Internet Explorer story was bogus

[muriel_volestrangler]

A story which suggested that users of Internet Explorer have a lower IQ that people who chose other browsers appears to have been an elaborate hoax.

A number of media organisations, including the BBC, reported on the research, put out by Canadian firm ApTiquant.

It later emerged that the company's website was only recently set up and staff images were copied from a legitimate business in Paris.

It is unclear who was behind the stunt.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14370878

Looking back at it ( http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1613385 ), we should have seen it was dodgy.

[Zywiec]

1. Maybe, but very believable. n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. In what way?

Disclosure, which I think most people should do when discussing this: I use Firefox. I did not comment on the original story, but wondered to myself about the 'Opera users average an IQ of 120 to 130', which looked unbelievable.

What made you think it was very believable; and does the fact that you fell for it revise your opinion of people who use the browser you do (or is that IE)?

[Zywiec]

6. I also use Firefox

but shake my head each week that someone here complains about seeing ads. Most likely they are using IE and have no clue of a better browser with AdBlock.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. 'most likely' - but you don't know

So this was 'very believable' because you thought it confirmed something you had only guessed at.

All of us have a tendency to assume knowledge we don't have.

[SecularMotion]

2. The element of truth makes the satire work.

[BiggJawn]

3. I didn't buy it.

Everyone knows idiots use AOL and Netscape.

[JHB]

5. If you couldn't tell it was dodgy jut by its nature...

...then it's not someone else's intelligence you should be concerned about.

[ret5hd]

7. I bet it was an unholy alliance of linux and mac users.

[riverwalker]

9. I use both

and for some reason, Ancestry.com works best with IE. Some features just won't work with Firefox.

[KurtNYC]

10. "A lie can run halfway around the world before the Truth can get its pants on."

-W. Churchill

[Uben]

11. Of course it was bogus, only an idiot would believe it was real....

...because, I use it, and we all know how smart I am!

Huh? You don't know? Get with the program! You must use one of those "other" OS.

I have used IE for 15 yrs and I have never had a crash, never had a virus, and never had a single problem. And, I don't lie......much.

[seabeyond]

12. only read the subject line, thought it absurd. didnt even go in and read

the op.

nothing like checking out the sources media...

[BeyondGeography]

13. Browser snobs

Not accusing anyone here, but, "I use Firefox," or any other alternative is so often said with smugness. Ooooooooh. You bad.

[Upton]

14. Just from my own observation

I wouldn't discount that story so fast...for I've found IE users for the most part to be maybe not stupid, but certainly somewhat computer illiterate..

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. It's a hoax

Many pages on AptiQuant's website are remarkably similar to those of another psychometric testing site, Central Test. In particular the Our Team pages on both sites feature the same pictures and job descriptions for many people - only the names have been changed.

The About Us page on Central Test's website reads: "Central Test was established in 2002 by psychologist and business graduate, Patrick Leguide, who remains the company's president and CEO. Over the past few years, Central Test has become a world leader in the field of online psychometric testing. The company designs, scientifically validates, and publishes a comprehensive range of psychometric tests for the recruitment, career guidance, career management, and staff development markets."

Contrast that with AptiQuant's: "AptiQuant was established in 2006 by psychologist and business graduate, Leonard Howard, who remains the company's president and CEO. Over the past few years, AptiQuant has become a world leader in the field of online psychometric testing. The company designs, scientifically validates, and publishes a comprehensive range of psychometric tests for the recruitment, career guidance, career management, and staff development markets."

However, while they have changed the names of staff on their About Us page, elsewhere they seem to have simply 'adopted' Central Test staff. For instance in one news story, they quote a Roland De Saint Etienne, professor at EPP and AptiQuant coach and consultant. Could this be the very same consultant who works for Central Test, described in their own news story as Roland De Saint Etienne, professor at EPP and Central Test coach and consultant?

http://ecommerce.cbronline.com/news/internet-explorer-low-iq-findings-a-hoax-030811

Or are you claiming that the story about it being a hoax is itself a hoax?

Or are you just looking for a chance to air your prejudices about IE users? Are you an IE user?

[Upton]

17. Sure that's it...

I'm just looking to air my prejudice against IE users. :eyes:

I understand the story was apparently a hoax, but it's also just as true that in my own experience I've found most IE users to be computer illiterate....

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. Don't roll your eyes in the same post that you repeat your prejudices

You are, indeed, being prejudiced with remarks like "I've found most IE users to be computer illiterate".

I'd stop digging if I were you.

[Upton]

19. Defensive aren't we?

Though I suppose I can't blame you if you're an IE user yourself. Kind of hard to defend using an inferior browser when there better alternatives out there. You want to refer to that as "prejudice"..be my guest.

Now, that's just my own opinion, though one shared by many others, and it has indeed been my experience the IE users I've known are computer illiterate. I guess I could always lie to make you feel better...but those are the facts.

[muriel_volestrangler]

21. I use Firefox, as I've already stated in this thread

But I don't think that taking your own feelings about IE users is good enough to say "don't discount what a hoax said about IQ". Don't worry, I won't try to extrapolate your attitude to other people who use whatever browser you do.

[EOTE]

20. I've been in IT since the day I turned 16 and I use IE9.

Of course, I also use Firefox and Chrome, depending on what I'm doing. More than a quarter of the world population uses IE and many sites are optimized to display on it. I love Chrome for its speed, but it has a number of compatibility issues. Same thing with Firefox, although to a lesser degree. I work for the FDA and pretty much none of our intranet apps work with anything other than IE6/7/8 . There are a variety of reasons people would use a particular browser. Your own experience doesn't mean a whole lot in the scheme of things.

[Demstud]

22. My uncle has an IQ in the 150's

And is pretty computer illiterate. Plenty of intelligent people aren't particularly internet savvy especially some older computer users who didn't grow up with the web. Many could really care less as long as they can send their emails and their favorite websites display, or use computers for a fairly narrow focus other than spending all day surfing ad infested websites. I don't see a correlation between IQ and ability to use one particular tool at an expert level.

[Odin2005]

15. Damn, I am such a sucker!