As developers we often berate our users for being stupid, even go so far as making up sayings to make it easier; what’s more, we even employ some very smart people and proverbs about stupidity to aid us in our cause to make fun of the stupid (l)users:

• Human stupidity is nonconvergent – it has no limit
• Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.
• No matter how idiot proof you make something, humanity/evolution will always provide a better idiot
• PEBCAK/PEBKAC Error “problem exists between chair and keyboard” – ID10T Error (via @foulbastard)
• Or PICNIC. Problem In Chair Not In Computer (via @kapkap)
• no system, no matter how greatly developed, is resistant against dumb pulling off switch (via @Rokrca)

But let me ask you something, are you as a developer absolutely certain that the user is stupid and the fault doesn’t lie with your software? Can you prove without a doubt that what you developed is perfect and the Stupid User is just too idiotic to learn how to use your brilliant work?

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: commentary, food for thought, Human-computer interaction, society, Usability