Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

One In Ten Americans Thinks HTML Is a Type of Sexually Transmitted Infection

Posted by Soulskill on from the this-is-what-you're-up-against dept.

sandbagger writes "It looks like technical writers won't be unemployed any time soon. According to a recent study reported on by the LA Times, 11% of Americans thought HTML was a sexually-transmitted disease. The study, by coupon site VoucherCloud, involved 2,392 men and women 18 years of age or older. 27% thought 'gigabyte' was a South American insect, and 23% thought MP3 was a Star Wars robot. The participants were not told that the study was specifically looking into their knowledge of tech terms. They were presented with both tech and non-tech terms and were asked to choose from three possible definitions. 18% identified 'Blu-ray' as a marine animal, and 15% thought 'software' was comfortable clothing."

12 of 255 comments (clear)

  1. Could it be by deletedaccount · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That not everyone is taking this seriously?

    1. Re:Could it be by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Funny

      Kardashians? Weren't they in Star Trek?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. Fake "survey" is fake by gweilo8888 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Just another sign of the demise of Slashdot. A clearly fake survey viral created solely to publicize a coupon website makes it to the front page of a site supposedly for people smart enough to know better than to fall for rubbish like this.

    Could this any more obviously be a viral scam? No.

    And nor could Slashdot any more obviously be a shadow of its former self.

    1. Re:Fake "survey" is fake by deletedaccount · · Score: 5, Funny

      yes, but as this particular bit of clickbait confirms my prejudice towards americans and made me chuckle I'll let it slide.

    2. Re:Fake "survey" is fake by jd2112 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well, given that 77% of Americans believe in the existence of angels, I don't know what anyone expected.

      I believe in Angels. They play baseball in Los Angeles.

      --
      Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
  3. Re: heh... by reovirus1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Talk about a useless survey, everyone knows you can get HTML from watching porn. And if you do it with IE 7 or lower, there's no known cure!

  4. Slashdot Polls by spacecoyotefarva · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...are more scientifically rigorous.

  5. Those who have used it by Chrisq · · Score: 5, Funny

    One In Ten Americans Thinks HTML Is a Type of Sexually Transmitted Infection

    Those who have used it know that it's much worse

  6. Re:This just in by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... and the other half don't know the difference between average and median.

  7. Try the seafood platter! by Hognoxious · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's not that hard. One set are vaguely reptilian, have misshapen heads and an unjustified sense of superiority. The others invaded Bajor.

    [drabadabaTISH!]

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  8. Re: heh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's okay... 10% of geeks think STD is some kind of internet protocol...

  9. Multiple Choice Questions by wisnoskij · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Obviously these were multiple choice questions. So you cannot use the data like this. 10% do not actually think HTML is a STD, they just have no idea what HTML is.

    --
    Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.