A website to destroy all websites • Hacker News Board

Re: A website to destroy all websites

#301

Post by vulk » Fri, Jan 02, 2026, 10:31 AM UTC

Aurornis wrote: post #25

I think the comments here are a great example of why this idea always sounds better in nostalgic reminiscence than in practice: As I write this, nearly half of the comments here are complaining about this website. There are complaints about requiring JavaScript, the font size, the design, the color choices, the animations. Complaints about everything the designer did to make this site unique and personal, which was t…

I think you are stepping in the same trap as the author. In search of uniqueness you end up doing the same thing over and over.

The author starts with "we’re doom-scrolling brain-rot on the attention-farm, we’re getting slop from the feed." and continue with a web page that dooms scrolls emphasizing on big titles with pictures out of context, hard to read layout etc. There is a lot of valid criticism in the comments.

Of course uniqueness and beauty is probably subjective thing but I think about this often about the web. For example if you spend some time in websites like awwwards, dribbble, framer gallery you are going to end up with same design over and over.

I am not sure when exactly but probably in the early 00's graphic prints started to get into web, and sure it does seems cool, and different but I don't think the web should be a graphic print.

I am really struggling to find unique web pages, websites these days they are all the same, and in search of their "uniqueness" they often fail big with the user experience.

One website that is unique in my opinion very well taught is - https://usgraphics.com/ everything about it makes sense, the pages, the labels, colours, buttons at every step on the website you know why are you there you know purpose of everything it is hard to get lost, and not understand the purpose of the page. It looks very simple but the design is sophisticated.

Re: A website to destroy all websites

#302

Post by scrollop » Fri, Jan 02, 2026, 11:04 AM UTC

lazzlazzlazz wrote: post #34

Aurornis wrote: post #25

I think the comments here are a great example of why this idea always sounds better in nostalgic reminiscence than in practice: As I write this, nearly half of the comments here are complaining about this website. There are complaints about requiring JavaScript, the font size, the design, the color choices, the animations. Complaints about everything the designer did to make this site unique and personal, which was t…

[flagged]

There's a social media platform that seems right up your alley. It's something to do with "Truth"...

Re: A website to destroy all websites

#303

Post by defanor » Fri, Jan 02, 2026, 11:10 AM UTC

Aurornis wrote: post #25

I think the comments here are a great example of why this idea always sounds better in nostalgic reminiscence than in practice: As I write this, nearly half of the comments here are complaining about this website. There are complaints about requiring JavaScript, the font size, the design, the color choices, the animations. Complaints about everything the designer did to make this site unique and personal, which was t…

I thought the point is to pass along the message, though the one that is brought up quite regularly: sharing the joy of making websites, and such making as a way for anyone to contribute a little to the overall construction/improvement of the Web. Besides, it does seem to work without JS, though the layout is quite broken: header texts overflow (whatever is the window width), the text column is 45 characters wide instead of occupying the window width, all of which demonstrates the possible downsides of such diverse websites. That is not to say that they outweigh the benefits, but such downsides are not necessary to include, either.

Re: A website to destroy all websites

#304

Post by xigoi » Fri, Jan 02, 2026, 11:14 AM UTC

ryandrake wrote: post #208

lightandlight wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm with you. Surprised by the negative reactions here. A possible piece of the puzzle: I originally read the article on mobile, no issues. Then I opened it on my desktop, and found the design quite jarring. The margins are much too large for my taste, forcing the text into a single narrow column, and the header animations were distracting and disorienting (fortunately the page works perfectly with JavaScript disable…

I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really hate the design trend of confining tiny text into a tiny narrow column down the middle of my browser. It's an awful stylistic decision, and this is the petty hill I'm willing to die on. It's so bad that I really can't take a site seriously that does it. Now, someone's going to come out of the woodwork to remind me, "Well, ackshually, res…

Do you also like watching tennis matches from up close? It’s a similar head motion…

Re: A website to destroy all websites

#305

Post by coldblues » Fri, Jan 02, 2026, 11:31 AM UTC

The website to destroy all websites is https://gwern.net

For however much I can respect individuals for showing their creativity, the novelty of it wears off. The majority of people in the Indie Web scene all blend together. The presentation might be different, but the essence is mostly the same. Not everyone needs to express themselves and voice their opinions. "Lurk five more years before posting" as people used to say.

The article is also laden with a certain kind of politics. You can infer the philosophical premises that led to some of these conclusions.

Re: A website to destroy all websites

#306

Post by kilroy123 » Fri, Jan 02, 2026, 11:36 AM UTC

yakattak wrote: post #36

These are some ways I’ve been using the web in a way that keeps me free. - Run my own site (not much there yet) - Use RSS Feeds instead of Reddit - If a YouTube creator you like has a newsletter, SIGN UP! - If a short form content creator makes long form content, watch that instead - Post on forums, instead of their subreddit/Discord (lots of Linux distros have all three) - Invest in my cozy web communities[1] Speaki…

Yup, I think human curration is the way forward. Email newsletters, RSS, etc. It's "old school" but it's the sanest way.

I'm doing my part on the human curration side. My shameful plug: https://randomdailyurls.com

A human curated newsletter and site if you just prefer that. Lots of people use email --> RSS. I don't block it or stop it.

Re: A website to destroy all websites

#307

Post by kristianc » Fri, Jan 02, 2026, 11:50 AM UTC

debesyla wrote: post #300

rchaud wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a line from a 2009 episode of The Office that sums it up: Jim: "Pam texted back saying we could give them all iPods". Phyllis: Oh, if they don't have an iPod by now they really don't want one." Website creation has reached its equilibrium rate of growth. Those who want a website will make one, and the rest won't. Personal websites are one of many media for public self-expression today; in 2004, the options we…

I see it similar to writing books. Everyone can write it (dictating to someone else is also writing), it can be good for person (putting ideas in understandable way, sharing inner ideas). Buuuut not everyone wants to do it. I guess fetishising books and personal blogs has a limit.

“Everybody does have a book in them, but in most cases that's where it should stay.” - Christopher Hitchens

Re: A website to destroy all websites

#308

Post by meindnoch » Fri, Jan 02, 2026, 11:54 AM UTC

ghusto wrote: post #32

At the risk of sounding trite; things that haven't hit the mainstream yet are good, until they hit the mainstream. Once there's money to be made (and the giants have finally started to slowly move in your direction) it's done for. Move on, and find the next thing before it hits mainstream.

Re: A website to destroy all websites

#309

Post by cataphract » Fri, Jan 02, 2026, 12:02 PM UTC

pavlus wrote: post #148

Aurornis wrote: post #25

I think the comments here are a great example of why this idea always sounds better in nostalgic reminiscence than in practice: As I write this, nearly half of the comments here are complaining about this website. There are complaints about requiring JavaScript, the font size, the design, the color choices, the animations. Complaints about everything the designer did to make this site unique and personal, which was t…

I've read your comment before visiting the site, and it got me wondering -- how bad can it be? Can it be worse than those acid green on red sites of the 90s-00s? Imagine my surprise, when I opened the site and it looked and felt just like a museum or art exhibit. This was the literal feeling I had -- being at an art gallery, but online. I guess, these comments tell more about the commenters, than TFA. We should remin…

I think we can agree it's uncomfortable to read though: the font is too small, for instance. I had to use Firefox's reader mode.

Re: A website to destroy all websites

#310

Post by throwie9371123 » Fri, Jan 02, 2026, 12:03 PM UTC

nofunsir wrote: post #222

mattsears wrote: post #23

This is one of the most difficult articles my eyes could read. The font is so small and my eyes jumped all over the place. The web I want: One that's easy to read.

Let me guess, you want a site that is just a singular column of text, plenty of space for ad breaks, and 3/4 of your monitor is just whitespace on the left and right?

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