You can choose writing over tinkering
Dear reader,
Recent conversations around “Hardcore” IndieWeb have surprised me. Apparently, writing your blog isn’t sufficient, as everyone should eventually build their own websites and stop relying on third-party blogging platforms.
Brennan Kenneth Brown, a writer I admire, uses a ladder analogy to encourage people to learn HTML and CSS in order to eliminate dependence from platforms that could shut down any day:
I recommend platforms like BearBlog and Pika because when joining the IndieWeb, you have to wear a lot of different hats—writer, designer, developer, advocate—and that can be overwhelming. So my idea is that people start with one, say writing, and then when they feel comfortable with the work involved with blogging (however that may look for them), then they can start learning the HTML needed to make their own custom site.
Reading Brennan’s article makes it evident that while he may consider it acceptable to begin the journey with a third-party platform, it shouldn’t be the last stop. I disagree.
The thing is, many people on the IndieWeb aren’t interested in managing everything themselves. Me included. I want to focus on writing because that’s the reason I have a blog. That’s my passion. Tinkering with my site is something I would rather avoid, since it takes time away from the writing. This is one reason these third-party blogging platforms are great, and many of them allow you to learn CSS and HTML if you wish, but they don’t force you to do that.
Adam Newbold, a creator of omg.lol, is another name who has argued for the DIY-approach:
You don’t need a fancy subscription blogging service to join the IndieWeb. In fact, when you use one of those services, you’re actually taking a step back from real independence, because your content often winds up living in someone else’s database on someone else’s server.
I’m unsure why Adam considers the use of third-party blogging platforms as “taking a step back” since many people using them are coming from social media platforms, where you do not own the content you publish. If anything, embracing these platforms is an improvement over the status quo, since the large majority of people don’t have their own blogs or domain names.
He concludes his article as follows:
Even under the “IndieWeb” umbrella, so many people have their only copy of their entire web presence entrusted to some guy on the internet who’s promised to take care of it. That’s not real independence, and we should stop pretending that it is.
This is harsh criticism from someone who is developing their own platform that has the same issues as other third-party tools. As Jason Kratz points out in his post, you will always remain dependent on something, so “real independence” doesn’t exist. Just by getting a domain name makes you reliant on the platform you’re renting it from.
To conclude, I don’t have issues with people who seek a more DIY-approach with their websites. It's a great way to get familiar with the technology that runs the web. At the same time, it’s not for everyone. It requires a lot of technical know-how, and many people have better things to do with their time.
While we can encourage people to educate themselves about technology and help them build websites, we should avoid language that makes this sound like a necessity. Many people would rather just write, and we should respect that choice. 🌔