100 Questions for Webmasters

Questionnaire by MOUSEcky of mouseling.net.
You can find the blank on his page.➚

1. Please introduce yourself.: I'm Doug. I'm the guy who does the pictures. It's more relevant today that I do the coding.

I started as a preteen making signatures for an oekaki board forum.

A person that attended a David Bowie concert in utero, and almost died of an infectious disease upon being born as a test.
2. How long have you been making websites?: Mid-2021? It doesn't feel like it has been that long.
3. And what got you into the hobby?: Seeing that you could organize and present artwork exactly the way you want through the use of webpages. This was really appealing to me.
4. What kind of website are you most interested in?: Selfishly, I like websites similar to mine. I mostly want to see drawings and writing, with some slice of life.
5. What's your workflow? Do you plan your websites out thoroughly or do you come up with the design as you go along?: For a more design-heavy page, I will do a mockup in my art program using assets I have in mind. Sometimes I will start without a plan because the idea is not intricate.
6. Please link to your biggest inspirations.: Thanks for asking nicely.
7. What's your favourite part about making websites?: I'm really happy whenever I can get in a flow state and have fun problem-solving and designing instead of becoming frustrated.
8. And the thing you struggle with the most?: A lack of energy.
9. Do you keep the same layout on all of your pages? Or do you use different ones?: I've tried to unify the design a bit, but a lot of the pages are their own thing.
10. How confident are you with CSS?: More than I used to be.
11. Do you know how to correctly use <dl>?: I'm going to be real I didn't know what this was. I'm learning it right now...?!
12. What is your favourite HTML element?: <a href>
13. If you're making a new web page from scratch, what is the first thing you do?: I name the file and link a new stylesheet, pasting in any relevant CSS from previous pages. Sometimes just use a page already made as a base. I start with wherever the main content is going to be and work outward.

An elegant solution for navigation always seems to be an afterthought. Even if I put a lot of thought into it, it still looks haphazard.
14. Do you know JavaScript?: No.
15. How about PHP?: I don't understand it at all. I'd like to.
16. Does your website have a theme that you stick to?: I do whatever I feel like. I feel really different every day.
17. Are you more focused on content or design?: Content. Design is secondary, and lately it's hard for me to care about fancy CSS and intense layouts. I feel like I tricked everyone; the rest of my website is completely superflous compared to the art gallery pages, which are literally a solid black void.
18. Do you own a domain name? If not, would you ever want to?: I'd like to eventually. I don't like my website name so it's not worth switching over to something related to it now.
19. What do you think of nostalgia-focused or "retro" websites?: It's how I started. I still maintain an antiquated taste but my site is a bit more subdued and personal now.

I like that younger people are drawn to making websites because the retro style is pleasing to them, but I just hope people don't favor copying an aesthetic over making a site that actually feels comfortable for them to exist in and use.

I think being influenced by old sites can provide a lot of inspiration for creating an interesting website that's fun to maintain, though, so it's a bit complicated in the end.
20. Is your HTML valid? Do you even check?: Apparently not.
21. What are your opinion on buttons and banners?: I'll click someone's button if it looks enlightening. I love seeing larger banners because it's interesting to see how someone would want to advertise themself with that amount of space.
22. What do you think of button walls in particular?: Well, I have one... I enjoy having the sites I find particularly interesting all in one place. "This is what I endorse," kuku.
23. If you started over again, would you make something similar or completely different?: It would be pretty similar but I don't know if I'd bother putting cute decorations at all. Lately I just want to be anonymous.
24. Are you envious of other people's websites?: Not of other people's websites, but often of their skill.
25. What text editor do you use?: I tried to use VSCode but I didn't care for it. I don't mind writing everything out in Notepad++.
26. Why do you use that one?: I have simple needs and it is a simple program.
27. Do you host your image files on your web server, or on another host?: This is a big problem.

I have been a user of Imgur since I was a pinkie, and recently became a casual fan of Catbox. I've come to realize it's a lot safer and more accessible to others to only have to rely on one server to host your images, so I'd like to move everything to my webhost.
28. This might not be relevant to you, but what's your opinion on the Neocities vs. Nekoweb debate?: Don't leave me here...!!! (Neocities.) That's how I feel about it.
29. How much server space would you estimate your main website takes up?: 150mb, right? Is there a different way to gauge it?
30. Do you keep local backups of your files?: Yes.
31. Do you prefer simple or highly visual websites?: I value visual appeal and readability a lot, but the complexity of the design can vary. I'm really picky about the websites I like to keep up with because I want to only follow the progress of sites I actually care about.
32. Do you stick to certain colours? Do you do that on purpose, or is it your subconscious?: Everything is varied so it's hard to say. Well, they're the colors I like.
33. Have you ever thought about quitting? Why?: I haven't felt pressured to. I have frequently wanted to quit having an online presence entirely, so in those moments I guess it's a matter of my website going too. But my site is so low-maintenence that if I happen to feel like not posting for a month, it's not like I have to.
34. Do you have many webmaster friends, or is it a solitary hobby?: I don't know about "many," but definitely some. I like when it can be a shared interest and I don't mind being cordial with other webmasters.
35. Do people in your real life know about your website?: No. I've thought about mentioning it but I don't need anyone to go looking.

But it's really tempting to say something like "I didn't like any of the popular websites, so I made my own" to impress someone in real life, right? Not that I think my website is particularly impressive but I think it would be to a person who didn't know anything about webdev...
36. Do you update your website very often? How often is "very often"?: Every couple of weeks. Somehow for me I still consider it pretty often.
37. And the overall design, do you change that much? Why or why not?: I don't know how people have the power to change their designs all the time. I'm always in awe. I don't know if my site will ever change that much. Sorry for being boring.
38. Is your website more you-focused, hobby-focused, or outside world-focused?: It's an inner-world.
39. Do you do web design professionally?: Ahahahaha.
40. If not, would you like to? And if you're comfortable answering, what do you do for work?: I wouldn't like to do anything creative as a profession. I am regrettably a hikiNEET.
41. Do you communicate with people by email very much?: In a sort of esoteric way, yes. But I don't have my email available on my site anymore so they're not those kinds of conversations.
42. Some people reject social media and use websites as a replacement. Do you keep social media outside of your website?: My website is a replacement for the presence I used to have on social media.
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. Ah. Wouldn't it be nice to use something more encrypted?
44. Do you listen to music while you work on websites? If so, what kinds of artists?: I'm blanking! I really don't remember.

I have to think... I filled this Q&A out in silence but I think I do often listen to just my usual music. I need to pause it to focus at times.

A song I've listened to a lot while working on my site is Black Fairy from SH2.➚
45. Do you keep everything you make on one website, or do you have more than one?: I've thought about making a new website to keep my devotional practices separate but I think it's fine on only one.
46. On a similar note, do you keep to one topic on your site, or many?: The main topic is just "the things I do and make." Weirdly it's become a lot about anime but it was never intended to be. I think it's all the same topic.
47. Do you present your real self, or at least try? Or do you construct a persona on purpose?: The persona I construct is a product of me trying to be my real self. How I act online changes day by day and I don't know how to keep track of that persona anymore.
48. Have you ever made a good friend thanks to your website?: Yes.
49. Are you happy with the way HTML and CSS currently work?: I can't think of anything specific quirks I'd change right now. I think they are fine enough as languages. If there was one perfect language we would all exclusively communicate in it.

A lot of people use HTML/CSS so it must be pretty decent.
50. What are practices that you think people should avoid?: I don't follow good practices so I don't care. The only thing that bothers me is seeing a lot of assets floating around in the wrong places because they are not parented properly.
51. What about under-utilised practices, or things you think people should do more?: I really don't mind what other people do.
52. Do you use a lot of semantic HTML? Or are you guilty of generic structure?: *Shackled in town square*
53. Do you consider different browsers?: I try to. A lot of oversights get made but I make an effort to fix them as I see them.
54. Speaking of, what's your preferred browser? Convince your readers why they should use it.: ...Chrome. Don't use it! Don't use it! But I use Firefox to preview my coding? It doesn't make sense.
55. And what OS are you on?: Windows 11. Don't use it either!
56. Do you have a strong opinion on that, or do you just happen to use it?: It's just what my new laptop came with after my old one died. I don't have the willpower for Linux but I like hearing about it from friends these days.
57. Are your websites mobile-friendly?: So I got a smart-phone recently. I'm old and have never had one. I realized I could finally accurately find out what my site is like on mobile. It went like this:

*Types the URL in really slowly.*

*It loads.*

...

I'm going to Hell.
58. What are your thoughts on autoplay?: (58 is my favorite number.)

There is a very specific type of site that I enjoy there being autoplay on, so I'll tolerate it sometimes. Even on occassion really enjoy and find a new song to listen to, or will sit on one webpage for a long time so I can listen to it. A decent couple memories of refreshing a page every time the song ended.

But it is objectively jarring so if you want to be proper and polite you shouldn't do it. I don't think every website needs to be either of those things.

I used to have a diary landing themed like "Resident Evil 1," and the safe room music would play. But it annoyed me so got rid of it.
59. What are your thoughts on webrings? Are you in any?: I seldom click through them. I don't want to be in any webrings. I don't want anyone to be forcibly associated with this website. If more people in my friend group got into coding I would not mind organizing a webring that connected us. Would prefer smaller groups like that both to see and be in.
60. Do you have any web shrines? What do you like to see in that sort of page?: It's a hard subject. I often feel inspired to make "shrine" type pages but not actually interested in making my feelings about favorite things accessible. The pages I want to make most are always the ones I ultimately don't want to make the most. I like the ones I have up even though they are pretty dated at this point and not always so relevant. Maybe it's more interesting to keep them up, though.

Seeing other people's "shrines" is always cute. I like to see their favorite images, if it's a character or a band or something.
61. Are your websites "cliche", in your opinion?: Extremely.
62. What is your ideal website? Are you striving for that, or for something else?: My ideal website is my website right now. I'm happy with it! All I want to do is post drawings and sometimes type something out, and I created the place to do that.
63. Are you an artist? Do you draw or design your own assets?: I don't understand why more of my assets are not handdrawn. I like Times New Roman too much, I guess. ^^' A lot of small assets laying around the place are handcrafted in some way, though.
64. What are your favourite resource sites?: It feels kind of sacrilegious but get a lot of decor from Tumblr these days, like favicons and backgrounds. Also just find random things from all over the web so can't say specifics.

Obviously W3Schools is good for teaching fundamentals.
65. Is there a habit you just can't get away from no matter how hard you try?: My disgusting HTML structures. They're awful. I'm really sick.
66. What's your biggest advice for a new webmaster?: Don't immediately use a layout created by someone else. Just make your own horrible one to start with.

My true advice is please read up on semantic tags, don't make the same mistake as someone who didn't do it...
67. Do you keep all your styling in CSS? Or do you hard-code some?: For smaller pages I stick with inline CSS lately.
68. What do you think of frameset layouts?: Sort of stylish.
69. How about table-based layouts?: A little bit evil, I like it...
70. Do you subscribe to the ideas of "one-column", "two-column" and "three-column" layouts? Do you use any of these?: I don't really pay attention. I guess I make a lot of one-column layouts.
71. Do you spend longer on the HTML or the CSS?: There's always a lot of little weird things I have to work out with CSS that take an extremely long time.
72. Have you ever made a page with no CSS? It's useful for your thoughts.: I would try it.

I've been making more webpages with minimal CSS lately. I might upload them soon.
73. Do you ever find yourself making layouts with nothing to put on them? Or do you only make layouts when the need arises?: I've made a couple layouts for fun that were intended to be homepage designs but only because I just wanted to make the layout and didn't know what else to use as the content, so yes.
74. Would you consider yourself a beginner? Or advanced? Somewhere in the middle?: An amateur.
75. Do you have a habit of looking at the source code of websites you visit?: I do like seeing how things work inside.
76. How did YOU learn how to make websites?: Looking at source codes.
77. Do you ever force elements to do things they're not supposed to?: Obviously.
78. Thoughts on floating elements?: I have utilized it before. It's fine. It works in certain cases.
79. When you're sizing stuff, what do you use first? Do you use px, em, %, or something else?: I always use px first. Except fonts sometimes use em. I bust out % when it feels really necessary. (?)
80. Do you have a favourite font?: It's Times New Roman. Lucky me.
81. Would you run a website with another person? How would that work?: If my boyfriend wanted to do it I would. I don't know what sort of thing we could do. Maybe something related to one of the games we play.
82. Do you surf the Web to find new personal websites very often?: I try to. My favorites to surf for are old personal websites that don't update anymore. But as someone with one I think it's important to try to take an interest in what my peers are doing. Good personal websites make me feel better about the world.
83. Do you bookmark other people's websites? How would you feel knowing someone else bookmarked yours?: I don't use an RSS reader right now so bookmarking is essential. I would be flattered to know someone bookmarked mine. I was going to say I hadn't considered the idea, but part of the reason I keep an update log is in case there are people that only visit that page.
84. What do you want people to be most impressed with when they see your website?: I'm embarrassed.
85. Are you interested in technology outside of websites? Do you collect?: I have a passing interest in cameras. I don't have access to shops online or otherwise so I don't collect any.
86. How often and for how long are you online?: Dont do that to me. Remember the question about if I'm employed or not?
87. When it comes to your website, who is your target audience?: People susceptible to delusion in the same ways I am.
88. Have you ever been interested in XHTML?: I don't know what it is. I feel like I shouldn't be answering this questionnaire.
89. Do you program in general? Have you ever written a program for use with or on your website, not counting simple JavaScript?: I would love to learn.
90. Speaking of programs that help you make websites, what do you think of static site generators (SSGs)? Have you ever used one?: I think they're intriguing. I just felt a (static) shock remembering what I said about doing things yourself. So I guess I won't use one.
91. Do you keep a hitcounter? Why or why not?: Why would I? It wouldn't be accurate anyway.
92. Do you frequent forums? Which ones?: I was a real forum rat back in the day. I'm not sure what kind of forums I would be interested in now or where to find them, but I really miss them.
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?: It just goes into the local HTML file immediately as I am working on the layout. There are some occasions where I will write a diary entry into the Neocities editor though. I have a bookmark for that purpose because sometimes what I want to say will only take a second and I don't care if it is not backed up.
94. Do you think you appear cool to others? A more accurate answer now: do other people ever say you're cool?: I think I come off to others in a way that I don't understand.
95. Are you embarrassed of your old work? Have you ever deleted everything out of shame?: Yeah. I try not to delete anything, though. Recently I've wanted to delete my old journal pages on this website, and the Sims page, and the Worlds page... I won't, but there's a disconnect between that person and the person who updates things now.
96. Would you close down your website if you couldn't update it, or would you leave an archive?: It's another difficult question and something I've considered. I truthfully don't know what's going to happen. I don't intend to take it down.
97. Do you reveal a lot about yourself on your website? Or are you more secretive?: I struggle a lot with how much I want to share. I feel a lot better quietly presenting things without context, but sometimes I look back and regret that no one ever got to hear what I was thinking. I do the reverse too.

To answer the question, I still think I share too much.
98. Are you willing to reveal who your best online friend is, and/or if they have a website?: My boyfriend is my best friend. I really want him to make a website. As my memory of HTML deteroriates I think I could teach him less and less which could be a reason for relearning things the right way.

Another one of my close friends made a website➚, but they haven't updated in a couple years.
99. And do you optimise the images on your website?: Yes. Too much. My original idea was to make a website where I could host full quality versions of my art, not algorithimically conpressed for social media. Now I am the destroyer of image quality. I will kill their families. I will convert them to WEBP.
100. We're out of time! How do you feel after answering 100 questions? ....other than exhausted.: The last question stirred something cruel in me and I think ending it right now has painted me as a violent man.

Anyway, webmastering is important to me and I recommend it to everyone. Especially creatives who have become disillusioned with the current landscape for sharing work online.

Even if I can't make new pages or overhaul old ones as much as I would like to, and though my cleanliness is pretty bad, it's still a consistently fulfilling outlet that I don't plan on stopping even as my ability changes. It was fun to answer questions.