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Links and Me

A more detailed explanation of just why I chose to include links right alongside content on my homepage.

July 20, 2005 | RSS | EMAIL | PRINT | 3 COMMENTS

When I added links to the homepage content section I promised to give a little bit more reasoning behind the decision, especially as it relates to this Kottke.org entry about the fundamental unit of the web. Well, after receiving an email from a source who will remain unnamed (though he'd probably prefer I plug his play Shore Points), I feel as though I must defend my decision. Basically the email told me that I need to get rid of the links in the body section because there's no reason someone should have to scroll down to find one of my entries, especially with the site being named NoahBrier.com and all. Well, let me attempt to defend my decision (I apologize to all the RSS readers out there, but hopefully you'll find this interesting anyway).

I decided to add the links as content because I believe that's just what they are: Content. What I tend to do here is annotate/comment on other media. I read things and link to them with my own thoughts and opinions. While that's not the entirety of the site, it is probably the majority. So with that in mind, why should the links themselves not be given equal real estate?

Yeah, they're not my own work, but they (in theory) should be equally interesting to a reader since they are, essentially, where the majority of the commentary on this page come from. I am acting as a filter for you all (my readers), or at least that's how I see myself. Links are part of my filtering process. Before almost anything is written here, the link is bookmarked. By adding a comment and tags to a link I am annotating it. I am pulling out what I think is important or writing it myself. How is this any different than writing a full entry?

Yes they're not my words entirely, but why should I fear the work of others? I have no reason to be afraid that people will leave NoahBrier.com because that is my ultimate goal. If you come here and spot some great article to go read on another site then I have succeeded. It's safe to assume that if you enjoy my links, you will return and enjoy my writing. By making those links as accessible as possible I am broadening my audience and expressing my belief that this should be both a place for interesting content to live as well as a place to find interesting content elsewhere.

Other mediums fight for your eyes and ears because they have advertising that relies on those sense to support them, I, on the other hand, only want your trust. I want you to believe that I am a good person to help filter and decide what's worth reading and what's not. If I earn that trust, I believe you will actively dig to find my own writing, wherever on the homepage it may appear.

Is this wrong? (It could very well make no sense since I just took a bunch of Nyquill that is starting to kick in.)

Update (7/21/05): I've added a link to the latest entry at the very top of the main content column. Thoughts?

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1shorepoints

First I'd like to mention this wonderful play I've heard is coming to NYC called SHORE POINTS (www.shorepoints.org).

Second, I just think you need to find a way to format so that links to other ideas are not given the same weight as your own. Most of the time I don't have time to click on the links you have posted. I come to the website (because something is wrong with me) to see what you're thinking about that day. Sometimes, I've even interested.

Yesterday you had four or five links and then a post. Does this mean I have to check all those links before reading your post? Can't you simply include the links in your post when the points of that particular link become relevant?

I think this is YOUR website and YOUR ideas should be front and center.

July 21, 2005

2adam

Yesterday you had four or five links and then a post. Does this mean I have to check all those links before reading your post? Can't you simply include the links in your post when the points of that particular link become relevant?

You can just scroll past it.

Second, I just think you need to find a way to format so that links to other ideas are not given the same weight as your own.

I think it's relatively obvious that, though these ideas aren't his own, it's his collection, they are the items that the author of this page chose to include in his site, it's a collage of what he finds interesting. No, the content on the other end of the links aren't his, but the collection is.

I think this is YOUR website and YOUR ideas should be front and center.

And that is why he needs to make decisions about the layout of his site. I don't know, I used to use the format that Noah is using now for displaying del.icio.us links, and I like it (especially when you're not feeling like actually posting anything and a few links give you instant content ;), and the only reason I switched off of that was to haev the links display after a short delay instead of once per night.

July 21, 2005

3Noah Brier

Thanks for the comments. Just as a note, Adam, I'm posting comments on a short delay, not just once per night.

July 21, 2005