Should You Have Your Own Personal Web Site?
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by: DanScott
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But, what if you don't own a business? Is the web only for business marketing? If you're not selling something (or by extension, buying something) is there no place on the web for you? Well, we already know the web is unmatched as a research tool. Though the sum of mankind's knowledge may not be available online (yet), I think it is safe to say there is at least some kind of information on just about anything you'd care to know. So, if you have some special knowledge to impart to the world you should definitely be online.
But, what about Joe (or Jane) Average? Is it only businesses and data providers that have any reason for a web presence? A quick search of the web for reasons to have your own website would seem to indicate as much. Almost without exception they give reasons for businesses to be online, but nothing for people. But, I say you should have your own website and the reason is Web 2.0. No, it's not the latest software release from Microsoft. It's a coined term describing how the Internet has changed since the tech bubble burst. If you search for it, you're likely to find most of the talk revolving around new business models, open source, data ownership, etc. However, this misses the bigger picture of Web 2.0 and that is that the biggest change to have occurred since the tech crash is how people are weaving the Internet into the fabric of their society. It is becoming an invisible connection joining people all over the world together.
The human-technology interface used to be the stuff of science fiction. People wired up to a collective electronic consciousness, devoid of all human feeling, never directly interacting with other people, immersed in a virtual world. Instead what we are seeing is the increased use of electronic means of communication has actually increased human interaction. Friends are never out of touch with each other, whether they're in different cities or even different countries. It's commonplace to have regular conversations with people from all over the world.
Most Web 2.0 discussions tend to revolve around the changing Internet infrastructure, open source, network application platforms, data ownership and the like. By focusing on the effect they are missing the point; the real revolution on the Internet has little to do with the infrastructure or the technologyit has to do with the people. The new web is a social phenomenon, not a technical one. The Internet is becoming part of the fabric of our society and as such people are changing it and adapting to it in new and unpredictable ways.
So, why should an average person with nothing to sell and no particular drum to beat be on the Internet? Because that's where the rest of society will be. Personal websites will be more commonplace than telephones; they're incredibly inexpensive and easy to build, and most people will have more than one. They will have family sites to share pictures and stories with family and friends, personal blogs to maintain a dialogue with friends and strangers alike on the events of their community and the events of the world. Garage sales, wedding announcements, graduations, births, parties, resumes, recipes, pictures, videos, etc. all on your website(s).
As the world shrinks and people from different cultures and backgrounds are thrust together, as families spread out and friends move away, the Internet provides the means to create new connections and to maintain old ones. As people begin to weave it into their culture it will become an invisible, seldom thought of force connecting people across the planet.
Build a site and join an online community of millions around the globe.
About the Author
Dan Scott is a Computer Scientist with over 25 years of accomplishments developing, constructing, and supporting computers and computer applications. Make sure you see his web hosting analyses on the top affordable web hosting sites. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
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