Social media is a blight on individuality. A cascade of algorithms where voices vanish as soon as they appear. I refuse to play that game. A website is land you own, in a world built on rented stages. This blog isn’t just about code and layout; it’s about reclaiming control, shaping a space that reflects who I am, and demonstrating that there’s a way to exist online without surrendering your mind.

 No algorithms. No noise. Just this blog.

As a teenager I was consumed by social media, I chased the dream of being ‘internet famous.’ That obsession is exactly why I now distrust modern online media. I’ve seen firsthand the isolation and damage it can inflict. The answer to this isn’t silence. To withhold your thoughts and creativity from the world would be a crime against the diffusion of innovations within the 21st century. Instead I've chosen to document my ideas, growth, and projects in a website free from algorithms, free from distraction, a place where my ideas, projects, and growth can exist on my terms.

I had made up my mind that a personal website was the best solution to my many dilemmas; without coding knowledge, I had to find a designer or tool that would let me build anyway. First I tried something simple, one of those many ‘Bio-Link’ sites that proved to be extremely limited and underwhelming. Eventually, I settled on Webflow as a website design tool due to its ability to make just about anything, even animated pages. As for the site layout, I couldn’t find a single hybrid model of both ‘project archive’ and ‘social media replacement' for me to draw inspiration from. I was left to dream up what the concept might look like entirely. I came up with many exciting concepts but in the end landed on a design similar to that of online portfolios as the clear winner.

Webflow wasn’t beginner friendly, and I hit a wall. I spent several hours staring at a blank page, scrolling forums and YouTube, learning next to nothing. In my search I came across a template that was close to what I needed. The template needed many fixes, but it was the breakthrough that was needed. I learned more in just 30 minutes editing the template, than in all my hours of research. With the template working, I secured my longtime handle, ‘ronisamurp,’ through Porkbun and faced the final hurdle: hosting. As it turns out Webflow does website hosting, but at a cost. I don't have a lot of excess funds these days, but this is something fundamental, I now pay the monthly hosting cost without batting an eye.

Being a generalist by my very nature, I already have many topics from recent weekly deep-dives that I am excited to write about. I hope to better learn and retain information from these weekly obsessions through teaching about them on the blog. Posting away from the distractions of social media makes for a great place to archive projects, however the shift from being surrounded by endless noise, to having the full stage is very nerve-wracking. I’ve never thought of myself as a writer, but this blog is my attempt to be able to prove myself wrong. Despite my imposter syndrome I feel that it is my civic duty to share my thoughts, and lead by example.

I’ve learned much in the weeks leading up to this first blog entry, more than I can accurately express in my first attempt at written media. From the endless small details of building a site, to the quiet lessons in patience and persistence, the process has been both hexing and transformative. Anyone that is interested in website design I would strongly encourage to embark along this path. If you’re looking for a smoother entry point, Squarespace is easier, but I don’t regret the harder road. Either route, know that this is a very rewarding and worthwhile endeavor; just in writing this short passage I have learned much about myself. This blog is much more than just a digital project, it is a testament to the things I can create.

Thank you for taking the time to read my first true blog post. Though this may mark the end of one small experiment in writing, it is only the beginning of what I hope this site can become. I have no illusions of greatness, but I do have plans, and a stubborn commitment to see them through. If this blog can spark a fraction of the change in others that it already has in me, then it was all worthwhile.

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