Hello, my name is Beau. You can read more about myself here.
2.How long have you been making websites?
Technically almost a decade now. The first time I touched HTML was in 2016 (it is 2026 as of writing); I mention it briefly on my about page. I don't recall what made me want to do it initially, it had a googly eye background and Ace Attorney fanart on it. I used some shady free hoster, and I don't recall the URL I gave it. I also remember using Notepad++, and putting <center> at the start of everything to ensure it was centered.. shiver.
3.And what got you into the hobby?
In 2016, I'm fairly certain one of my friends was doing it; but don't quote me on that. In 2021, it was the website Gundham that made me wildly interested again.
4.What kind of website are you most interested in?
I view other websites as that Webmaster's little house, that we are allowed to visit. I feel rude judging someone elses home decor, because it should be for them. I don't really have websites I "seek out" in particular, its more fun to click thru links and directories and find things I might not thought I'd like. With that said, I find myself enjoying and bookmarking places with original characters, or blog posts about projects. As someone with a big dollhouse of characters myself, I can't help but be attracted to the topic.
5.What's your workflow? Do you plan your websites out thoroughly or do you come up with the design as you go along?
First is the idea, "I want to make a page for SCPs" for example. Then I think of the things I'd want to put on it (favorite articles, favorite SCPs, readings of stories, etc) and then think of general aesthetics (in this case it would be monochrome, medical, creepy,) and think of my own twist on the subject. Then it's a mix of writing bits of the page, compiling some graphics I'd like to use, and finding inspiration for the layout (usually from the web design museum). Sometimes this takes just a few days, other times it can take me weeks to settle on a layout I feel satisified with.
7.What's your favourite part about making websites?
The sense of accomplishment. Feeling that I have showed appreciation for something I like and am interested in.
8.And the thing you struggle with the most?
I tend to get frustrated when things don't turn out how I wanted them to immediately, and requiring revisions. I also hate fighting with making pages look decent across multiple resolutions; not that I neccessarily care about making my website "absolutely perfect for all devices", but I use other computers in my house for testing. And it's just a bummer when you publish a page, go to your main desktop to look at it, and find it cuts off funny or something looks squished. I'm unsure why, but despite them both being the same screen size, text on my laptop (that I use to code) looks smaller versus how it appears on my desktop. To workaround it, you may have noticed that some of the "text" on the index page is actually images.
9.Do you keep the same layout on all of your pages? Or do you use different ones?
I try to make every page unique, but still kind of uniform with one another. Admittedly, this often leads to me getting frustrated that pages "look too similar" or "reusing the same idea".
10.How confident are you with CSS?
I don't think I'll ever be "advanced" at anything I code, but I know enough to do the things I'd like to do.
11.Do you know how to correctly use <dl>?
Prior to this, I haven't used it, because I format my "lists" differently. But I can't imagine how you would do it "incorrectly"? It seems nice.
12.What is your favourite HTML element?
<mark> and <table>. :}
13.If you're making a new web page from scratch, what is the first thing you do?
Rarely, if never, do I make a page without some sketch mock-up first. This page funnily though is one of the few exceptions, because I don't see the need to make my article pages overly fancy; since they have plenty substance. I copy paste the text, format it, style the text a bit, and maybe put it in a div to position to the side.
14.Do you know JavaScript?
Personally, no. Code wise, barely. You likely have noticed the many new scripts on the home page, but all JS used is just modified from W3Schools or Stack Overflow. I can understand it when I glance, and how to edit it into an abomination against web-Jesus until its how I want. Maybe someday, like a dignified Webmaster, I'll learn it better.
15.How about PHP?
Not at all.
16.Does your website have a theme that you stick to?
I know its a bit pretensious how often I'm going to say "what I like" in this, but it is true. The theme is myself. :} I guess I strive for a more "haunted attic"/"90s point-and-click adventure" type look.
17.Are you more focused on content or design?
Equal, who doesn't want their things to look nice? Though I wouldn't prioritize style over substance.
18. Do you own a domain name? If not, would you ever want to?
I have considered it, and I will likely return to it sometime in the future when I have the funds and research domain providers more.
19. What do you think of nostalgia-focused or "retro" websites?
This is a topic I've changed my mind on quite alot over the past few years. I really do not have the mentally energy or desire to recall years worth of Niche-Internet-Community-Drama, but there has been issues with the "Neocities community" and what I call "infestation of low effort". People from SNS like Tiktok or Twitter see Neocities and they want to seem like a "cool hacker Webmaster", and then they post on r/Neocities about "ummmm how do aie puth an immage", and give up. I also have seen many just view websites as some "cool funny nostalgia" thing, and put a bunch of graphics they found from Tumblr, without caring where they came from. That is to say, when I was younger I had a gut reaction of hatred for "nostalgia" focused websites, because I associated them with posers. I still have strong feelings about posers and HTML, but nowadays I don't mind the "90s flashback" website-style. What I want to see is passion, what things mean to that Webmaster, why they care about this particular piece of history. I think theres something larger to be said about "the comfort of nostalgia", and how much can we really do with "past material", and the worry that focusing so much on the past hinders our future growth and looking away from current-day struggles. Ultimately, the world if your oyster; I just hope people acknowledge those. I myself like to pretend it's 1987-1996 despite not being alive then, so I can't judge. :P
20. Is your HTML valid? Do you even check?
If it works, it works. I do keep an eye out for errors VSCode gives me, but I never encounter them unless I make a typo.
21. What are your opinion on buttons and banners?
What psycho doesn't love a good button?
22. What do you think of button walls in particular?
I don't mind them, but personally I will not have one again. My current "out-going links" style is structured like a phonebook, and I write a little bit about that website and what I liked about it. So if that Webmaster ever sees it, they felt like someone actually saw them, instead of just putting a pretty graphic in a horde. Thats of course, not to say that people who have button walls, aren't thoughtful or are vapid!
23. If you started over again, would you make something similar or completely different?
I have started over again many times, about five to six major reworks I believe. So I don't really feel like I can answer this, since I've done it.
24. Are you envious of other people's websites?
Comparison is the thief of joy. Even when I was younger and less mature, I don't recall being envious over something like a website.
25. What text editor do you use?
VSCode. Yes I'm aware its owned by Microsoft, I am trying to find other code editors with a live preview. ..It's better then using the Neocities one like I did for three-ish years, atleast.
26. Why do you use that one?
Easy to push Git updates, live preview, probably other things I'm forgetting.
27. Do you host your image files on your web server, or on another host?
I host 99% of images on my site. The 1% goes to random things like perhaps audio files, or reference images I link to sometimes in my art.
28. This might not be relevant to you, but what's your opinion on the Neocities vs. Nekoweb debate?
N/A.
29. How much server space would you estimate your main website takes up?
Never thought about it, I wouldn't know anything about server space. The stat page says 3GB currently.
30. Do you keep local backups of your files?
Yes, I am a data hoarder and paranoid of making my own lost media. Theres the local folder on my laptop, which is the one I push updates with. And then I make backups onto my USB every-so often.
31. Do you prefer simple or highly visual websites?
Again, if everything was the same, where would be the joy? That is to say, boringly, I have no preference. Even the more minimalist websites can be full of what I find interesting. I personally do not understand the appeal behind extreme simplicity, but when executed well I do enjoy observing.
32. Do you stick to certain colours? Do you do that on purpose, or is it your subconscious?
Generally I prefer warmer colors, and high saturation. The "burn" and "overlay" layer effects are my favorite in any art program. As mentioned on my about page, my favorite colors are reds, greens, and browns. It only makes sense by default I drift towards them.
33. Have you ever thought about quitting? Why?
I have had major depressive periods, or life events, that made me incapable of it. But I never thought "I'm never evar touching HTML again!1!". It's a hobby similar to art, it'll always be there. It's a medium.
34. Do you have many webmaster friends, or is it a solitary hobby?
My best friend, Pinkie, is also a Webmaster. I have a few aqcuaintances, who I am mutuals with on sites like Tumblr. Ultimately though I do not have much of a desire to seek out other Webmasters or communities, I have had a negative experience too many.
35. Do people in your real life know about your website?
Yes, my mother and my cousin. My mother, who is cooler then all of you, was huge into HTML in the 90s. She had an ancient CD we managed to save before it fully died, and it has her old websites and graphics. Eerily, I found out we were using the same guestbook graphic at one point. Sometimes it makes me a bit self concsious about what I host, but ultimately I don't think either of them care enough about their adult relative being a bit weird.
36. Do you update your website very often? How often is "very often"?
I used to be in the mentality of wanting to update atleast once a month, but I found that putting myself on "time limits" or "schedules" greatly hinders my creativity and makes me burn out quicker.
37. And the overall design, do you change that much? Why or why not?
I feel like I've answered something like this already. Sometimes I end up with a page I'm not 100% happy with, so I usually put off publishing it for a while until it meets my standards.
38. Is your website more you-focused, hobby-focused, or outside world-focused?
Anything I like. :}
39. Do you do web design professionally?
I do not.
40. If not, would you like to? And if you're comfortable answering, what do you do for work?
I have considered doing commissions, both for art and code. But to put simply, I just don't like them! Commissions bore me, I can't work on something I'm not enthuasiastic about. I can do them for friends, but otherwise I just dread it and it consumes my entire life until its finished. I also don't think I could offer code thats exactly "up to standards".
41. Do you communicate with people by email very much?
My e-mail is available on my about page (or, the one I have setup for website related things) so anyone is free to send me messages. I know its hypocritical, but I am often too nervous to send other Webmasters e-mails.
42. Some people reject social media and use websites as a replacement. Do you keep social media outside of your website?
I have never been good at using SNS. I have tried, many times, to either fit in with groups or to be "closer" to others. But its simply not for me. Something feels wrong about it. I could muse about the effects it can have on individuals, but I personally never really experienced any of it, besides being bullied as a teenager on Twitter for a few months, because I would just keep forgetting to use it. Which is the reason I adore my website so much, is that it feels like the missing piece of what I wanted. Admittedly, I do have a Tumblr, but I think Tumblr is a bit "outcasted" in terms of SNS; and doesn't really function like new-age ones.
43. How about instant messengers? Do you use a mainstream one like Discord or Telegram? Or something like Matrix? Do you avoid them?
I do use Discord, I've been meaning to look into IRC.
44. Do you listen to music while you work on websites? If so, what kinds of artists?
If I really need to focus on writing something, I prefer ambient music like Luxury Elite or Wichita LimeWire. Otherwise I shuffle between different things. I particularly really love those "from another room" edits, it scratches a ultra-specific itch. Some I listen to often is "Psycho Killer", "Every Breath You Take", "Friday I'm In Love", "Maniac", and "Flesh For Fantasy".
45. Do you keep everything you make on one website, or do you have more than one?
No, sounds like a big hassle..
46. On a similar note, do you keep to one topic on your site, or many?
Answered in 38.
47. Do you present your real self, or at least try? Or do you construct a persona on purpose?
My sense of self is something I think about often, when I probably really shouldn't. I have such grand inner ideals, but when I navigate the world, I feel like its not where I'm meant to be. Like my soul was swapped at birth, or I began possessing this body at some point and overrided the previous host. When I write my own articles, I often find myself constantly re-reading, re-editing, and thinking how uncomfortable existence feels. Not that I'm "unsure of who I am". I am many things, I'm stubborn and I hate things like summer and love my cat. And when you try to tell people this, they go on about "oHh wEll Just DoN'T ThinK AboUt ItTt Don"t LAbEl YouRselF". I do think about it, I don't want to ignore whats wrong with me, just because its "easier". And when I say that, people will say "Oh, you're being performative saying this publicly, you must want to be special". We are so poisoned by "personas" and irony and "archetypes" and have all turned ourselves into celebrities with our own internal PR teams and faceless audience. So we don't get made fun of, or make people uncomfortable, or seem "weird". And I believe apart of this "hatred of sincerity" you see in the modern age is some byproduct of ableism, particularly towards schizospec individuals. It's very easy to demonize and further separate "others", because who wants to be on-par with a "crazy person"? What even is the "real self"? Is not everything you say publicly constructed?
48. Have you ever made a good friend thanks to your website?
I feel a bit nervous to call someone a "friend", but I have been given grace to be in contact with some wonderful and creative Webmasters. :}
49. Are you happy with the way HTML and CSS currently work?
I hope next HTML/CSS update they add the <boob> tag. I think it would be awesomesauce.
50. What are practices that you think people should avoid?
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to do things. As long as you are happy with your site, then who cares? I guess the only thing I would tell someone to "avoid" is making your site consist of hotlinks. Please, it's very easy to downsize images (that don't look blurry!) to keep the site size small. And it'll be very worth it whenever the hoster inevitably goes down. It always makes me tsk tsk.
51. What about under-utilised practices, or things you think people should do more?
N/A.
52. Do you use a lot of semantic HTML? Or are you guilty of generic structure?
I must've blown in from stupid town, because I have no idea what this means. Oops.
53. Do you consider different browsers?
No, Firefox is the only browser you should be using. >:P
54. Speaking of, what's your preferred browser? Convince your readers why they should use it.
Firefox is great and doesn't hog your CPU.
55. And what OS are you on?
My laptop, which I code on, is Linux Mint 21.3. My main desktop is Linux Mint 22.3. Both are XFCE. I did try Debian Trixie for a bit, on my main desktop, and it pissed me off with gaming being stutter-y.
56. Do you have a strong opinion on that, or do you just happen to use it?
WINDOWS IS FOR CHUMPS! SWITCH TO LINUX TODAY! IT DOESN'T REQUIRE AS MUCH EFFORT AS YOU THINK, MICROSLOP HAS JUST CONDITIONED YOU TO BE LAZY!!!!!! OTHERWISE, STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT WINDOWS UPDATES.
57. Are your websites mobile-friendly?
Mobile users are chumps too!
58. What are your thoughts on autoplay?
If its a loud startling sound, then you must be twelve years old. Otherwise, I really don't think music playing is as big of an issue as people make it out to be. I don't have my volume set up high and its a habit of mine to make sure its always cranked down low.
59. What are your thoughts on webrings? Are you in any?
Webrings are lovely, who the hell has an issue with webrings? Nowadays I am a bit picky about what rings I join, but I think they're a nice way of finding like-minded individuals. I, however, will never be hosting another webring for as long as I exist. The time I ran one was absolute torture. Like full on chinese drip towel torture method type stuff. Iron maiden gullitone. It turned me into the Grinch. Never again.
60. Do you have any web shrines? What do you like to see in that sort of page?
As of writing, I have yet to publish them. But I have three I'm currently juggling, all of them equally high effort. Very exciting! They are all things I am passionate about and care for deeply. One is a game that lacks proper documentation, another for a love, and another for a movie.
61. Are your websites "cliche", in your opinion?
Maybe, most likely. I wouldn't value the opinion of somebody who talks about "cliches" seriously. We are people, and thats not constructive.
62. What is your ideal website? Are you striving for that, or for something else?
I try not to scope-creep myself, while still maintaining an "ideal I want to work towards". I think my ultimate goal will have to remain a secret..! :o
63. Are you an artist? Do you draw or design your own assets?
Yes, one of the main focuses of my site is hosting my art. I enjoy drawing my assets, it helps sharpen my skills and gives a very unique look.
64. What are your favourite resource sites?
Does Gifcities count?
65. Is there a habit you just can't get away from no matter how hard you try?
In-line CSS.
66. What's your biggest advice for a new webmaster?
My old man advice is to not get involved with Discord servers. My actual advice is to make offline pages, and don't just publish things to publish them.
67. Do you keep all your styling in CSS? Or do you hard-code some?
..Now that I think about it, I think I've done both on the same page before. Sorry for that image.
68. What do you think of frameset layouts?
N/A.
69. How about table-based layouts?
As already stated, table is one of my favorite elements. But I have no idea about making a layout out of it..! I should try that sometime.
70. Do you subscribe to the ideas of "one-column", "two-column" and "three-column" layouts? Do you use any of these?
Secretly, I try to avoid the "three-column" look, because of how commonly I've seen it. But the rule of three can't be beat, it happens anyways. :{
71. Do you spend longer on the HTML or the CSS?
I work on them both together. Probably CSS, though.
72. Have you ever made a page with no CSS? It's useful for your thoughts.
Aaa!!! My colored text!!!! Give it back!!!!!
73. Do you ever find yourself making layouts with nothing to put on them? Or do you only make layouts when the need arises?
Only when the need arises.
74. Would you consider yourself a beginner? Or advanced? Somewhere in the middle?
Considering I've been doing it for around six-ish years, I like to think of myself as "decent". I can tie my digital shoe-laces (that I got from the president) and walk, y'know?
75. Do you have a habit of looking at the source code of websites you visit?
Firefox's built-in "inspect element" is a bit disorienting, but I do find it enjoyable anyways. If you put secret comments, I see them.. ;}c
77. Do you ever force elements to do things they're not supposed to?
I don't think I've ever done that..? Now I want to see what horror inspired this.
78. Thoughts on floating elements?
I am "position: absolute;"'s strongest warrior.
79. When you're sizing stuff, what do you use first? Do you use px, em, %, or something else?
PX, for essentially everything. Although sometimes I use % if PX doesn't work for whatever reason.
80. Do you have a favourite font?
VTPortableRemington.
81. Would you run a website with another person? How would that work?
Perhaps. I would have to trust them, and it would have to be a topic we're both passionate about; probably a wiki of some sort. The only person I would currently trust to do that with would be Pinkie.
82. Do you surf the Web to find new personal websites very often?
See next answer.
83. Do you bookmark other people's websites? How would you feel knowing someone else bookmarked yours?
I do! I also add them to my RSS reader, if they have one. Every week or so I enjoy a little night of web browsing with my fancy tea or over dinner. I don't know how to feel about someone bookmarking mine-.. It makes me feel bashful.
84. What do you want people to be most impressed with when they see your website?
I hope my dedication to making hand-drawn assets inspires someone. Its my pride. :}
85. Are you interested in technology outside of websites? Do you collect?
Yes! I have written articles about them. I enjoy older technology, and I hope to collect CRTVs, flip phones, MP3/CD players, anything analog. I also enjoy fiddling with Linux, and happily subject every computer in my household to its wonders.
86. How often and for how long are you online?
To save face, I'd argue theres a bit of a difference between "using a computer" versus "being online". Most of my hobbies involve using a computer (coding, art, games), which I usually prefer to sit in silence or listen to music with. In terms of "using SNS/interacting with the digital public", I'd say maybe only three-ish hours. I only use Tumblr, Discord, and in-game interactions.
87. When it comes to your website, who is your target audience?
Myself.
88. Have you ever been interested in XHTML?
...What is that, HTML for adults?
89. Do you program in general? Have you ever written a program for use with or on your website, not counting simple JavaScript?
Something I've thought about a few times, is learning something for making games. But theres so many programs out there, and I haven't really settled on my "first game" idea to really learn any. Embarassing!
90. Speaking of programs that help you make websites, what do you think of static site generators (SSGs)? Have you ever used one?
I can't recall ever using a SSG, so I wouldn't know much. I don't think theres anything wrong with using them, although I think theres something to be said about "HTML Webmasters" versus "SSG Webmasters".
91. Do you keep a hitcounter? Why or why not?
I had one in the past, and also considered one for my newest index page. Ultimately I decided against it, because I want as little of "outside scripts" running as possible.
92. Do you frequent forums? Which ones?
I like to lurk the Melon Land forums, and lately the 32bit cafe. Both places are more productive discussion of web development and the general internet. I enjoy forums because they're slower paced, and people actually think about what they're typing. ..But I am a bit timid to join, I don't think I would post enough. So I will stay in my little corner.
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?
I'm a little confused on how this is worded, does this mean writing the code itself, or the paragraphs? I'm assuming it means the paragraphs. I prefer the beloved and humble .txt :} I write my pages usually while I'm queued for a Dead By Daylight match, or while I'm drinking tea or coffee. Usually after I shower, since I feel clean and mentally clear.
94. Do you think you appear cool to others? A more accurate answer now: do other people ever say you're cool?
I generally do not like to think of what others may think of me. It just causes needless anxiety, or just makes you sound like a narcissist. Instead of thinking "everyone must hate me" or "everyone must think I'm so sexy and smart", I instead try thinking "I should make a good impression and act maturely." It is not my responsibility for what others are thinking of me. It is only my responsibility for how I act.
95. Are you embarrassed of your old work? Have you ever deleted everything out of shame?
When I was younger, I didn't know how to handle how I felt or thought about things. Unfortunately I have spent too much time trying to appeal to others, or seem "socially approachable". So much of what I said then, was not very authentic, and in a way it is embarassing. So obviously I delete things I feel don't represent myself. I used to hold alot of contempt for him, for being foolish and naive. Nowadays though, as I enter my twenties, I see younger people around my age then. And I don't feel anger or disgust for them, they're just younger people trying to navigate. Who hates someone for being just a bit annoying or ill informed at that age? I feel so far removed from those times, that I view him like a younger relative of some sort. Being kinder to the younger self nutures the future self.
96. Would you close down your website if you couldn't update it, or would you leave an archive?
Well, assuming I didn't leave my body and can interact with the realm of the living. I answered this somewhat in previous questions about quitting, but I would probably just leave it up; assuming I wasn't in danger or things of that sort because of it.
97. Do you reveal a lot about yourself on your website? Or are you more secretive?
I mean, it's a *personal* website. What else am I meant to talk about? Even talking about the weather would be about myself, because it's where I live and my worldview. I digress, I know what this question means. I don't find it neccessary to talk about every little thing, positive or negative, but I actively try to stop myself from "muffling" how I word things.
98. Are you willing to reveal who your best online friend is, and/or if they have a website?
It's probably the first thing many people learn about me, is my dearest companion Pinkie. Pinkie and I have been friends since June 18th of 2020, thats the longest I've known someone outside of my family. I can't imagine a life without them.
99. And do you optimise the images on your website?
A good chunk of them. If they are not my art (which I would want to be high quality, not blurry or squished) then I downsize them or jpeg-ify them.
100. We're out of time! How do you feel after answering 100 questions? ....other than exhausted.
It was a fun practice :}! I always wondered what it'd be like to be interviewed. Some things I had to think about for a while, or research what they meant. So it was enjoyable.