We are so back

There’s this popular meme. I won’t use AI to visualize it, so I’ll describe it instead. As time goes by, you sometimes realize that the things you cared about in the beginning turn out to be true again. Some people say life moves in a spiral.

1. stand-alone, fully custom blog
2. do not care just give me engagement
3. stand-alone, fully custom blog

I’ve had several phases in my life when I tried to blog. At one point, I even created a separate Tumblr just for a seven-day trip and I still love that blog. Going back and rereading it once every five years gives me chills. Maybe I’ll bring it over here someday, when I figure out a proper way to separate things.

Another time, I used a throwaway name on Blogspot or WordPress. Something that cost me nothing and required zero hassle. And it’s still there. Still working. Still openable after all these years. Still close to zero readers and visitors.

Twenty years ago, I loved writing so much that I did it almost every day. After a while, I decided that what I was producing didn’t look serious enough, and that I needed a more professional blog. Then I decided I wanted to write essays. Exquisitely bad pieces. I guess I just loved the act of typing on a keyboard. They were so bad that I came to an inevitable conclusion — not just to stop, but to shut the whole site down.

And then, ten years later, it became obvious that social media gave you a much bigger boost. It felt great riding that wave: you could easily discover new, interesting people, and they could find you just as easily.

That went on until I started my new full-time job. I had less and less time to write — partly because I was already writing about technology and open source for work, and partly because my energy for “extra” writing was slowly running out. I felt no need, and that was a mistake.

Compare these two images:

Now, in 2025, when most of my social network circles have dissolved and scattered across multiple platforms, I feel a bit of regret. I feel like I missed out having personal web-site empty all these years. So now I care much more about having a permanent place — something that can still be referenced in the future.

And technologically, all pieces have always been right here. It turns out RSS is great. Owning your content feels right.

The only thing left to solve is me having insufficient writing skill. And zero readers.

What makes blog good

I would consider a blog good, when posts get shared. And people subscribe to RSS. Even a few dozens subscribers more than enough.

And for that I need consistency.

Üben macht den Meister

This is what everyone hear constantly during German classes. Of course the devil is in the detail. You need Tight Feedback Loop, Deliberate Difficulty (Not Comfort) and Reflection + Correction. A similar take is here on Veritasium

Having said that, my goal for next year is to write as much as I can — but without using AI to shape the narrative or the structure.

And when it’s time to share, to step out of my comfort zone and share.