Another blog traffic exchange annoyance

from JoeUser Forums
Since I seem to be in the mode of blog traffic exchange annoyances, here's another current peeve: Blogs that are configured only to work with one browser or another. As a specific example: blogs that are configured only to work with Firefox.

While I don't mind (heck, I encourage it) competition for Microsoft's Internet Exploder, I mean Explorer, browser, I also recognize that a vast number of people use the browser that comes with their operating system. If I create a web page, I want to know that it displays correctly for, and works correctly for users of any browser that might visit the site.

Creating pages that make use of features that are non-standard is stupid and arrogant. There are standards that should be followed, and while it may mean pages are more simplistic and less feature rich for everyone, there's absolutely no reason to force the rest of the world to bend to using your favorite browser.

The same can be said of Microsoft's own Internet Explorer as a preference. Again, there's no reason to use special coding that looks great in IE, but won't render at all, or doesn't render correctly, for a user that happens to be using Firefox, Netscape, Safari, Opera or any of the other browsers that are out there.

I'm not suggesting that you should horribly dumb down your web pages and blogs, but please be considerate of the users of the traffic exchanges you are members of. If you want to avoid having visitors simply click past ("surfing too fast") your site, then use templates that are friendly to the largest numbers of browsers and users.
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1,435 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Changing the world a blog or two at a time
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I have found a lot of sites that state IE is the preferred browser, I have never seen one that stated anything other than IE.  But I agree with your statement.  If I want to use Netscape, I should be able to and not worry about incompatibilities.
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I have found a lot of sites that state IE is the preferred browser, I have never seen one that stated anything other than IE.


It's only been in recent browsing (blog clicking/exchanging/mad'ding if you will) that I've hit a couple that are definitely not friendly to IE. One in particular that basically gives a bit more than a friendly push towards using Firefox and a somewhat polite insult at you for using IE. Actually, that site, in particular was recently updated to at least give you some sort of a display when you visit via IE. Before that (for about a week or two) it would just crash IE, or refuse to display anything.

Again, using standards means supporting the great majority of the audience, and using wannabe standards, and features that only some browsers will support means you're discriminating against part of your prospective audience. I would much prefer to see that the audiences that are clicking through are seeing what they are supposed to see.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I quite agree with what you say.. all browsers should be compatible for viewing Web Pages.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

It's only been in recent browsing (blog clicking/exchanging/mad'ding if you will) that I've hit a couple that are definitely not friendly to IE.

While I can understand their sentiment, I dont agree with their methods.  It is literally cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
When starting my blog, I didnt know that some sites worked in only IE or Firefox...but I quickly learned. I use Wordpress for my blog, and the theme works with Foxfire. In IE, my sidecolumns drop down to the bottom of the page. I have had to work with my site quite a bit to make sure that everything works in IE (mostly making sure that nothing is bigger than the margin). It is frustrating, and I can understand just how frustrating it can be to stumble across a site that doesnt work right. I hope that those creating themes, take IE into consideration when they are designing themes