100 questions for webmasters

perhaps you can get to know me more in terms of doing website things...

1. Please introduce yourself.: You can call me anything that sounds like "mir". You can even change the vowel in it as long as the word contains a syllable that starts with "m" and ends with an "r" sound. I like myself a lot and I'm a huge pervert. It's more complicated than that though, and my site is basically my attempt at explaining all its complexities. Or whatever...
2. How long have you been making websites?: I started this site in 2021 so that's four years now.
3. And what got you into the hobby?: My school taught me HTML and CSS. I've always thought it was really fun that I can just make networks of pages with textboxes and pictures in them, like some kind of sandbox game. I didn't know that website hosting was an actual thing, so once I discovered Neocities I jumped straight into it, spending like two days just coding the very first iteration of my site.
4. What kind of website are you most interested in?: I like sites that I don't understand, and sites that are unconventional with its topics. They really confuse me and stress me out sometimes, but that's why I keep coming back.
5. What's your workflow? Do you plan your websites out thoroughly or do you come up with the design as you go along?: I gave up crazy unique layouts long ago, but I still make them time to time when I'm feeling special but they're not something I expect out of myself anymore. You can see that my site's page designs can be classified into three types: the 'rightbox' template that looks like the homepage layout, a collage-like page made up of position: absolute; elements, and pages that barely have any CSS on them. It's really a spur of the moment thing that I decide based on feeling. Design can be a hindrance to me sometimes. You can see that usually my shrine pages like dollhouse have the collage-like pages that I really work hard on, because I can't convey what I feel about them on a simple page like a rightbox layout. Though some pages like isis & orys have really plain CSS even though I love the topic as much, because I feel like I really need to focus and keep things blank in the meantime as I build their story.
6. Please link to your biggest inspirations.: Koinuko has been a huge inspiration to me ever since I began my site in 2021, from the page design styles to the content. Just the sheer amount of content in it also tells me how much she enjoyed making fun pages for things she likes. Though it's under construction right now, I still really appreciate it for keeping lots of its now "outdated" pages, or just really old pages in general. I usually get the urge to delete my older pages, but if I keep doing that, my site isn't going to grow. It's like another struggle I have with my perfectionism, and Koinuko shows me how lovely it is to overcome it.
7. What's your favourite part about making websites?: I actually ended up liking organizing my site a lot, like planning the folder structure and modularizing CSS stylesheets.
8. And the thing you struggle with the most?: Writing stuff for my site, and making the more creative pages screen responsive.
9. Do you keep the same layout on all of your pages? Or do you use different ones?: Different ones but having really similar pages is also okay and good.
10. How confident are you with CSS?: I'm good enough and I'm able to achieve what I want. I don't like fiddling with CSS anyways.
11. Do you know how to correctly use <dl>?: No
12. What is your favourite HTML element?: <div> and <span> simply because I use them a lot especially when I can't decide if something should be a heading or something.
13. If you're making a new web page from scratch, what is the first thing you do?: Unless it's a no CSS style page, I choose an HTML color using Solaria's colormap.
14. Do you know JavaScript?: I'm a beginner programmer using Python and Lua, and so I guess I can apply what I know to JavaScript, but its syntax and the DOM stuff trips me up. I tend to avoid JavaScript for my site but I think it would be cool to make tools with it.
15. How about PHP?: No
16. Does your website have a theme that you stick to?: Not really, but it's just natural that my pages tend to be about love. I put a big 18+ warning on my site as a safety measure. My number one rule is no explicit content, which means no images or detailed descriptions of gore or sex. I still leave some room for potentially hosting more mature fiction regardless, as long as it follows the no explicit content rule.
17. Are you more focused on content or design?: I tend to focus more on content, though some pages' current purpose hinge on its visuality.
18. Do you own a domain name? If not, would you ever want to?: No and I really want to but I don't have a job to sustain it. I do want to keep 'heartspace' as the title of my site but I'm not sure about keeping 'heart143' in my URL. I think I'd want either .me, .space, .it for my TLD.
19. What do you think of nostalgia-focused or "retro" websites?: I don't have nostalgia for websites because I'm too young for that, so they're normal websites to me. It's just going to be a matter of whether I find their content interesting.
20. Is your HTML valid? Do you even check?: I don't know what that means... If the thing I just wrote appears on the page when I save it, then all is well.
21. What are your opinion on buttons and banners?: They're fun but they don't have a place on my site. They also hurt my eyes usually so I don't really look at them when I browse other people's sites.
22. What do you think of button walls in particular?: Like my previous answer, I don't spend much time looking at them because they're usually visual clutter to me.
23. If you started over again, would you make something similar or completely different?: I don't know, every time is different anyway. I do what I can do.
24. Are you envious of other people's websites?: Yeah and I often feel juvenile, but I can't sort out these thoughts and understand why. I like it when I don't understand people's sites because deep inside I think I do understand them perhaps subconsciously. I don't know what it is, but it feels like being pissed off, and somehow I also get pissed off at my site as a side-effect. So I often don't browse sites I connect with.
25. What text editor do you use?: VSCodium
26. Why do you use that one?: I can't be bothered to not have my editor autocomplete things for me. Its also useful for its git integration.
27. Do you host your image files on your web server, or on another host?: My web server, always. I find it deterring when other sites use an external host for their images, so I avoid the practice myself.
28. This might not be relevant to you, but what's your opinion on the Neocities vs. Nekoweb debate?: I'm coming to dislike both of them but I'll take Neocities over Nekoweb. Nekoweb attracts children who lack any experience in being in a healthy community. There's a loud circle within it that's very much become a cesspool of opinions I think are childish, misguided and should not be what the Indieweb is built around. Nekoweb just has a lot of uninclusive philosophies in general, which also reveals itself via the very design of the platform in terms of web accessibility. It also doesn't welcome nice and friendly perverts like me, and no platform like that is outstanding in my book. Whereas Neocities, though its freedom comes from neglect and I badly want to leave it, it is still the more general and open platform for all types of people. There is a timer, however.
29. How much server space would you estimate your main website takes up?: At least 130 MB right now. I have about 50+ MB worth of images that are currently not being used in the site. I'm going to clean them up this update.
30. Do you keep local backups of your files?: Yes, and a private git repository on GitHub. I would like to have another backup but I only have my flashdrive which I take everywhere. I don't want to lose it and have my site's behind the scenes be revealed to some stranger.
31. Do you prefer simple or highly visual websites?: I generally prefer simple now because of my eyes, though I still visit visual sites if I really like its stuff.
32. Do you stick to certain colours? Do you do that on purpose, or is it your subconscious?: Red, blue, black and white are the default colors for any page on my site. I don't want to bother myself with alternate palettes unless the page is particularly special.
33. Have you ever thought about quitting? Why?: No, never, even if I go inactive for a year. There is no reason that will outweigh the benefits this hobby has a creative outlet for me.
34. Do you have many webmaster friends, or is it a solitary hobby?: Yes, and they've become some of my closest friends.
35. Do people in your real life know about your website?: Some people know I have a website but I only share the URL to people who get my vibe.
36. Do you update your website very often? How often is "very often"?: Yeah, like at least a month. Usually it's once a week now because I'm trying to quit the doomscroll again.
37. And the overall design, do you change that much? Why or why not?: I'm done changing the design... I'm sick of it. I don't like making and/or using visual things, first and foremost. Just text should be fine, I don't want to leave the code editor anyway.
38. Is your website more you-focused, hobby-focused, or outside world-focused?: It's about me primarily, but that also means everything basically. I do give my potential viewers significant consideration when making my site, too.
39. Do you do web design professionally?: No
40. If not, would you like to? And if you're comfortable answering, what do you do for work?: Yes, I think it would be fun to learn the language of modern web design actually. It gives way to more innovation, like in the art space this time. Good modern web design is rare but beautiful for its systematic style, and I imagine writing the CSS would be very fun.
41. Do you communicate with people by email very much?: Yes. Sometimes I don't reply for a long time but I think that's part of it. I'm not going to hold a conversation for the sake of conversation. I will send emails if I think a message is most suited to be in the form of an email.
42. Some people reject social media and use websites as a replacement. Do you keep social media outside of your website?: I don't think websites can replace social media because they're fundamentally different. I try to keep social media that are essential to school or work, or social medias that don't have evil algorithms.
43. How about instant messengers? Do you use a mainstream one like Discord or Telegram? Or something like Matrix? Do you avoid them?: I use Discord and I pray for its downfall everyday and for the rise of a good open source alternative. I talk to my friends on Discord and I enjoy their company very much, so I keep using it anyway.
44. Do you listen to music while you work on websites? If so, what kinds of artists?: Yes but I think it's fun not to as well. I listen to the same ten or so songs that I hate and am sick of.
45. Do you keep everything you make on one website, or do you have more than one?: It sounds tiring to have more than one, but I'd like to have some parts of my site in a separated subdomain, just because I want to be able to share the SFW parts of my site without having to profusely warn people about the NSFW content.
46. On a similar note, do you keep to one topic on your site, or many?: Many, because it's a site about me.
47. Do you present your real self, or at least try? Or do you construct a persona on purpose?: Both. This site is meant to capture my truest self, which in of itself is an impossible task. I have no qualms with my site which means I'm satisfied and there is no guilt that may come from hiding the truth. Still I strictly avoid sharing anything about me that's hateful and temporary.
48. Have you ever made a good friend thanks to your website?: I don't know.
49. Are you happy with the way HTML and CSS currently work?: I wish they had classes but for CSS rulesets.
50. What are practices that you think people should avoid?: Creating links to pages that don't even exist. I click links because I want to see more. If something isn't meant to be seen, don't link it at all and just add plain text that says WIP or something. Think about the people with slow internet and an aversion to flashing things (when a page loads).
51. What about under-utilised practices, or things you think people should do more?: Hosting images on their web server and compressing them. More people should use WebP files because it would be funny to inconvenience everyone (even me).
52. Do you use a lot of semantic HTML? Or are you guilty of generic structure?: I use semantic HTML a lot because I think it's the least I could do for screen reader users and other accessibility features.
53. Do you consider different browsers?: Yes but only in my mind.
54. Speaking of, what's your preferred browser? Convince your readers why they should use it.: Firefox because they have better web developer tools, and also they share a parent with the MDN Docs which means they're really good at websites or something.
55. And what OS are you on?: Ultramarine Fedora Linux
56. Do you have a strong opinion on that, or do you just happen to use it?: I don't like Windows and the evil secret stuff they do, and the fact that their stuff is so inaccessible and crappily designed despite them being a billion dollar corporation or whatever.
57. Are your websites mobile-friendly?: I try to make it so and I believe they are for the most part, unless it's one of the collage-like pages.
58. What are your thoughts on autoplay?: Bad and evil.
59. What are your thoughts on webrings? Are you in any?: Yes, they're fun and I like it when my names are on pages that describe a specific purpose.
60. Do you have any web shrines? What do you like to see in that sort of page?: Practically every page on my site are web shrines. Forget distinctions. I like seeing fun stuff and getting close and personal. Whatever
61. Are your websites "cliche", in your opinion?: Like is it different from other sites? Yeah it is. I don't care about cliché and I want these terms out of the Indieweb.
62. What is your ideal website? Are you striving for that, or for something else?: The ideal version of my site has a lot of cool stuff in it, which I am already attaining and am still attaining as time goes on as long as I don't black out and delete everything.
63. Are you an artist? Do you draw or design your own assets?: Yes but I hate making assets for my site.
64. What are your favourite resource sites?: The Solaria colormap page and that's pretty much it.
65. Is there a habit you just can't get away from no matter how hard you try?: Not putting comments in my CSS. It's too hard to write the comment brackets. Why can't the commenting syntax for CSS be like JavaScript's?
66. What's your biggest advice for a new webmaster?: Take your time. It's going to be hard and terrible but also really fun and worth it.
67. Do you keep all your styling in CSS? Or do you hard-code some?: I avoid in-line CSS, no exceptions. It's okay if a CSS file only has one line in it, if that's what it takes.
68. What do you think of frameset layouts?: I don't know what those are, but as long as it's not janky or slow.
69. How about table-based layouts?: EVIL. I'm terrified.
70. Do you subscribe to the ideas of "one-column", "two-column" and "three-column" layouts? Do you use any of these?: Like newspapers? My site is like a newspaper too. Creative design isn't important to me.
71. Do you spend longer on the HTML or the CSS?: CSS. It's a devil that I keep summoning just to harass it with holy items while endangering my life because I think it's funny and I'm selfish and I like to hurt things for fun
72. Have you ever made a page with no CSS? It's useful for your thoughts.: Ya that my thang I hate CSS
73. Do you ever find yourself making layouts with nothing to put on them? Or do you only make layouts when the need arises?: No never, why would I do that CSS IS EVIL
74. Would you consider yourself a beginner? Or advanced? Somewhere in the middle?: I do a good job
75. Do you have a habit of looking at the source code of websites you visit?: If I'm curious to how they made their site.
76. How did YOU learn how to make websites?: school but mostly the internet and youtube videos
77. Do you ever force elements to do things they're not supposed to?: NO. I'm kind and I care for my HTML elements. But sometimes I unleash ungodly CSS on them. It's necessary like slaughtering sweet little bunnies for their meat and fluff.
78. Thoughts on floating elements?: They're weird creatures.
79. When you're sizing stuff, what do you use first? Do you use px, em, %, or something else?: I used REM a lot but I'm experimenting with EM and VW for screen responsiveness and I hate it.
80. Do you have a favourite font?: Times New Roman was my beloved, until I realized it's proprietary. It's tragic. I have found a free clone of it called Nimbus Roman No. 9 L.
81. Would you run a website with another person? How would that work?: I might become a control freak and force everyone to use git.
82. Do you surf the Web to find new personal websites very often?: Not very often because I have trouble with my eyes.
83. Do you bookmark other people's websites? How would you feel knowing someone else bookmarked yours?: Yes. I'd be glad that someone found my site important.
84. What do you want people to be most impressed with when they see your website?: Not even I'm utterly impressed with my site. I don't know, don't care, if I didn't like my site it would not be up.
85. Are you interested in technology outside of websites? Do you collect?: Yes, I want to make games. I'm shifting to Computer Science. I collect pirated games, movies and books also.
86. How often and for how long are you online?
87. When it comes to your website, who is your target audience?: PERVERTS LIKE ME but also the media literate, I guess. Other people, basically.
88. Have you ever been interested in XHTML?: Pervert HTML... No.
89. Do you program in general? Have you ever written a program for use with or on your website, not counting simple JavaScript?: Yeds
90. Speaking of programs that help you make websites, what do you think of static site generators (SSGs)? Have you ever used one?: It sounds cool and interesting but I don't think I'll ever use one or ELSE my fate is doomed.
91. Do you keep a hitcounter? Why or why not?: NO that makes me panic and scared.
92. Do you frequent forums? Which ones?: Yes, I like the Melonland Forum and the 32-bit Café. They have useful and interesting discussions there.
93. Do you write your page content directly into the editor, or do you prepare it elsewhere, like a text document or a Word document?: Usually directly into the editor. It's the worst but I can't stop, and I don't think I should fixate on this any longer.
94. Do you think you appear cool to others? A more accurate answer now: do other people ever say you're cool?: Yes of course. I'm awesome and cool? Anyone who doesn't think so isn't worth being appealing to.
95. Are you embarrassed of your old work? Have you ever deleted everything out of shame?: Yes, all the time. But I'm trying not to do this anymore, mainly by really narrowing down what I want a page to be and giving it time to sit in my local files if I feel something is wrong with it. But also by just letting the lame pages I do have exist regardless.
96. Would you close down your website if you couldn't update it, or would you leave an archive?: If it's like an ultra-specific site like a fan site that I don't care about anymore, then yes and I would keep an archive. If it's heartspace, I don't think I'll ever close it down.
97. Do you reveal a lot about yourself on your website? Or are you more secretive?: I'm not sure what those mean.
98. Are you willing to reveal who your best online friend is, and/or if they have a website?: My friends are on my homepage and they have websites. We're called the Burgerbunnies.
99. And do you optimise the images on your website?: Yes, in WebP because WebP works on my computer, though I have to convert it to PNG to crop it. It's all worth it not just because of the compression.
100. We're out of time! How do you feel after answering 100 questions? ....other than exhausted.: ROUTINE DISRUPTED ONCE AGAIN. PREPARE FOR CALAMITY.