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Web Standards.. and badges.. Valid this and Valid that…

I recently came across a post by Jens Meiert in which he spoke out about web professionals and specifically about how “Valid CSS and Similar Claims Are Unprofessional“. I know its an oldie but that’s how the internet works, and in this case I really can’t agree with him.

I believe from reading his further comments throughout the page that he means that it is unprofessional to use them on client sites or on a… say… web designers/developers main business site. In this case I kind of agree with him. I however disagree with him over a number of his points.

…their use should be considered nonprofessional in every seemingly professional context.

I only agree with this statement if our definition of professional context is the same as I mentioned above. What about on a web designers/developers personal blog or website?

He also states:

Do these claims make “professionals” look professional, or does it make them rather untrustworthy?

By this he is referring to his analogies about various professionals (doctors, soldiers etc.) claiming to be proficient at their job. He is trying to say that if a doctor tell you he or she knows what they are doing then they obviously don’t… However Doctors do this all the time! Take a walk down to you local GP or Hospital Doctors office. See all those letters after their names? They all mean very specific things, and should be taken quite seriously. Would you allow a doctor to operate on you if “B. Ch” wasn’t in there? No. Why not? Well how do you know that he or she is a surgeon, and not just some Obstitrician that got bored? I know, I know, unlikely to happen – but all of this is very important.

Assuming too much?

I think perhaps Jens is assuming too much knowledge on the part of the consumer. The client who wants a new website. By looking at your website they’re not going to know, and whats more likely is they’re not going to care. That isn’t to say that we shouldn’t be teaching them. Or making them aware of the need to be accessible and compliant. Jens is assuming that just because we’re in the business that we should be doing it already. However if you take a look at the following examples that clearly isn’t the truth. I’d also like to point out that Jens Meiert probably has a better type of consumer than the rest of us  He is a very intelligent man and I appreciate the other stuff that he has written for the community.

• http://purcellplant.com/ – Someone paid someone to do this to them…
• http://www.orbrio.com/ – they make websites… like this one – http://www.takeawayfood.ie/
• http://www.flynns.ie/ – Again someone paid for this.
• http://www.budgetwebdesignlimited.com/Portfolio.html – And the money comes in to keep them going… to be able to make perfect sites like this – http://www.chostaekwondokilanerin.com/

I could go on. Most of the examples came from this thread on the Irish Webmaster Forum. Its good for a laugh.

Raising Awareness

For me, making your website standard compliant is a big thing. Its not really that difficult, and the more people that do it the more inclusive we become as an industry. So that’s why I love seeing valid CSS, or valid html or even better – WAI-AAA valid, badges on websites.

As long as its used in the right context – to raise awareness and to get more people doing it, and if you’ve taken the time to do it, then why not?

Wear your badges with pride.

Tags: Analogies, Badges, Business Site, Internet Works, Jens, Oldie, Personal Blog, Professional Context, Valid Css, Web Designers, Web Developers, Web Personal, Web Professionals, Web Standards