Internet Explorer is evil

OK, I know that some most of you use it as your default browser, and you probably love it.

It's just that IE and I seem to have a seriously contentious personality conflict.

Years ago when I got my first computer I used Netscape with no problems. Then I bought a new computer with IE bundled in and that’s when the trouble started.

We didn’t seem to hit it off from the start. I don’t want to relive all the frustrations I had using it, but the worst was when it would on its own open windows rapidly, 10-20-30 or more, and then I would have to close them individually.

At one point I upgraded and that was worse. The new version was arrogant. It fought all the software and functioned at its convenience. After talking to five support people in three different countries, I uninstalled it and went back to "the devil I knew" as they say.

Finally I took everyone’s advice and switched to Firefox. To me this is how a browser is supposed to be: competent, logical and low maintenance; great spell check; remembers passwords and usernames accurately; fast, quiet updates. Life was good.

Until… Friday when I let IE rear its surly presence on my computer.

Here’s how it happened:

I built a simple post (in FF as always) with a code for a video of a big dog, a little kitten and just a few words.

Then a reader commented that she could not open the first one.

First one? There is only one.

Figuring she had IE, I opened it and for reasons known only to IE, it showed a ghost square at the top. Since I couldn’t delete the ghost, I decided just to quickly rebuild the post in IE.

Big mistake.

When I published it, the entire sidebar was gone. Total fricken white space down the right side of the page.

Noooooooo!

I deleted the post and rebuilt it in FF, but again when I published it…no sidebar!! IE had eaten my sidebar.

Aaaagh!

When I deleted the post, once again the sidebar reappeared.

Having to rebuild the sidebar if I ever wanted to write a new post sent me into a panic.

It’s like IE had been lurking down in the tray just waiting for the opportunity to wreak revenge and cause havoc with my life. 

I’m not sure what I did to get the sidebar back. I tried different things, but sometimes if you just leave the room and pretend not to notice them, machines, appliances and software will start working properly again.

Internet Explorer—the evil basement cat of software.

Comments

[jackie]

oh it was ie that made widows open by the dozen..I always wondered what the fuck that was. Would open up and when I shut them down they would just pop back up.have to shut down and start up again..drove me crazy..no problem with ff ...I love ff...and like you.I hate ie...devils spawn.

[threecollie]

I am with you! I HATE IE! Used to use Netscape too

[Sarah]

I totally agree. It's been a few years since I opened IE. Firefox is WAY better. If anyone ever told me that something didn't display properly I would put them out of their misery and introduce them to Firefox. I can hardly believe that after all these years and the amount of browsers available that people STILL use IE.

[paul mitchell]

IE 9 is supposed to solve most of the problems, but I doubt it. I use FF, Chrome, and IE to check my sites. You can try BrowserShots to see what is happening with different browsers and if it is just IE acting up, put a comment at the bottom of that post to "get rid of your crappy browser" and add a link to FF.

http://browsershots.org/

[Dennis the Vizsla]

IE 9 will fix all the problems for sure!!!

[rosemary]

I have had FF/Mozilla for a long time. I love it. I even have a cute violet background. Steve will not give up his IE...he can have it. IE is 99% of the reason my old computer was named Cranky Annie. Now if FF could just find my iPod life would be perfect on my computer.

[BunGirl]

I use Firefox at work and Chrome (Because I <3 Google) at home. I refuse to use IE. The only thing worse is Outlook [cringe].

[Khyra]

I'm Bi-Browser Lingual here -

IE for some stuff
AND
FF for some MORE stuff -

I was wondering what was up with the posts - I thought the khats were playing some silly games with us!

[the 4Bs]

that's scary.

i have only used IE, so i don't know anything different. i just get frustrated moving around the screen on this silly little laptop.

[Lata]

I use Firefox and sometimes Opera. I never use IE unless a particular site calls for it..

[Karen Friesecke]

So that what happened to that post. I wondered why it was in my google reader. Every time I tried to look at your post I got a 404.

[Tracey]

Oh my goodness - that's awful!! IE is such an awful, awful beast ... I'm a google chrome user myself ... unfortunately IE is the standard browser at work ... yuck!

I hope you sort out all your problems soon! :)

[cube]

I'm sorry I said anything.

[Clive]

Computer problems abound here in this house at times too and walking out of the room has helped us as well! That and a lot of swearing at the computer!!

[Denny]

Jan, I changed to Firefox as you recommended and I had nothing but trouble. I've now gone back to IE and have no trouble. I must be doing something wrong!