How many of us have our own website or do we simply rely on our works at various URLs as our online presence?
In my opinion websites display the true intent of the web, decentralized spaces for people to express ingenuity and share ideas. I dislike the centralization of the modern web (I say that with a LinkedIn, Github and Twitter account) and the effort to streamline and reduce the variety of presentation of information.
I guess that is why I keep a site around, it lets me hold onto the web I remember growing up in, and that one day I hope it will morph back into.
And I had the domain for an email address and may as well have put something there.
+1 for putting it out. I find it against the motive and principles of an open web, to consider Internet synonymous with Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn or any service. Yes, they do help us to put content online easily but with a cost. It looks like you could do whatever you want with your content, but it's a false sense of control.
Web is much better the decentralized way.
Some years ago, I started blogging and made it a responsibility to blog at least once in a month. I had a diary about my life on the Internet until two weeks ago, when I blocked people from viewing my WordPress blog,which was hosted on my server.
I recently realized that I was sharing all about myself for the powers-that-be to analyze. You call it my metadata or dumbness. While I wouldn't castigate anyone for blogging, in this day and age, one has to be meticulous and diplomatic about what they share. I hope to revamp the blog to some sort of information site, where I could be recognized as a consultant in my field.
It was only then that I decided to create my own website and write what I wanted to there. I am still sad 1up got shut down but I probably wouldn't have created my website if it didn't.
[1] Don't know if any one here read 1up? I was a big fan of their "retronauts" and "The grind" podcasts. I loved the analysis of games by Kat bailey and Jermy parish. Jermy has his own blog where he still writes and Kat posts on US gamer. 1up is still online though in read only mode. It seems like they have also disabled the user accounts.
It shows you are well rounded, are invested in yourself, and have nothing to hide.