Did you used to have another website? You seem familiar...
Yes, I've had three different primary domains in the past between 2009-2017, as well as a custom subdomain and two old Webs (formerly Freewebs) accounts before then. My current matrix of domains has been around since 2014; I considered them my main projects as of 2018.
How many sites are there in your button rotation/wall?
There are currently 439 sites. I do things normally sometimes, I promise.
I periodically go through site-searching sprees by scoping out people's affiliates. I usuaully start with a website that's already linked here, comb through their affiliates, then select sites I want to add here, then go through their affiliates, and so on. I usually do this when I'm hyperfocused, or procrastinating on something.
My goal with my button rotation/wall is to have a collection of sites I'll always be interested in re-visiting and getting inspiration from. If you want to be added, just keep doing your thing. I'm sure our paths will cross at some point :P
How do you determine what websites to add to your site rotation/button wall?
This is an internal process and I don't really aim for consistency, but generally, the standards for sites on my button wall are:
* Errors here and there are okay - we're only human!
Broadly speaking, I perceive sites on my button wall to clearly showcase: a love for personal websites and website-making; some level of personal experimentation, individual authenticity, unique skill and intent in design (and/or content), and systemic and corporate rebellion; and operate as an entertaining experience all around. And, well, are run by people I think I'd get along with! (I like getting along with all sorts of people so this isn't an exclusive metric.) Additionally, the website appeals to me in some way: as in, I want to visit it again. There is no application process and I don't invite or notify people, I just stick a site's button there if I visit and think it meets my standards in some way.
If a site is in the greenhouse, it will not be on the button wall. Pokémon websites are not on the button wall either, and instead can be found at the exits page on Masterball.
Once I've added a site to the button wall, I do not remove it, with the only exception being if the webmaster turns out to be bigoted in some way. Dead links are moved to the link graveyard, while inactive but live sites remain for archival purposes.
My friends' and mutuals' websites (linked at the bottom of the front page/mobile site, and the bottom of the left column on desktop) abide by the same principles, though for people I know personally and for a long time I admittedly allow leeway.
I'd like to exchange links or link your site, how should I go about doing that?
I don't have a formal link exchange or affiliation process, largely because I like collecting buttons and links to sites that I think are cool more than anything else. I also have more energy to browse than to say hi all the time, so a lot of times when I collect these buttons I do it silently because that's a lot easier than thinking of something to say to a stranger.
However, I do like making friends! I am not nearly as misanthropic as this may make me seem. If I've already linked you and you'd like to link me back, feel free to at your own whims. If you'd rather me link you from my friends/mutuals section in this case, just let me know and I'll move you from the random button wall to my friends list :) I do generally prefer all sites I link to to have a 88x31 button, but I am also happy to make those buttons myself, permission allowing.
If you're wondering about linking me at all, you can link whatever website(s) of mine you want — this one (global website stuff), aroceu.com (personal universe), icirr.us (Pokémon), or any combination of them if you wish. It's up to you! And thanks for linking me :)
I think what/how/why you made something is cool, can I copy you?
As long as you're not copying me word for word, line for line, beat for beat, go ahead. I hold no restrictions on being inspirational or resourceful. If something I've made resonates with you so much that you'd like to use it or do your own version of it, I will much sooner be flattered than offended.
Under what license does kingdra.net & your other work operate under?
Do what the fuck you want. See my policies documentation for more information.
What are your creative (webdesign & writing) principles?
- Try something new, always.
- Either strive to improve or to have fun or deliver an emotion. Or all three. But at least one of them.
- Make things inspired by others. Make things inspired by myself. Make things that come to me like a lightningstrike from god. Make things.
- Don't hide the imperfections. Let myself and the things I make be imperfect.
- There are no rules; do what works for the work; and changes can be made as time goes on.
- The entire purpose of creativity is to deliver information with style; and I can only create in ways that only I can. So create things with style and authenticity.
What languages do you know?
I know English incredibly well (110%), basic conversational Mandarin (28%), out-of-practice basic French (15%), even less Spanish (12%), and some Cantonese extrapolated from my knowledge of Mandarin (8%). These numbers are meaningless, by the way. Except for English.
Programming-wise, I know HTML and CSS the best, followed closely by PHP and Javascript. I know basic C#, C++, Java, and Python as well. For programming languages, I'm better at reading and understanding syntax than writing it myself.