kblair asked: re: your description of how you learned CSS. That was pretty much exactly how I learned CSS -- except with Neopets and HTMLGoodies. I didn't start till grade 7 because end of grade 7 was when we got a computer (2000). Thought it was great that that path is a common way for people to learn MAKING STUFF ON THE INTARWEBZ.

i remember both those things! there was a year that i was obsessed with neopets. and i used lissaexplains constantly.

there were (and still are) tons of girls from ages like, 12-30 who love to make websites and design the crap out of them.

it’s amazing, i still remember the “cool” sites from when i was super young and all of the different genres (which totally influenced the look of the site). there were absurdly cute sites focused on tiny pixel art like the q*bee (a pixel-art trading website for making friends) and bubblesSOC. then there were the grungy band-themed ones with lots of neon colors, pixelated scribbling and contrasty photos.

it was really fun stuff. still gotta dig up my old layouts one of these days…