On a serious note: I don't think use of Internet Explorer is indicative of a low IQ, though the use of an actually functional browser like Chrome or Firefox could indicate a high IQ, or just a cursory knowledge of browsing and malware avoidance.
Poll: IE users are kinda stupid...
- Thread starter Akytalusia
- Start date
Recommended Videos
I voted yes but this is a TERRIBLY worded question and the study is bollocks...
Using IE doesn't mean your IQ is lower (IQ means nothing anyway though so...), but yeah it does mean you don't know very much about computers.
Anyone tech savvy enough to know any kind of coding (even just HTML), a basic knowledge of how flash works or any knowledge of the W3C should not be using IE...
I think one of the better examples was back in school when we did a website course, websites that were validated with the W3C validator and worked in both FF and Chrome wouldn't work in IE.
Also, I noticed the HTML code Adobe Flash creates has an "If using IE" check and runs different code JUST for IE >.>
As for Chrome vs Firefox... apples and oranges.
Both of them have strengths and weaknesses, both of them have a different look-and-feel and both of them will run differently for different computers and different browsing styles.
Edit: Also seeing some love for Opera here, I spose I won't argue, Opera is still better then IE...
Using IE doesn't mean your IQ is lower (IQ means nothing anyway though so...), but yeah it does mean you don't know very much about computers.
Anyone tech savvy enough to know any kind of coding (even just HTML), a basic knowledge of how flash works or any knowledge of the W3C should not be using IE...
I think one of the better examples was back in school when we did a website course, websites that were validated with the W3C validator and worked in both FF and Chrome wouldn't work in IE.
Also, I noticed the HTML code Adobe Flash creates has an "If using IE" check and runs different code JUST for IE >.>
As for Chrome vs Firefox... apples and oranges.
Both of them have strengths and weaknesses, both of them have a different look-and-feel and both of them will run differently for different computers and different browsing styles.
Edit: Also seeing some love for Opera here, I spose I won't argue, Opera is still better then IE...
The study is graphing two curves in one, and it will, inevitably, skew the results. The first curve would be the popularity, among the group of 100,000, of the aforementioned web browsers, and the average IQ, among the group of 100,000.
1) The 'average' of any set of numbers is greatly skewed by outliers, and, especially in the smaller populations, it's easier to obtain number which is not representative of the group as a whole. The 'mean' is much less easily skewed, and a much better representation of the group. As it stands, using the 'average' is a large source of potential error.
2) The size of the sample for each of the browser populations is most likely also variable. Without similar sample sizes, one cannot achieve similar accuracy, causing another potential for error.
I'm not entirely sure what the makers of this study were hoping to accomplish, but it's a lot harder to accomplish what they're trying to accomplish with legitimate statistics.
1) The 'average' of any set of numbers is greatly skewed by outliers, and, especially in the smaller populations, it's easier to obtain number which is not representative of the group as a whole. The 'mean' is much less easily skewed, and a much better representation of the group. As it stands, using the 'average' is a large source of potential error.
2) The size of the sample for each of the browser populations is most likely also variable. Without similar sample sizes, one cannot achieve similar accuracy, causing another potential for error.
I'm not entirely sure what the makers of this study were hoping to accomplish, but it's a lot harder to accomplish what they're trying to accomplish with legitimate statistics.
Oh I know, I don't care about that...just all the other people who think they are better than me because they use a different internet browser. I'm used to IE and I know how to work it and I don't see any sense in using a different browser because here in Australia my internet is slow no matter what browser I use.Akytalusia said:
So, I think everyone can use whatever browser they want. As long as they dont try to convert me to it. People don't like being told what to do.
I use IE because I've always used IE, and really can't be bothered putting the time in to work out a new one. Having then said that, I do have Chrome installed for the innumerable times IE screws up.
Also, this doesnt indicate a low IQ. It's correlation, not causation. IQ tests are no real measure of intelligence, just how good you are at certain standardised puzzles.
Also, this doesnt indicate a low IQ. It's correlation, not causation. IQ tests are no real measure of intelligence, just how good you are at certain standardised puzzles.
First of all, IQ measures only the abillity to solve IQ tests.
That aside, after reading the study itself (not just the news), I can't find anything blatantly wrong with it.
There are three points where you could attack it:
The first is the choice of participants. The way the thing was set up, it seems as only people interested in knowing their IQ took part in this test. This could have an effect on the results, though it's not clear exactly what that effect is.
The second is the particular IQ-Test, but I don't know enough about the quality of different IQ tests to comment on that.
The last point is the statistics: I would have liked to know more about the data. Exactly how where those 100 groups set up? What about averege deviation?
As with all studys of this kind, one has to be carefull when it comes to drawing conclusions from it. But the corralation between IQ and Browser-usage is there, like it or not. And to be honest, it doesen't seem that far fetched. Someone less intelligent could very well be less likely to change his standart web browser, simply because he never thinks about it or is too stupid to do so even if he wanted.
That aside, after reading the study itself (not just the news), I can't find anything blatantly wrong with it.
There are three points where you could attack it:
The first is the choice of participants. The way the thing was set up, it seems as only people interested in knowing their IQ took part in this test. This could have an effect on the results, though it's not clear exactly what that effect is.
The second is the particular IQ-Test, but I don't know enough about the quality of different IQ tests to comment on that.
The last point is the statistics: I would have liked to know more about the data. Exactly how where those 100 groups set up? What about averege deviation?
As with all studys of this kind, one has to be carefull when it comes to drawing conclusions from it. But the corralation between IQ and Browser-usage is there, like it or not. And to be honest, it doesen't seem that far fetched. Someone less intelligent could very well be less likely to change his standart web browser, simply because he never thinks about it or is too stupid to do so even if he wanted.
Looks like the responses from many IE users in this thread have pretty much confirmed the OP's hypothesis. 
But I suppose a flamey reaction should be expected to a perceived insult.
It's not quite as fundamental a part of the OS as you suggest, but it is technically correct that some parts of the Windows "shell" (not kernel) depended on some modules which were claimed to be inexorably part of IE. There is no reason why this should be the case in a properly designed OS.
The Browser Choice update to satisfy the EU antitrust regulators (not courts) simply made the user aware of the availability of other browsers, and offered links to their websites. No mention of FTP (as if a browser is the only kind of HTTP client that exists, sheesh).
You make out like Microsoft is the victim and the EU the bully, and that it was oh so difficult for Microsoft to decouple IE from Windows and they were really making a big concession to the EU by doing that, but the EU are a democratic institution voted for by me and my fellow Europeans; they are looking out for our rights (in between meals of lobster and caviar paid for by Steve Jobs, of course, they are politicians after all) and it was a trivial matter to add the browser choice window, Microsoft really did the bare minimum they could get away with.
Firefox went through a period of relatively more vulnerabilities being discovered in it, due more likely to a period of more rapid development, rather than growing userbase (in any software project, increased rate of development equals more bugs introduced into the system).
Also: real power-users use
.
But I suppose a flamey reaction should be expected to a perceived insult.
How very convenient for them.ElNeroDiablo said:
It's not quite as fundamental a part of the OS as you suggest, but it is technically correct that some parts of the Windows "shell" (not kernel) depended on some modules which were claimed to be inexorably part of IE. There is no reason why this should be the case in a properly designed OS.
Ever since it was released, Windows 7 has allowed you to easily and safely remove IE at any time without adversely impacting OS functionality, regardless of your jurisdiction.
The Browser Choice update to satisfy the EU antitrust regulators (not courts) simply made the user aware of the availability of other browsers, and offered links to their websites. No mention of FTP (as if a browser is the only kind of HTTP client that exists, sheesh).
You make out like Microsoft is the victim and the EU the bully, and that it was oh so difficult for Microsoft to decouple IE from Windows and they were really making a big concession to the EU by doing that, but the EU are a democratic institution voted for by me and my fellow Europeans; they are looking out for our rights (in between meals of lobster and caviar paid for by Steve Jobs, of course, they are politicians after all) and it was a trivial matter to add the browser choice window, Microsoft really did the bare minimum they could get away with.
Maybe it's just confirmation bias but it seems to me that most of the flamey fanboys seem to be the IE users, and the users of other browsers are being quite reserved and pointing out the obviously silly application of IQ tests in the study.imperialreign said:
Of course updates are essential, as security vulnerabilities are continually being discovered in all the main browsers, but Firefox, Chrome and to a lesser extent Safari and Opera have the advantage of being open source. This means there are many more eyes examining the code, and if a programmer finds a vulnerability then they can't hide behind the cloak of closed source and say they'll fix it later.
Firefox went through a period of relatively more vulnerabilities being discovered in it, due more likely to a period of more rapid development, rather than growing userbase (in any software project, increased rate of development equals more bugs introduced into the system).
I'm not really up for a debate, just, like you say, putting in my $0.02. It could go on for days and we'd never have a definitive answer. It's true that IE has become more secure recently, but in my eyes Microsoft have ignored security for too long and can never regain my trust.
You crafty ninja, you.JezebelinHell said:
Also: real power-users use
Code:
lynx
I use IE... don't hate me, I just don't see it as much different or better than Chrome, which I have installed as well.
IQ tests are crap for determining intelligence. I'll just keep quoting the fact that Richard Feynman scored 125. That's 'slightly above average'. Nonsense.
Also, oh well.
They make a decent point in there: maybe there's a connection between using the default browser and an unwillingness to experiment?
Also, oh well.
They make a decent point in there: maybe there's a connection between using the default browser and an unwillingness to experiment?
Barely.neonsword13-ops said:
Which is the best reason ever to be suspicious of it. And no, they're definitely not all the same - try Firefox or Chrome.
Doesn't mean you're stupid, though, just that you don't know how crap IE is.
Web developers who make IE-only pages, on the other hand...
Quick everyone, look! The overreactors taking something clearly not referring to them then making it about them!ShadowKatt said:
Its not about you, stop getting worked up about something that clearly does not reference you. If you are forced to use it, then that's your company, not you, that's being stupid.
THAT. Every single page I made in college had me rage for two hours because of that crap. God am I glad to be out of that trade.DarthFennec said:
Sorry, I was not very clear there, I didn't actually mean your post as you did not say such a thing, but was referring to the people who do say that IE users are idiots, I wont make that mistake again.Akytalusia said:
You know Ive long since abandoned IEX, but with Firefox doing this consistent memory leak garbage and crashing entirely too often, I am tempted to at least give IEX9 a look to see if its worth bothering with. If not, I might give Opera a shot for a little while.
Im not impressed with Chrome. Its not only slower, it also forces you to run extra processes and forces auto updating which I will never personally approve of.
Im not impressed with Chrome. Its not only slower, it also forces you to run extra processes and forces auto updating which I will never personally approve of.
It's the other way around sir, according to the study you'd be stupid to use IE.SgtFoley said:
OT: I use internet explorer, no problem. My IQ is also above average, so imagine how stupid the rest must be!
I'm so funny.
It's nothing to do with IQ, just tech knowledge. Most of those intrepid explorers are people who don't know much about the internet and don't even know that other browsers exist. I was one of them, once. As soon as I learned the truth, I fled Microsoft.
I use internet explorer because:
I'm used to it
The noticable difference between IE and competing browsers is so small I don't care enough to change
I'd have to download all the flash etc again
(I've used Chrome, Safari and firefox and didn't like any of them)
I'm used to it
The noticable difference between IE and competing browsers is so small I don't care enough to change
I'd have to download all the flash etc again
(I've used Chrome, Safari and firefox and didn't like any of them)
It's always frustrating when I'm forced to do something that requires the use of IE. Otherwise I'd always use Opera and/or Chrome.
Ew, Internet Explorer is terrible D:
9 is way better though, it seems like it actually WORKS!
Well, all we can say is that at least we're not talking about Safari XD
(Because that would get some PC vs Mac debate started)
9 is way better though, it seems like it actually WORKS!
Well, all we can say is that at least we're not talking about Safari XD
(Because that would get some PC vs Mac debate started)
So it's almost a decent browser? Maybe we should wait till version 10vxicepickxv said:
OT: No it doesn't signify low IQ only lazyness and/or ignorance, tho the groups have a significant overlap.