Why have a personal website? Isn't it just an excuse to show off pictures of your cat, your significant other, a great poem about cheese that you wrote last week? Well, some of them are just that, and I strongly oppose the use of internet bandwidth for the sole purpose of showing off household pets.
However, there is a largely underutilized potential for the personal website that I'd like to comment on. As I see it, a great deal of the world's problems are derived from a severe lack of communication, a lack of human understanding amongst one another. Just think, there are 5 billion people out there that you don't know; you don't have any idea where they came from, what they're like, where they're headed. You just assume they're pretty much like you and that they'll get along okay without you.
That's
not the case. We go to war because we assumed someone was like us and
they turned out to be too different. People die because we assume
they'll be able to support themselves while we enjoy extreme affluence.
Because our field of significance extends only to our family, friends,
and the people we "know", we have a very narrow concept of how the "world" is.
The personal website is a great solution to this. Our stories, our interests, our problems, our joys; they make up who we are and when you can share in someone else's, you've suddenly broadened the field of people who are in some way significant to your life. If you can learn about people and what makes them tick, you're a lot more likely to know how to fix the problems that get the world down. You might even learn something about yourself.
The web and internet in general have an enormous potential to change our world, a hundred times as much as it already has. I've encountered people from all over the world I wouldn't have otherwise known about; we might not speak each other's language, but through this incredible technology we can learn about each other, appreciate each other, and openly and directly share the common bond of humanity.
The plunge is worth it. The vulnerability pays off. The potential for getting to know your world is unimaginable. Publish yourself.
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Website posted by Biff on Jul 27, 2005 at 10:06:04 PM
I would also like to know more about website design. Searching design websites can be so cumbersome and time consuming.
Well Done. posted by C O'Donoghue on Aug 13, 2004 at 07:07:02 PM
Hi,
I've been very busy with Qmail issues for quite a while. Tonight I took a break and for the first time read your "Why have a Personal Website". Good idea - spoken from the heart, that made me slightly guilty for being too work-obsessed. Great philosophy that I hope we can all aspire too.
Well done with Qmail also.
Interested in designing personal website posted by Khuc Ham Hai on Jul 20, 2003 at 04:36:42 AM
I am designing my website. I would like to share some my experience about web design for everyone. if you attend for, please contact with me through Email
my email: khnambk@yahoo.com
thanks
Cool Site. posted by Nick on Jul 18, 2003 at 05:13:13 PM
This is an awesome site. Keep up the good work!
Why a personal website posted by Elliot Holden on May 29, 2003 at 12:27:19 AM
Not sure why "mj" is so negative but I like your website and would like to know if you mind me linking to your page from my page http://www.elliotholden.com
and more people could know about your site?
why a personal website posted by Renae Myers on Jun 09, 2001 at 08:14:51 PM
Chris, I think you've done great things with this website. I understand what you're saying about the possibilities and why a personal website. It's refreshing when people see things for their potential instead of a free for all "look at my dog." I hope your website proves revolutionary. It might already be. Let me know if you're doing a future Ishcon.
why a personal website posted by mj on Oct 27, 2000 at 04:21:20 AM
so basically u r saying that wars and stuff can be prevented by people reading about you and watching you at work. please!
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