Eating Your Paste

Scott Hardie | February 1, 2006
Anybody know a way, using Javascript or otherwise, to keep an html form from accepting text pasted in from the clipboard, so that it only accepts typed text?

It stopped for a while during the hiatus, but now that the goo game has resumed, so too has the habit of players to paste in the wrong name by accident as their guess and submit it. I almost always make players eat such errors for obvious reasons, but players know there's no harm in asking me to excuse them, so ask they do. Players, of course, could do themselves a favor by always typing their guesses instead of pasting, but it's sometimes the same people asking again so I don't think the problem is going to go away. I'd like to avoid it altogether by altering the form. Any advice?

(This comment was written without grudge to anyone who has asked. I'd probably ask me too.)

Jerry Mathis | February 1, 2006
I've come close to doing that a few times. I still copy and paste but I always stare at my answer before I click submit.

Lori Lancaster | February 1, 2006
[hidden by request]

Amy Austin | February 2, 2006
Thanks, Lori. ;-p

Scott Horowitz | February 2, 2006
I'm not sure you can javascript that... Maybe what you can do is javascript block the ctrl key. (like sites that block right clicking, though that may be a good idea too so they can't right click - paste)??

Amy Austin | February 2, 2006
Actually, Scott... here's a (wild and) crazy idea I just had:

What if -- instead of trying to figure out a way to *limit* this habit, good or bad -- you devised a way for us to confirm our submissions... like the same way eBay does their bidding??? When you press "submit", you're taken to a second screen where you can view your entry and press "confirm" (or "edit" first) -- and this could have the added advantage, if designed right, of being able to see & verify/edit where on the grid your guess is intended to go! (I can't even count how many times I thought I had changed the default location and had not, thereby being stuck with the default selection...)

I think this proposed solution would work out great... simultaneously giving players an opportunity to be *really* sure of and verify their guess (a la Regis Philbin: "Is that your *final* answer?") -- without staring down the computer screen (yes, Jerry, I do that, too!) -- AND eliminating any whining, legitimate or otherwise, about pasting the wrong name. What do you think, and is this an easily written solution (it seems to me like it would be, but what do I know...)?

Denise Sawicki | February 2, 2006
I was going to make the same suggestion, Amy...

Scott Horowitz | February 2, 2006
I think that's a great idea Amy

Amy Austin | February 2, 2006
Thanks, y'all! ;-D

Scott Hardie | February 3, 2006
I think it's a good idea too – and you'll either be gratified or frustrated (or both?) to learn that it has been on my to-do list since summer. Another top player has had recurring trouble with entering the right guess in the wrong form, and I suggested that I program for him a confirmation screen to prevent it, sometime "in the coming weeks." Ok, so I'm a little behind on my site maintenance, sheesh. :-) Anyway, not everybody wants the extra step every time, so I planned to make it optional.

So, yes, I'll program it. Soon. I promise. Stop looking at me like that.