Why Outcasting IE6 is Worst Practice
Saturday, September 6th, 2008
Do you remember when standardistas were eagerly bouncing visitors who used IE6 from their websites? As something I didn’t agree with it was nice to see the hardcore reigned in by sensible guidance - our job isn’t to make the web inaccessible to anyone, regardless of browser. But occasionally, as a true blue multi-browser polygamist, I do run across this mentality accessing sites in IE6. I use numerous browsers, and expect sites to work reasonably in each of them (to a point). Ignore me at your financial peril, I am also a website user. I buy stuff online. In many browsers. From different sites. That’s called business.
The site says something like “Go away asshole - you are an idiot. But, if you do what I want I’ll let you buy one of my tshirts”. Hey buddy you just lost 20 dollars. I’m out of there. If it doesn’t work in a brick and mortar shop how do you think sales will respond where I’m a mouseclick away from forgetting your sorry ass forever. A part of our job is marketing. No? I recoil from the idea I’m simply a technician.
So, when you think about this tactic, it will always be a stupid business decision to bounce users based on their browser. Right? We all agree? No?
