From the Mailbag
Paraphrased and presented for your enjoyment:Dear Julia/Ma'am/Sir/Webmaster/Ms. Hayden,
Congratulations. Your site has been chosen as the X of the X. This is a [insert adjective here] award of ...
...
Please access http://x.y/log.html to retrieve a logo with our site banner on it.
Please be advised that we will not link to your site without placement of our banner, so download it today!
-- assorted awarders of the 'net.
Julia Responds...Ah the website award.
Every once in a while, someone nominates some part of the site for something, or bestows an award on the site, or says some lovely things about the site.
I'm not creating the website to garner awards, and while it's a nice (if momentary) ego whoosh, it doesn't make the site any better to have been certified by the Point, or someone else.
The very act of maintaining links to all of the awarding entities - complete with icons - makes me feel very uncomfortable. It's not much fun, and it takes away from my already limited personal web time. In addition, I don't much like myself when I'm bragging.
Being linked to by big awards sites is an interesting thing, and certainly helps the more useful portions of the website get out to the people who need them, but my favorite hits are from individuals who have somehow stumbled accross the site after a series of links through the shadows of the 'net. It's the difference between a huge public introduction at some event and meeting people one by three by one. I don't object to a lot of hits or big public introductions, but I genuinely enjoy being hidden in the 'net.
Don't misconstrue this response as a denigration of awards or a rejection of their utility or fun quotient, or in their effects to inspire and challenge people. Awards are good things, and often serve to highlight something or someone who has truly done something wonderful and innovative. This is also not intended as a slam on people who display their award placards or proudly announce their recognition; this sharing of their joy is a really endearing (and sometimes entertaining) thing.
It is simply my choice not to hang up my various medals, awards, and other mentions of note. I would prefer to move forward, concentrating my time on other things.