When I first got onto the World Wide Web, one of the things I liked best about it was that it was, in so many ways, completely bonkers. People were putting up weird stuff, wonderful commentary, exciting new ideas, and just being themselves in a way that was suddenly accessible to everyone around the world, including me, sitting at a computer in my tiny apartment.
In the years since then, there’s been increasing pressure to optimize and monetize all online content. To some extent, I get it—the web is a powerful platform if you need to make money or build a career. So much of the web is now controlled by commercial interests that it can seem like that’s the whole point. But I want to recapture that earlier spirit, when companies didn’t quite understand what the web was about and people weren’t just trying to make a buck. That’s why I’m setting up this website differently: no analytics tracking what posts get attention, no metrics whatsoever, and definitely no advertising.
This approach was partly inspired by science fiction author and digital activist Cory Doctorow’s Pluralistic website. He publishes everything without metrics or analytics, making it Creative Commons so anyone can use it with attribution. His thoughtful approach to online publishing demonstrates how working in a non-commercial context can create genuine value and meaningful connections.
Why the Small Web Matters
When I talk about the “small web,” I’m thinking of personal websites that reflect the genuine interests and voice of their creators. It’s about valuing the personal over the optimized, choosing connection over conversion, and having the freedom to write about whatever interests you in your own unique way.
While I’m a Gen Xer, I don’t actually think there’s anything wrong with “selling out.” If you’re providing value and willing to put in the work, having your own commercial website can be powerful—you maintain control, bypass gatekeepers, and reach anyone with internet access. But for me, authenticity matters more than metrics. When you’re focused on selling yourself, it’s easy to become beholden to analytics and trends, trying to give people what they want instead of sharing who you are and seeing who naturally resonates with that.
Choosing Joy Over Growth
It’s not just about integrity, though that’s part of it. You can absolutely have a commercial site with integrity. It’s more about avoiding the endless treadmill of chasing trends and likes instead of being yourself. In my own life, I worry that if I start thinking in those terms—feeling like I have to do social media or follow trends—I’ll lose both authenticity and joy in creation. This approach also means I can focus on quality over quantity. A couple of thoughtful posts a month feels more meaningful and manageable than constantly pumping out content.
Taking the Leap
Of course, if this website were just for me, there would be no point in making it public. I want to create content that others will find valuable. As I’ve thought about my goals for this site—why I’m here, what I’m doing, what I want to get out of it—I’ve identified three key aims. First, I want to develop a practice of regular writing about things that interest me or that I think are important. The more I do this, the easier it becomes, and with luck, the better I’ll get. Second, I want to demonstrate that I can write in an effective and compelling way. Third, and perhaps most importantly, I want to try an experiment: can I connect with like-minded people without constantly promoting my site on social media? Wouldn’t it be incredible if this corner of the web helps me find people I would never have otherwise met? I’m not looking for a huge audience, just a few more people in my life who want to geek out about the same things I do.
The Constellation Approach
Instead of focusing on a single niche—which seems to be the standard advice for “making an impact”—I’m structuring my writing around what I call constellations. I’ve heard repeatedly that you need to pick one specific topic and hammer it exclusively to carve out your place in a subculture or genre. That approach doesn’t excite me. Instead, I want to explore interconnected ideas and interests, letting them form natural patterns, like stars in constellations.
These constellations include technology and society, because I’m fascinated by how they shape each other. Creativity forms another constellation, as I’m constantly working on creative projects and helping students and adults with theirs. Personal growth creates its own pattern of stars, connecting to the learning and education constellation—which, as an educator, is central to both my professional work and personal development. The final one explores culture through books, games, media, art, and music, because these are the ways we make meaning in our world. These constellations overlap and interact, creating a framework that can grow organically into something meaningful.
Creating Something Different
What you’ll find here will be personal, experimental, and uniquely me. I expect to make adjustments as I go—actually, I guarantee that it will change. That’s part of the fun. I’ll keep a monthly newsletter too, because I love email as a way to reach out to people. Once a month, I’ll share what I’m doing, thinking about, and posting, along with interesting things I’ve discovered.
In a way, I’m trying to recreate that spirit of the early web that got me excited in the first place—that sense of stumbling across something wonderful and unexpected, created by someone who was just being themselves. No optimization, no targeted content strategy, just genuine expression and connection. I’m embracing the uncertainty of this approach because sometimes the best things happen when we create space for them to emerge naturally. Maybe this little experiment will enhance my life and the lives of others in some small way. Because in this age of algorithmic feeds and viral content, sometimes it’s the small, genuine connections that can make all the difference.
Note: If you enjoyed this post’s cover image, you can read more about the adventures of Dr. Syntax in the Public Domain Review.