First of all, thanks to both Rachael and Chantelle for linking¹ me, but I don’t think I have that many vices. OK sweets and e-drama (not necessarily in that order) are high on the proverbial list. Not to mention that Sarai has scared me into never even THINKING of doing any meme post… OK, now that the unrelated site pimping is out of the way, I can get to the subject of today’s post.

Inspired by some of the latest comments on the Internet Police’s most recent bout of e-drama, I’ve started pondering over the following issue:

Who deserves to have a website?

I complain about websites’ quality on a daily basis. I’ve even gone so far as stating that someone should be “completely banned from the Internet”. After thinking thing through, regardless of the nature of my personal feelings for a webmaster² or his/her site, I never sincerely thought that someone should be shunned from the Internet.

Even though I’ve entered the world of website development almost 4 years ago, for more than half of all this period I’ve gone through the Internet cliques rather unnoticed. I blogged sometimes, and maybe got one or two comments (more out of pity than genuine interest, I suspect). On the whole, my site was rather bland an uninteresting, therefore I certainly can’t blame anyone for not having taken any notice of it.

Had I stopped blogging and wishing to develop my skills, I probably wouldn’t have my current job, nor be getting so excited about every little scrap of e-drama I can get my grubby e-paws on³. I also wouldn’t have the wonderful e-friends who help me through my annoying moments of ‘agony-aunt-ing^‘4.

By that logic, why should we deem some webmasters unworthy of “teh Intarwebz”? Just because they don’t conform to our unspoken set of rules and regulations? So what if they are boring? Or even keep whining in every single post of theirs? Why should they be stopped from showing themselves to others? After all, if you want to make and arse of yourself, that’s your personal prerogative.

Don’t be mistaken: I don’t approve of constant whining and pathetic pity parties (i.e. Everybody hates me ). After all, I have the option of not visiting such sites.

What do YOU think? Should certain sites/blogs/persons be banned?

P.S. I swear that all this insane link dropping is relevant… in a weird kind of way.
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¹ otherwise known as tagging
² meaning both male and female website owners
³ though I’m sure certain people (coughRachaelcough) would deem that a good thing
⁴ most notably Beth and Jem

We’ve all seen those rules on various graphic sites. Some have them in sensitive places, such as download pages. Some tell us to read the rules before using the graphics. Some others, have an intermediary page, between these graphics section and the rest of the site.

Elisha of All of the Above XXX ¹, surpasses them all. Not only does she put it after the splash page, but also cleverly hides the continuation link. She must have done some amazing artwork to make us go through all this.

I was just doing some mindless link hopping, when the following text caught my attention:

What’s wrong, can’t find the right link? If you’re too lazy to read the rules, move your mouse over everything.

Um… right link for what exactly? Bewildered, I hit the back button, only to end up on the splash page. The enter image apparently linked to the rules page. That still didn’t explain what link I was supposed to find. Oh well, apparently reading the rules was the key.

1; ♥ Don’t you dare steal or redistribute my work in any way, shape, or form. If I find that you are doing this, there will be punishment.

I’ve yet to see this work you keep hinting at (layout is made by someone else). But sure, whatever floats your boat.

2; ♥ No messing with the credit on my layouts, and no editing over my graphic credits. I am the one who made them, and I think it’s fair that my name gets to be on my graphics, no.

Oh… so you can make layouts? This totally explains why you’re using a layout made by someone else.

3; ♥ I know I may sound really mean sometimes, but I can be really nice if you allow me to. I’m quite easy to make happy. Tell me not to laugh when you say booger and I’ll lighten up :]

I wasn’t aware of having forbidden you to be nice. Unless of course me having stumbled upon your site annoys you. Ah well, that’s life.

4; ♥ Click the period after this sentence. If you want to be affiliates, then just comment on my cbox. I have site buttons you can use on the affiliates page. Affiliate spots are always open

Oh yay,! *clicks* WHA?

♥ ♥ For shame ♥ ♥
Tsk, tsk, tsk. You’ve just made me lose my trust in you :[ I don't remember telling you why to click the period. Wanna try again?
Yes No It's alright, though. Did you know that 00257 people have reached this page, too?

But you said to click...

5; ♥ Sorry for all the rules. I hate typing this, and you prolly hate reading this. Just make sure you follow the rules and I won't be an angry you-know-what and chastise you. Chastise is the key to the door that opens and reveals the site.

Let's see: after 2 minutes I still have no bloody idea what I'm supposed to see, I'm insulted for following your directions and... you think I probably hate reading this? Whatever gave you that idea?!
Back to the link hunt: is the word chastise the link? Hm... better read the last rule too, lest I be insulted again.

6; ♥ If you have any questions or comments, good or bad, email me at xxx. Requests for graphics are now open. If you have a Quizilla, then please request on my shop, if not, please email me and I'll send you a form to fill out. No layout requests are open unless I know you personally, sorry.

All this layout talk is making me antsy. They must be some gorgeous pieces of art.

And the page ends with:

OH MY GOSH HOLY FREEKIN FINKLEMATTER - there's no link. Sucks for you if you can't read :]

I’m warning you: if I’m insulted yet again, I’m reporting you to… the Internet Police

*takes deep breath and clicks* Aaaand… it looks the same. Oh but the layout Punk Rock Princess makes it all worth it. I’m truly amazed and humbled by your skills. [/sarcasm]

I wonder: why doesn’t Nick of N.Design Studio use such a rules page. He’s a pretty good designer too…

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¹ Yes, that’s a triple X alright, why do you think I was so keen on it?!

[EDIT January 26^th 2008]
Do I even need to say it? You get what you want. Oh yeah, she’s moved to Kawaiipurinsesu, in the meantime.
[/EDIT]

For those of you who’ve been regular visitors, you would know that I never start e-drama. I admit to feeding e-drama, and egging the participants on, but I never start e-drama. Why? Free link to the “victim”. However I decided to make an exception this time. After all, if Barbi kept accusing me of starting drama I might as well do it.

Piqued your interest? Then read on for an unrequested review of Mystical Drama (that’s the site’s name, by the way).
(read more…)