I got annoyed today at the attitude some web designers seem to take to a large section of potential web users. Yes, I’m talking about that whole Internet Explorer 6 issue. I’m also talking about the patronising attitude that some designers seem to take to the end user. The idea that users who aren’t using the latest technology have only themselves to blame, and don’t deserve a reasonable web browsing experience.
I Don’t Care About My Users
An excellent article on Lee Munroe’s blog this week talked about maximising the capabilities of the latest browsers, while maintaining reasonable appearance and functionality for older software. Good points, well made. There was a comment in the subsequent discussion that stood out for me:
I use CSS3 rounded corners, but it’s not because I think IE users don’t care about them, it’s because I don’t care about IE users.
…
Honestly, I’m just not going to work hard enough to get my site to look just the way I want it in a broken web browser because most people are too stupid to download a decent one.
That was followed up by a tweet I saw which highlighted the “best footer ever” at newtoyork.com, which reads:
Hi, if you are coming to this site via Internet Explorer 6, you might not be getting the best experience possible. Honestly, I can’t even begin to think about what your entire experience on the internet must be like? (…probably like riding a bike on the highway while cars blow by you on their way to Costco to get gallons of mayonnaise and 60-inch plasma TV’s). How will you ever be able to use this website?????? You wont. You’re an asshole and your browser is an asshole. So look, I’m going to be honest: I kind of hate you. BUT we c-a-n make this work. Here is what I am going to need you to do: fire up your Toshiba ShitBook© that weighs about 45 pounds, wipe the Cheeto dust off the screen, download Safari ( http://www.apple.com/safari/download/ ), delete Internet Explorer from your computer, punch yourself in the face, and get me a pulled pork sandwich.
These are designers who don’t merely acknowledge the problems of Internet Explorer 6, as we all do, but actively blame the user and look down on them for their obsolete technology.
Internet Users Aren’t Stupid
Your basic internet user, even if they’re browsing with Internet Explorer 6, isn’t stupid. There are two reasons why somebody would use Internet Explorer 6; they aren’t fully aware of the upgrade options or they are unable to upgrade.
If you use the internet on a very casual basis, and don’t need to use your computer often, there’s no particular reason why you’d be aware of internet browser options. Sure, regular web users, tech workers, web designers, we all know about Firefox, Safari, Chrome and the later versions of Internet Explorer. There’s no reason why a casual user who just pops online occasionally to check email or look at a newspaper should have the same knowledge.
It’s also the case that many people who use the internet in a corporate environment are unable to upgrade. Many businesses have software or applications that are incompatible with browsers other than Internet Explorer, or they merely have not undertaken the difficult logistical process of upgrading across the whole business. Even users who might use the latest technology at home may be forced to use Internet Explorer 6 in their business environment.
Aren’t We Supposed To Be Serving The Consumer?
I have a 1989 Toyota Camry. I don’t think that next time I take it for an oil change I’ll be told that I’m dumb to own such a car. That’s what a lof of web designers are effectively doing with their customers though. Of the top eight browsers on the market, Internet Explorer 6 remains fourth most popular, despite the releases of versions 7 and 8. I can’t think of any other industry where 15% of the consumers were told that they were worthless and stupid as often as in web design. Yet designers will focus heavily on Firefox 3.5, which only has a usage share that’s 2% more than Internet Explorer 6. It’s astounding.
Internet Explorer 6 is tough to design for, there’s no denying it. It’s an old piece of software. But the internet’s reach goes far beyond the most technologically up to date and savvy users, it takes a cross section of society as a whole. If the user base of a client’s site is likely to include a reasonable number of Internet Explorer 6 users then there’s a responsibility to provide them with some kind of reasonable service, or at the very least explain to clients that you don’t provide such support and therefore it would be inappropriate to take their business.
I consider myself very lucky that my recent clients’ visitor statistics demonstrate that less than 2% of users are on Internet Explorer 6, so I have less need to support it. And I make no bones about the fact that I’m not seeking corporate work, and don’t offer full Internet Explorer 6 support. That’s a business decision on my part, but at no point have I suggested that clients who want Internet Explorer 6 capability, or the users that still use that browser are stupid. It’s about time other designers started treating the internet user base with a little more consideration and a little more respect.
