Why Neocities?

Like so many others out there, I've become increasingly frustrated of what the internet has become, an endless feed of fake content created to support surveillance and consumerism, and it's led me to reflect on how and why I use the internet.

I built my first website in elementary school around 2004, during a time when the internet was still in its infancy. It was a simple blog hosted on FreeWebs that allowed my friends and I to chat with eachother online in our "own" space. In 2006, I created an account on Neopets and started creating custom pages using HTML and CSS for myself and others around the site. By the time middle school came around, I had a MySpace account and found ways to further express myself through code. I loved seeing my friends' pages as well and watching their personalities come to life!

The early web was quirky, chaotic, and so much more personal, which is missing in most places on the internet today. In the early days of the internet, people didn't use their platforms to push products or gain followers, they created webpages to share their passions with others no matter the topic. Today's internet feels sterile, while Neocities feels more like home. I love hanging out here with other like-minded creators who are building the things that we all love about the early internet without billion dollar companies, algorithms, or agendas influencing the content that we consume.

What Am I Up To?

I am currently employed with The Home Depot as a Systems Engineer. I primarly use Python, Javascript, and HTML/CSS to build network automation and visibility tools. I am also currently enrolled as a student at Western Governer's University progressing towards a B.S. Software Engineering degree.