Integrity, ethics: HP invented it
|
|
|
IE users are stupid report was faked
LAST WEEK'S REPORT that Internet Explorer (IE) users are less than clever was a hoax, according to some digging done by the BBC.
The report, which we wish had been real and secretly think was reasonably accurate even if it wasn't true, claimed that out of 100,000 users polled those that used Microsoft's Internet Exploder web browsers had the lowest intelligence quotient (IQ) scores.
This might in fact be the case, but apparently the report and its quoted findings were hogwash.
The firm that produced the widely quoted report, Aptiquant described itself as "a world leader in the field of online psychometric testing", and its report seemed to spring out of nowhere with its claims. The INQUIRER reported on it, along with most of the rest of the internet press and the BBC itself.
Microsoft's Internet Explorer 6 was found to be used by the dumbest people, with their average user IQ scores nudging just over 80 - a level at which they might struggle to operate a mouse - nevermind a woefully outdated piece of web browser software.
However, although we reckon that a real test would find the same thing, the research firm is more Aptican't than Aptiquant and appears to have 'borrowed' most of its web site from another firm.
That firm, an online pyschometric assessment provider called Central Test, has not officially commented, but it has linked to a report that calls the survey into question.
For now we can only speculate about who was behind this hoax, but The INQUIRER doesn't want to point any fingers, if only in order to keep our lawyers happy.
The BBC, we should add, appears to have removed its earlier story, where the report was taken as fact. A number of other publications have also come out with "I knew it!" comments after the fact, which makes this story a win-win for all of us in the IT industry press.
The thought of IE users struggling to use a mouse definitely was appealing, but aren't we all glad that we can sit back now and say "I told you so", even if no one did at the time? µ
Tags: InternetMicrosoftSoftware
Share this:
Share
That should read secunia.org
IE9 has several times fewer security vulnerabilities than Chrome 12 or Safari 5. Just check Secuia.org
If you want a more secure browser then IE is the way to go.
IE users are their own race; a substrand of the human genome. They are lesser developed and are new to the internet. Thry mztype evrytink & sum t!mez sp3@k in sYmb0l!cs. They believe anything that they are told, buy everything that they see, and make up for the bulk of civilization.
Please, do not discriminate from the hyperspatially disabled. They are our friends.
I think you have a mistake in your comment. It should be "i is smart". Where did you go to school?
Wen i want go on internet i klik on wat says internet and has e on it - it takes me to internet so i am smart, reel smart.
Nah the survey was accurate...
It's just that all the IE users are threatening to sue the news agencies for reporting it, and all the judges and lawyers are avid IE fanboys.
Why so bitter, Mr.W.-? You're not even willing to give them credit for doing something no other news outlet even attempted -- conduct an actual investigation?
Vista was a huge thing when it was released, certainly newsworthy if nothing else.
You, Sir, are an IE user through and through!
BBC. the people who did a 40 minute live 'news' show about the release of the wonderful vista.
Clearly they know their stuff.
I use Internet Explorer to download another browser!
anyway, being stupid or being ignorant are different things.
We cannot deny that IE9 is ok. Its not the best but is an improvement. Seriously, try it out.
I have plenty of anecdotal evidence that IE users are not merely ignorant, they are willfully ignorant.