Reading this essay made me realize how normal frustration on the internet has become. I rarely question why websites feel overwhelming, full of ads, pop-ups, and distractions. I just accept it as part of being online.
One thing that stood out to me was how websites are often designed more to control users than to support them. Things like endless scrolling, notifications, and tracking are intentional choices. That idea made me uncomfortable. It made me think about how often I stay on apps longer than I planned or click on something without meaning to.
This also connects to what we are learning in class about making websites by hand. Building something simple and intentional feels like a small way of pushing back against that kind of design. When I create my own site, I can choose what matters and what does not. It makes me think about responsibility, even as a beginner.
Honestly, I actually liked this reading more than I thought I would. It felt very real and lowkey uncomfortable in a good way, because it made me aware of stuff I normally don’t think about when I’m texting or online. It didn’t feel abstract for the sake of being smart, it felt like it was pointing out things we all experience but never stop to question.
The part that really caught my eye was the ellipsis. The three dots feel small but they carry so much weight, because once they show up you’re stuck waiting and overthinking what the other person is about to say, or if they’re even going to say anything at all. It turns silence into something active, almost louder than an actual message. I found it interesting how the ellipsis isn’t even communication, but it still creates emotion, tension, and anticipation, which says a lot about how digital conversations control how we feel.
Reading this made me realize how we usually think of technology in a really narrow way. I always associate technology with things like phones, computers, or anything advanced, but this made me think about how even simple things are still technology. Like, we don’t question everyday objects, but they were still created and learned over time.
What stood out to me was the idea that technology is just how humans interact with the physical world. That made it feel less intimidating and more normal. It also made me think about how much we take for granted, because I wouldn’t even know how to make most of the “simple” things I use daily. Overall, it shifted how I think about technology. It’s not just something modern or complex, it’s basically everything humans have learned to do and create.
This reading made me think about websites in a completely different way. I usually see them as something you just make to show information, but this made it feel more personal and open. The idea that a website can be like a space, like a room or even a garden, made me realize it doesn’t have to be perfect or finished.
I also liked how it talked about websites as something that grows over time instead of something you complete once. It made me think of websites less as a final product and more like something that changes with you. It feels more creative and less stressful that way