Quickly enable or disable JavaScript in Safari

By using “Disable JavaScript” on Safari’s Develop menu, you can eliminate annoyances from some websites, without the frustration of disabling JavaScript altogether.

I’ll even show you how to make a custom keyboard shortcut for it, so your fingers never even have to leave the keyboard.

The initial setup will take a few minutes, but it will be worth it when you realize the power you will wield in your fingers when you’re done.

JavaScript by itself is neither good nor evil.

JavaScript is driving a car. Most people who drive cars are good folks just trying to get from Point A to Point B as easily and quickly as possible. Some people, however, are maniacs, some are drunk drivers, and some are just not very good at it.

The same is true for JavaScript. Most of the time you don’t even notice JavaScript but it’s working in the background to help you and the website work together. Have you ever typed something into a field and the website immediately recognized a problem? That was JavaScript. Unfortunately the analogs of “maniacs” and “drunk drivers” of the JavaScript world all seem to work in marketing. Popup windows? Popover windows? Ads that suddenly appear or slide over what you were trying to read? Also JavaScript. Those green-double-underline links or other links that show you ads when you hover over them? JavaScript.

My favorite is when I’m at a page that won’t let me copy text or even right click, thinking this is some sort of “protection.” The ironic part is that many of these sites (such as for music lyrics) are posting content they don’t own in the first place, and then try to use JavaScript to block you from using it. On some sites you use Safari’s Reader feature, but that doesn’t always work. Fortunately, you have more tools at your disposal.

Read on for more on taming JavaScript.

Continue reading Quickly enable or disable JavaScript in Safari

Quickly enable or disable JavaScript in Safari originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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