what we do

What is this anyway, a personal website just for me? Damn I'm narcissistic, I've got my own domain, my own hosting, I pay money to give the world access to a small window into my life.

But why do I think the world even gives a fuck? Well, I don't, I give a fuck, you missed the narcissistic part didn't you?

This thing we do is a strange calling indeed. It's part diary, part soapbox, part idleness, and part desperate need to belong. Come on now, when last have you seen a weblog without links to some personal clique?

It all emerged from our wonder with this magical thing called the internet, I can talk about Battle Toads with anyone, anywhere in the whole world? That's Awesome! It's the same reason we jumped on mIRC way back in the day (that, and the MP3s ;), and it's the same reason ICQ was the greatest thing since sliced bread, we like making connections, we like it when other people find what we have to say interesting. Is it any wonder our modern-day links resemble our buddy lists of yesteryear?

So we like beings kings of our little realm, now that's a shocker. We like forming allegiances with other kingdoms, sometimes banding together to crush a perceived threat or right some wrong, we like being revered by the little pilgrims out there who are on the outside looking in.

And that's where the web introduced another aspect; now it wasn't just good enough to be interesting in your words, now you had to be interesting in your look too. After all, who's going to listen to you for five minutes if they can't stand looking at you for two? You'd be surprised but it's all too real a fact.

So, we create grand palaces for our little monarchy, we make it look so pretty that people's eyes glaze over and they start to drool within the first 5 seconds of setting eyes on our creation. They view our source code and scratch their head. And we love it.

Or at least that's how it used to be. The time has come that there ain't too much a kid half your age can't do better, and faster, both visually and technically. So what happens next? Well amazingly enough you end up right where you started, with your words being what drives your website, being what keeps both friend and stranger coming back.

In the end though, you've seen it all, done it all, followed the fads and lost your way, until you finally come to realize that your website is about you afterall, and not about linking to the latest Janet booby shot. It's about your perspective and that's what keeps people coming back in the end (of course, boobies help too ;).

Just make sure it doesn't look too wretched and remember, keep your sense of humor, and keep things in perspective. The web is, if nothing else, ephemeral, so enjoy it while you're a part of it, and do something good while you're here, you bloody narcissist.

*jumps off his soapbox, smacks himself with a large trout*

Justin | 10:18 PM