Another blog I follow also got a typewriter recently for seemingly similar reasons (as far as I can tell). They didn't use alt text unfortunately but they took a photo of the page they wrote for a blog post: https://jamesg.blog/2025/10/19/growth
3 likes
If everyone removed their social location labels from their site (nationality, race, age, gender, disability, etc.) would you browse Neocities differently? Would your own website be different? Just trying to think through the usefulness and limits of labels.
4 likes
nohappynonsense
1 month ago
i was thinking lately i should update my about section, but when i just checked it i realized it is as bare bones as i'd like it to be while still existing and providing some navigation. i think labels are good for new visitors, to sort of orient themselves in a general direction of the author, but ultimately the writing/content of the site is where we truly learn about who's behind the html
barndoors
1 month ago
I'd judge way less while browsing. age range is the only stat I look for. no one does media queries here but you can't hate on a 14 yo's first chatgpt-less build
maxcrunch
1 month ago
self categorization is really important for me and I do self labeling as a way to get to know myself. sometimes you self label and then find out you're wrong. it's a harder question to answer for other people. for websites, I'm more into the style of expression than the actual person. although there are some people I followed only because they're only
1 like
ghostscape
1 month ago
I don't usually go looking for those tbh: it's useful to know gender if I'm going to refer to someone (even if just to myself) but I don't think I know the rest about most of you unless it comes up organically
ghostscape
1 month ago
but then I am very into small-web anonymity. I've had enough of labels and minutely detailed self-branding as the cost of entry to a lot of social media and online spaces
1 like
emilynhoward
1 month ago
Thanks for your responses @nohappynonsense @barndoors @maxcrunch @ghoatscape! I started typing my reply and realized that it was going to be way longer than a Neocities comment will allow, so I will try to put up a page on my site and link it here today or tomorrow. I appreciate all your perspectives.
9 likes
emilynhoward
1 month ago
I added some extracts from my journals. I don't know how you'll feel about it, but this is my favorite page that I've uploaded in a long time.
4 likes
2 likes
nohappynonsense
1 month ago
this is like a cheat code to skip out on my own notebook practice and just get all the good stuff from yours
1 like
heya, just want you to know that canada post is on strike ): i haven't forgotten!!!
2 likes
12 likes
3 likes
skep
2 months ago
You ought to have written it on a typewriter and posted pictures of the pages. And then typed it all out again on the computer for the alt text.
5 likes
emilynhoward
2 months ago
@Skep you act as if this idea had not crossed my mind. But I don't hate myself quiiiiite that much.
4 likes
sorbier
2 months ago
thanks for this essay, i know you said you don’t romanticise the typewriter yet it’s still so cozy to think about drafting at that pace. bouncing ball imagery makes me think of pianists, i’m sure an obvious comparison — they way they strike the keys so purposefully and precisely
2 likes
ghostscape
2 months ago
ooh I've been pondering getting a typewriter recently, a decent one has popped up for sale near me. this isn't helping dissaude me 👀
2 likes
emilynhoward
2 months ago
@sorbier I was thinking about including the piano as a comparison because I imagine the mechanics are very similar to a typewriter. But I've never played piano so I didn't know if the feel would be similar.
1 like
emilynhoward
2 months ago
@ghostscape I feel like I have been forthcoming as possible about how much of a pain in the butt typewriters are, so if this didn't dissuade you, nothing will.
2 likes
ghostscape
2 months ago
i am really curious about it as a physical experience (among other things). i used to play piano and i assume i'll be needing to rebuild those finger muscles
emilynhoward
2 months ago
You'll probably have a head start because you used to play piano, but yes, finger strength is definitely necessary!
2 likes
pixelglade
2 months ago
This was fascinating. I understand to some extent the forearm pain. Using braille input on a normal qwerty keyboard involves pushing multiple keys down at the same time in a sort of rhythm and I get pain after doing it for awhile. A Perkins brailler is much like a typewriter in design - I've never used one but it's a fascinating piece of machinery if you want to look up about it.
2 likes
2 likes
emilynhoward
1 month ago
@pixelglade Wow, that's so interesting. My workplace has a braille printer, but I had no idea that a typewriter for braille existed!
1 like
5 likes
1 like
maxcrunch
2 months ago
I've always wanted to take a dance class! but I have such poor brain body coordination, like I know what I'm supposed to do and I know when the rhythm happens but my body just is not doing what I want it to do 🥲 I feel like dance class might help but also be very embarrassing at first! still. would be fun.
1 like
maxcrunch
2 months ago
I also recommend On Being podcast if you can find episodes. it's not running anymore but the archives are incredibly beautiful. each episode goes over a topic and the host discusses with various folks their views on life and philosophy.
1 like
emilynhoward
2 months ago
I am the same re: brain/body coordination. I don't have a strong sense of left or right. I'm not ambidextrous, but I'm neither truly left nor right-handed. I would not do well with partner or performance dance, but here I am not worried about doing steps a correct way, but exploring movement with my body as a whole. There's also a lot of value in learning things that we are not naturally talented at.
1 like
emilynhoward
2 months ago
Yes, I love On Being. I haven't listened to it recently but have enjoyed many episodes.
1 like
skep
2 months ago
I briefly mentioned last time I wrote you that I started taking a dance class. Still doing it! I still have no sense of rhythm but everybody has been very welcoming. Like it's just an excuse to get moving and laugh at ourselves.
1 like
emilynhoward
2 months ago
@Skep Ooh yeah, I forgot to ask how the dance class was going. I'm glad it's working out. Laughing at oneself is key, I think.
Added another Steven Universe Future episode and also a short essay I started on a while ago and decided to get out of my drafts.
4 likes
7 likes
pixelglade
2 months ago
On "On being a stranger on the internet" - I learned about the study on in and out groups during my undergraduate year of psychology. It took me arguing with strangers on a forum for maybe 6 months for me to realize it though. The energy is best spent elsewhere. It's more rewarding to put energy into the IRL relationships that you can influence, even if in a small way.
2 likes
2 likes
I'm getting kinda hungry over here...
4 likes
5 likes
5 likes
4 likes
The first post with the typewriter: https://jamesg.blog/2025/10/19/beginnings-type-written
Ooh, thanks for this! You can kind of see the starry-eyed wonder that typewriters invoke. I have so far decided not to post images of my typewriting because it would require both high-res images and lots of alt text. But maybe I will one day with short bits of text.
It might be possible to simplify the process of converting full-length pages of typewriter text to alt text using OCR like tesseract or something else, but even in that case, smaller segments will probably be easier. Personally I'd like to see an example of the text your typewriter produces, out of curiosity for how the letterforms look
My experiments so far with OCR have not worked out well. You'd think it would be easy for a computer to render typewriting into text, but the program I was using actually couldn't parse several of the letters. I will consider uploading some examples of text, though. Thanks for the suggesion!