use low contrast font. Brightness does not affect contrast. And, if you have the capability of adjusting contrast on your computer, it may make the gray font easier to read, but it makes all the well designed sites harder to read.