I’ve been writing online in some form or another since 2001. Around 2004, blogging really took off and there was a period in time where the system was more important than what was written. Over the years I’ve meandered from one system to another. What I’ve now realised is that the system has a major influence on the type of things that I end up posting. Micro.blog is a truly excellent system for posts that run around the 200-400 word range. It’s great for posting single images. It’s likely pretty good for podcasts and a single video as well (I don’t have any experience for these types of posts yet). Where it fails is anything beyond the confines of those walls ¹. The reason? Friction.

If you wanted to write something a little longer, the system lets you. It even allows you to add a title if you want (you may not want, Micro.blog doesn’t judge). You want to add an image to that post? Go ahead but you have no say in where that image gets added (until after you publish). Friction. You want to add multiple images? Sure, but go to the upload section and then copy paste the link and add your image tags around it all. Friction. You want to edit something? Sure, but it takes a while to load Posts > Edit. Friction.

I’m not saying this is wrong, I’m just saying it’s a thing to bear in mind. What all these little friction points do is allow the software to set a tone. You want to do anything more taxing? You’re going to need to work a little bit harder. Which more than likely means that you won’t. The system plays a part, consciously or subconsciously.