To go so far, and then lose it all. That has to suck.
Even though it is what all webmasters must do at one point.
Many people ponder over how they will go, when they will
go, and even if they will go. There are the ones that also
wish they could go. In the huge picture, every webmaster
of a site will one day either lose interest in his or her
site, or they will simply run out of time for it. No matter
what you do, you will lose your website. Even if it is
handed over to another generation of people, you yourself
have lost it.
When a Webmaster leaves, the viewer is saddened. The site
is either completely gone, or it is passed on and eventually
dies out. Some people think that it is better to just give
a warning, and then completely delete your site from the
face of the World Wide Web. Others feel it is important
to keep the site up, but just not update it. Then some argue
that if you do this, the name of your site will eventually
be carried around in the mud, and then left completely alone.
It will also bring a disgrace to the community. The ultimate
choice of leaving is to delete all and leave a single goodbye
letter.
The letter is very important. It has to summarize all of
the months/years/days that your site has been in service.
Sometimes it can be very difficult, and others are fine
with just saying “it has been a great ride” and
leaving it at that.
The fact is, the reason it is so hard for some webmaster
to let go, is because this piece of work sitting in front
of their eyes has been their life’s work for the past
couple of months or even years. Then it comes to their mind
that they have been working so hard for something that is
a bunch of coding on a notepad. It doesn’t help the
world, it doesn’t financially help you, and there are
many like it. You may express some individual qualities
on the site, but overall, there is nothing new about it.
Thoughts go through the heads of Webmasters and then the
most critical question of all comes, and the answer of the
question results in the shutting down or keeping open of
the site. “Am I wasting my time? Am I wasting my life?”
Yes, many people scream out “stay open” and “I
need you”. Many people say that if the Webmaster leaves,
he or she will leave the web also. This makes many webmasters
feel bad, and they end up staying on, and doing something
that they dislike much just so that the people that visit
his or her site will be pleased. It is almost like there
is no way to get out. This is the problem for some Webmasters.
And the solution is very simple. Sign off the Internet,
and don’t get back on for a long time. Like three or
four weeks. During this time, think, and try to live a life
without the Internet and your website. Chances are, you
will enjoy it much more. Then, if you feel like it, come
back online and post on your site a letter, explaining yourself,
then leave for good.
Eventually every Webmaster must leave his or her site.
It is like death, unavoidable. The best thing that can happen
is that you enjoy the time you spend on your site, and that
you will be rewarded properly for your work.
You have tried so hard, and lost it all, and in the end,
it doesn’t even matter. This phrase relates to this
subject very well. You work hard, then you must leave all
the work, but if it is the right time, then you will see
why it must happen. You will see that all is better, and
that your new life is about to start.
-Jon
