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A year and a half ago a challenge was put out by the Web Standards Project (WaSP) which challenged browser vendors to meet certain criteria. If they rendered a simple smiley face it would show they passed what was called the Acid 2 Test.

From the outset some browser developers were more eager than others and after an initial race to be the first it seemed like one after the other they started to pass the Acid 2 test and got a handshake from the web standards community. One after the other we smiled and said that was good and took it as good faith they were on the right path.

So why is it any different with Internet Explorer 8? I’m the first to agree that Microsoft have fallen behind in many key areas important to developers in the web standards community. But does that mean its not a good thing that they’ve put in the effort on the Internet Explorer 8 team? Seriously? Why was Acid 2 a great thing when Firefox or anyone else achieved it but a vile piece of second hand chewing gum when it came out of Microsoft?

What I have noticed out of the usual over the last six months are some key influencers in the web standards community who seem to repeatedly comment on influential standardista blogs about the doom and gloom of Internet Explorer, the dire future of the web development industry and even more gloom about Internet Explorer. Where does that end? It seems to be trendy to repeatedly whine that certain advanced CSS features are not yet fully supported in every browser (like Microsoft’s Internet Explorer). It does remind me of the forum guru who repeatedly tells newbies to read the manual – that’s the easiest way to become an elitist without having to think or even help by the way so give it a try! Hey you dumbass newbie read the friggen manual. Or even better send them to Google!

A cunning standardista can be elevated to the level of prophet or even elitist if they constantly whine that advanced features aren’t supported and join the elitist flag waving anti-Microsoftian chorus. Its a ticket to the in crowd private seating section.

My reply to that chorus is perhaps they’ve burned out and no longer enjoy working in the web industry. They need a seachange. I’m seriously suggesting a holiday, a new job or an affair and / or a sports car. Stop being sad bastards and stop complaining. When we get those advanced CSS features the chorus will probably be whining for a new set of currently unattainable toys.

In the end Internet Explorer is here to stay and as a part of the industry it holds major share whether we like it or not. That Internet Explorer 8 has passed Acid 2 is a good thing. Its a move forward. Be gracious and at least acknowledge the effort. Because imagine if you worked in an industry – as those developers at Microsoft do – and everyone just bagged you out whether you did the right thing or the wrong thing. Kick a dog and you’re an asshole and save a cat and you’re an asshole too. Human nature being what it is you’ll give in trying to please people who just call you an asshole. Abuse does more harm to web standards than that chorus will accept.

So let’s not continue to make the Acid 2 a statement about what its not. It isn’t a sticker for the in crowd. Just like constant whining about Microsoft or unsupported CSS features. In the end this is the daily reality we have in the industry and we have to work with the industry we have. I could sit here whining that I should own a pool and a sports car and have houses all around the world but its not reality. Its just a kiddie whine in my head.

Once you’re no longer becoming a part of the solution there’s a strong tendency to become a part of the problem. Jaded standardistas take note.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 7th, 2008 at 3:01 pm and is filed under web standards. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.