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1. Please introduce yourself.

Ham-ha! I'm Mari, an artist, writer, and boring office lady.

2. How long have you been making websites?

3 March 2023. I used to play around with Tumblr themes, though.

3. And what got you into the hobby?

I've always been fascinated with web design. My first introduction to anything resembling web development was back in 2010. My dad let me use one of his subdomains. It even had WordPress. So fancy! I don't remember very much about it anymore. I linked to Winx Club fansites and web games I liked to play.

I started web dev again in 2023 on a whim. I don't remember why, if I even had a reason.

4. What kind of website are you most interested in?

I love websites that showcase OC's, art, and writing the most. I love when webmistresses get unhinged and yap about their OC's in particular. I look up to them a lot, haha. Other than creative showcases, I like sites with interactivity like games, quizzes, and souvenirs. I want to add more features like that to my site.

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 plan my major pages on paper with a simple ballpoint pen, mainly so I don't forget what I'm doing. I tend to take long breaks in between bursts of development as my interests shift. I have several pages that have been sitting in my drafts for months, even years.

6. Please link to your biggest inspirations.

...and more!

7. What's your favourite part about making websites?

I like the feeling of accomplishment that comes with learning something new. I also like to express myself.

8. And the thing you struggle with the most?

The actual programming side of it — no, not markdown, HTML, or CSS. I'm still struggling over the first hump of learning the foundations of Javascript and PHP. I've made a breakthrough recently with my understanding of PHP, and I hope to develop cool features for my site. It's an intimidating process.

9. Do you keep the same layout on all of your pages? Or do you use different ones?

For the most part, yes. This is purely for practical reasons, as I like to focus on the content of the page before the design. Special pages on my site have their own designs, like my OC pages and my shrines.

10. How confident are you with CSS?

I can make any page look pretty much however I want. How it looks under the hood is where I have room to grow.

11. Do you know how to correctly use <dl>?

I've never seen it used for questionnaire before this, so maybe not?

12. What is your favourite HTML element?

<center> — Rest in peace, queen.

13. If you're making a new web page from scratch, what is the first thing you do?

I draw it on paper. Then I assess if I've already written code that I can reuse.

14. Do you know JavaScript?

We've met, though I'd like to know her better.

15. How about PHP?

I hope that we'll be good friends one day, though that day has not yet come.

16. Does your website have a theme that you stick to?

As far as design? I have a pale-pink & black-lace motif throughout my site, but I just go with the flow as far as design. I like cute and elegant aesthetics, so I decorate my site accordingly.

For content? Sure, just my interests, really. Gaming, art, OC's. I want to blog more about my random autism-fueled interests like snakes, scuba diving, and other 'off-topic' interests.

17. Are you more focused on content or design?

Both about equally, to be honest. I have a lot of ideas for content that I wish I had the courage to just post and worry about design later. But that feels like leaving the house in my bathrobe and curlers – which is to say, I'd be embarrassed. I should just swallow my pride, haha.

18. Do you own a domain name? If not, would you ever want to?

Yes! I own a couple.

19. What do you think of nostalgia-focused or "retro" websites?

I like Web 2.0 inspired sites from people who actually lived through it. Otherwise, I find the aesthetic kind of ugly. I'm too young to remember most of the early web, so I don't have any nostalgia for it myself. I like nostalgia focused sites that are authentic, even if that means it's inspired by 2010.

20. Is your HTML valid? Do you even check?

I don't care LOL. Maybe I should care more, but my site is really just for me... I would take extra care if it was supposed to be more professional, of course.

21. What are your opinion on buttons and banners?

They're cute! I wish I was better at making them. I grew up on deviantArt, so collecting buttons is like collecting stamps, except they're personal.

22. What do you think of button walls in particular?

They're fine. I prefer links out pages to be categorized if there's a lot of them. It's overwhelming, otherwise. Eventually, I want to write a little blurb next to my favorite websites in my neighborhood.

23. If you started over again, would you make something similar or completely different?

If I started over knowing what I know now, my site would be fairly similar. I would just streamline my CSS and file structure. And maybe make it a little easier to convert to a php workflow when I'm ready?

24. Are you envious of other people's websites?

No, I wouldn't say envious. Inspired is a much better characterization. When I see something I really like on someone else's site, I'll make my own version.

25. What text editor do you use?

For coding? Visual Studio Code. For longform writing, I use Scrivener. Sometimes I'll use Google docs if I need access to a file on the go.

26. Why do you use that one?

Visual Studio Code is popular and well-supported by its community. It makes learning how to do things easier. I use Scrivener to write because the format works well with my organizational style.

27. Do you host your image files on your web server, or on another host?

I self host all my images. Early on, I used Free Image Host, but I quickly learned my lesson. Well-optimized images hardly take up any space, so there's no excuse, really.

28. This might not be relevant to you, but what's your opinion on the Neocities vs. Nekoweb debate?

Who cares?

29. How much server space would you estimate your main website takes up?

586.29 MB. Megabytes! I could probably shrink that down a bit more, but I'm lazy.

30. Do you keep local backups of your files?

Yes, multiple.

31. Do you prefer simple or highly visual websites?

I prefer simple and elegant designs. I find cluttered and 'over-decorated' sites difficult to navigate and hard to read.

32. Do you stick to certain colours? Do you do that on purpose, or is it your subconscious?

Yes, my favorite color is pink so I use pink LOL.

33. Have you ever thought about quitting? Why?

No, but I've taken a hiatus before. That was mostly health/life related rather than waning interest.

34. Do you have many webmaster friends, or is it a solitary hobby?

Yes!

35. Do people in your real life know about your website?

My boyfriend and my little sister. No one I know IRL really browses it, except my sister sometimes.

36. Do you update your website very often? How often is "very often"?

Usually at least once a month. I don't feel any external pressure to be active. Like all my hobbies, webdev comes and goes. There are periods where I do a lot of development, and there are periods where I just lurk.

37. And the overall design, do you change that much? Why or why not?

Not really, it's a lot of work. I like having a solid, functional shell to write and display content which is the fun part for me.

38. Is your website more you-focused, hobby-focused, or outside world-focused?

My website is a self-centered love, though it largely focuses on my hobbies (art, gaming, OCs, etc).

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?

It's a competitive field, and I just don't have the interest necessary. Currently, I'm just a boring office lady working an unimportant job where I do math and read laws all day.

41. Do you communicate with people by email very much?

Occasionally. That's my preferred way of communicating with people, especially on the small web. I've had some health issues that has left my social battery with next to no capacity. I struggle to use social media and messaging services as a result. Email is slow-paced, like me.

42. Some people reject social media and use websites as a replacement. Do you keep social media outside of your website?

No, I can't really handle it anymore. It's not a matter of moral or principle that drove me away – I just cannot keep up with it. Using social media makes me feel awful, which is probably why I gradually stopped using it.

43. How about instant messengers? Do you use a mainstream one like Discord or Telegram? Or something like Matrix? Do you avoid them?

I try to keep up with Discord but mostly fail. It's fast-paced and overwhelming.

44. Do you listen to music while you work on websites? If so, what kinds of artists?

Not often, it's overwhelming. Sometimes I listen to instrumental video game OSTs.

45. Do you keep everything you make on one website, or do you have more than one?

Just the one for now.

46. On a similar note, do you keep to one topic on your site, or many?

A few varied topics related to my hobbies.

47. Do you present your real self, or at least try? Or do you construct a persona on purpose?

By nature of posting on the web, I am choosing what parts of myself to share. I don't like being overly personal. What I share is part of my authentic experience, though only a slice of it. I assume that's the same for most people.

48. Have you ever made a good friend thanks to your website?

Yes! It's funny, Krish and I met on tumblr years ago and reconnected through the smallweb. Jojo and I also met on tumblr in 2016. Crazy town, huh?

49. Are you happy with the way HTML and CSS currently work?

Sure.

50. What are practices that you think people should avoid?

No autoplay, please... I hate it. Other than that, do whatever you want. Seriously, forget everyone else. It's your world.

51. What about under-utilised practices, or things you think people should do more?

I love interactive sites. Make quizzes! Make a little adventure! It's OK if it's crappy.

52. Do you use a lot of semantic HTML? Or are you guilty of generic structure?

I've played with it but mostly fail. I plan to integrate it more in the next overhaul of my site.

53. Do you consider different browsers?

Yes, I try to make sure that my site works on Firefox and Chrome. I make an attempt at mobile Safari compatability because that's what I use. It's a pain, though.

54. Speaking of, what's your preferred browser? Convince your readers why they should use it.

I use Firefox because Chrome stopped running well on my computer. Conversely, Safari runs better on my phone than Firefox, but I use both due to Safari being... Safari.

55. And what OS are you on?

Windows 11. I've used Mac and Linux Mint before, though. I don't have the patience for Linux as a daily driver, but I use it for my media server.

56. Do you have a strong opinion on that, or do you just happen to use it?

I'm a Steam gamer and lazy, so Windows is best for me. Here's a strong opinion: Men who constantly shit on Mac despite not knowing how to use it are posers.

57. Are your websites mobile-friendly?

It's mobile compatible, rather than friendly. I make an effort, mostly because I look at my site on my phone and iPad. I don't care enough to do more than that, though.

58. What are your thoughts on autoplay?

It's annoying. I like music players and sound effects on sites, but only when user initiated. I'm easily startled.

59. What are your thoughts on webrings? Are you in any?

They're so cute! Well, conceptually cute. I usually just explore the members page rather than use the arrows, like a weblisting. I'm in a few webrings, though I would prefer to maintain a weblisting instead.

60. Do you have any web shrines? What do you like to see in that sort of page?

I love shrines! I have a couple posted and a few on the backburner. I love the personal nature of a shrine rather than a Wiki page. In my shrines, I try to provide information through a personal lens.

61. Are your websites "cliche", in your opinion?

I'm doing this quiz, aren't I? Bullshit! ...Bullshit! Derivative!

62. What is your ideal website? Are you striving for that, or for something else?

My ideal website gives both personal insight into its Mistress, while also providing insight and value to my experience visiting. In short, I value a mix of personal pages (blog, reviews, writing, art, OCs) and user interactivity (quizzes, cliques, adoptables, games). This is my goal, though I could stand to have more things for visitors to do.

63. Are you an artist? Do you draw or design your own assets?

Yes! And sometimes. I love sozai, though.

64. What are your favourite resource sites?

I have a page just for that!

65. Is there a habit you just can't get away from no matter how hard you try?

No, I can do anything I put my mind to LOL. I'm kind of lazy, though.

66. What's your biggest advice for a new webmaster?

Don't let anyone bully you about the the "right way" to do something. This is the small web, a hobby space. Everyone has an opinion, but no one is correct. Do what you want, learn things slowly, and use all the resources at your disposal. Make something that's fun for you to browse.

67. Do you keep all your styling in CSS? Or do you hard-code some?

I have some hard coded elements mainly out of skill issues. In my next site overhaul, I plan on streamlining my CSS to fix that.

68. What do you think of frameset layouts?

They can be cute and creative. Not my preference though.

69. How about table-based layouts?

I don't remember 09/11. I'm not old enough to understand the appeal. Just kidding.

70. Do you subscribe to the ideas of "one-column", "two-column" and "three-column" layouts? Do you use any of these?

Yeah, pretty much my entire site uses one or more columns.

71. Do you spend longer on the HTML or the CSS?

CSS 100000%

72. Have you ever made a page with no CSS? It's useful for your thoughts.

Sure, but not for the front end. I take notes and write instructions in plain HTML or TXT files.

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 as needed, and really, my site pages are pretty much the same layout but reskinned.

74. Would you consider yourself a beginner? Or advanced? Somewhere in the middle?

Either the end of beginner or the beginning of intermediate. I don't know shit about anything. According to Dunning-Kruger... that's a good sign? Who's to say.

75. Do you have a habit of looking at the source code of websites you visit?

If I see something cool, sure. I like to know how my favies do things.

76. How did YOU learn how to make websites?

Slamming on my keyboard in an HTML doc over and over and over until something clicked, then clicked again and again. I tried new things and pushed my comfort zone a little at a time. I looked up how to do things on Google, MDN docs, and W3 schools. I played with a template until I didn't need it anymore. I asked my friends for help. I read through threads on Stackexchange of others asking for help. I didn't give up and had patience.

77. Do you ever force elements to do things they're not supposed to?

I avoid it for compatability. Sometimes I'm lazy though.

78. Thoughts on floating elements?

Nice for inserting images into a block of text. Tread carefully though.

79. When you're sizing stuff, what do you use first? Do you use px, em, %, or something else?

I use % mainly, pixel if it's being a pain. Maybe I'll grow up someday and use em.

80. Do you have a favourite font?

Mali ♥ Unifrakturmaguntia ♥ Jacquard 24

81. Would you run a website with another person? How would that work?

I would love to maintain an OC verse wiki with friends.

82. Do you surf the Web to find new personal websites very often?

No, maybe once a month. I always check out the people who visit me, but I rarely venture out on my own. Maybe it's selfish, but I prefer to work on my own site than explore.

83. Do you bookmark other people's websites? How would you feel knowing someone else bookmarked yours?

Yes but I prefer RSS feeds. I'm very 'out of sight, out of mind' in that I tend to forget about things that aren't directly in front of me.

84. What do you want people to be most impressed with when they see your website?

My art or my writing, maybe. I put a lot of time into it.

85. Are you interested in technology outside of websites? Do you collect?

Yes! I love gaming consoles, especially handheld ones. I'm obsessed with hacking and jailbreaking older consoles, especially. I have a hacked Wii and 3DS that I do most of my emulation on. I have plans to hack my PS Vita and PSP that are just gathering dust.

86. How often and for how long are you online?

I use the internet constantly, mostly because of work and streaming. I'm not always actively online, though. Maybe a couple hours a day? I like crafting, sculpting, and sewing, my favorite non-digital hobbies.

87. When it comes to your website, who is your target audience?

Myself — And other grown adult, OC obsessed women. ♥ Email me!

88. Have you ever been interested in XHTML?

No, I just try not to break things too badly.

89. Do you program in general? Have you ever written a program for use with or on your website, not counting simple JavaScript?

Yes, here and there. I've made games before, but I'm not very good at programming. I've used command line programs with my website before, but that's far from making my own application.

90. Speaking of programs that help you make websites, what do you think of static site generators (SSGs)? Have you ever used one?

They seem neat, but they don't really suit my usecase. Learning PHP is a longterm goal for me, and the utility of an SSG

91. Do you keep a hitcounter? Why or why not?

No, not anymore. I don't really care about numbers. I used to have one for the sole purpose of using some cute number sprites I ripped from a Hamtaro game. It doesn't match my page, though, so I deleted it.

92. Do you frequent forums? Which ones?

Sometimes! I should post more on Aid and Joroki's forum Treefort. It's basically everything I could have ever wanted in a casual forum, there's just not a lot of activity... yet! I should be the change I want to see, haha. I used to LOVE The Bell Tree as a teen.

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 use Scrivener for blogposts. Otherwise, I write directly in the editor.

94. Do you think you appear cool to others? A more accurate answer now: do other people ever say you're cool?

No one has ever called me cool in my life. Dorkiness is in my nature.

95. Are you embarrassed of your old work? Have you ever deleted everything out of shame?

No. I could stand to have more shame, to be honest.

96. Would you close down your website if you couldn't update it, or would you leave an archive?

I would 100% archive it. If I was ever in a place where I didn't want to pay for hosting anymore, I would move back to Neocities.

97. Do you reveal a lot about yourself on your website? Or are you more secretive?

Maybe. I'm a bit reserved in my old age. I am acutely aware that anyone at any time could see my website. Of course, there's a certain vulnerability in sharing my projects, like my OCs. However, I believe that the chance of connecting with other webmistresses is worth the risk of having my feelings hurt. I try to keep very personal topics vague or to myself, though.

98. Are you willing to reveal who your best online friend is, and/or if they have a website?

I don't have just one best friend! All of the best friends I've ever had, I met online.

99. And do you optimise the images on your website?

Yes! I use Caesium Image Compressor to compress my larger files. Then I convert it to Webp. I prefer desktop programs to webware because it's easier to work in bulk, limitlessly.

100. We're out of time! How do you feel after answering 100 questions? ....other than exhausted.

It was fun, I love giving unsolicited opinions. More! Again! Again!

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