💾 Archived View for caseyrichins.online › logs › 2022-07-31_distraction.gmi captured on 2023-12-28 at 15:38:03. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
⬅️ Previous capture (2023-01-29)
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Published: July 31, 2022
I haven't been working on this gemini capsule lately because I've been distracted by and playing around with a new concept of a Shinobi Website [0]. A shinobi website is a text-based, RSS focused blogging "system". I put the word system in quotes since it's really just a simple bash script that converts plain text files into an RSS feed. So, it isn't an actual blogging platform or website in the traditional sense. The authoring website says that Shinobi is pure minimalism and the focus is on plain text content.
I tried the concept but could not get it to work as I would have expected it to for my needs especially since I desired to have fully plain text content. The setup of the feed required writing some xml data to a file so it wasn't quite pure minimalism since with Gemini all I have to do is type text into a gmi file and the article is created. My process is a bit more involved since I'm hosting my capsule in a docker container but it still quite simple compared to the Shinobi concept. I will say that the one thing I did get out of this is that I did find some very good rss feeds to subscribe to for some other plain text enthusiasts.
I also had to take the time to debate internally which method would be right for me to put my full effort into and I have come to the conclusion that I like the gemini protocol much better. It just feels much more right to me even though it's ability to connect with the general population is limited. I also think that the gemini protocol aligns well with the shinobi concept because it too is follows the same principles of being secretive and unseen. It also feels like an exclusive club for a real and true audience.
I like Gemini in that I don't have to worry about layout or html, everything is just plain text and is rendered as such. I want to focus on content creation while maintaining a secure method for people to find and view that content. I have thought about hosting a plain text only onion hosted website. I have the necessary technical capability but sometimes all I really want to do is just write while retaining control of the content and it's accessibility / security.
I really don't care about knowing all those statistics (knowing how many subscribers, emails, followers, etc. I have), at best I would only want to know if the content is well thought out and enjoyable to the reader. I miss the older web when it was all about the content, the community and the pseudo anonymity it held. I once tried Usenet but couldn't really get into it and quality providers required a subscription to access but the content that is there these days just plain sucks. I love plain text and I prefer to ingest content as text, this "influencer culture" has brought me to hold distaste for video and to a lesser degree audio consumption. If only podcasters where Walter Cronkite clones that told a story to bring you the facts.
Lately when it comes to writing I have to ask myself who am I writing for? Am I writing for myself or am I writing for recognition? I believe it is the former because the idea of becoming well known scares the, to quote Homer Simpson, bejebus out of me at the thought of loosing my privacy and my mostly quiet life. So the fact that I recognize that If I am writing for myself why should I be concerned when a plain text website, rss feed or a gemini capsule with no SEO or any other work other then pointing a domain at it could bring me too much attention? Also why should I overthink about how I publish the content for the enjoyment of others if I'm mostly writing for myself.
I don’t get it, to be honest. I’m not going to try to explain it, but whenever I look at a website that is nothing but text — with maybe a few lines of CSS as a treat — I have this feeling of rightness, like this is how the web ought to be. - Matthew Graybosch <contact@matthewgraybosch.com>
^ This ^ right here is what I love. Hell, I would love seeing/reading web content in the formatting outline of a text RFC doc! I do want to help bring back a simpler web experience which is why I setup a gemini capsule, it was an act of rebellion as well as a desire to go back in time to a simpler web without tracking, loss of privacy or anonymity. Which is where I struggle to debate on how to publish since I only want to have to concentrate on one format/platform/medium. I could setup both an RSS Feed and gemini capsule but do I want to maintain both?
On that note I look forward to dedicating my time to maintaining a capsule and encourage anyone who reads these words to reach out and let me know if there is anything that resonates with you on this site.