Last night, I had a dream. One of those strange, surreal stories your brain creates while you’re asleep. This time, it involved celebrity drama and internet chaos.

In my dream, I wrote a blog post casually mentioning two very famous celebrities—let’s call them Star A and Star B. The context was harmless, something like comparing their approaches to fashion or noting a fun coincidence in their recent projects. Harmless, right? That’s what I thought too.

But dream-me underestimated the internet. Somehow, this innocent post went viral. Fans of Star A flooded the comments, passionately defending their idol. Fans of Star B retaliated. What started as a mild disagreement spiraled into a full-blown war in the comments section.

And then, things got weird.

In the dream, my website was hacked. Widgets were misplaced, fonts were garbled, entire sections of text were replaced with gibberish or taunting messages like, “Team Star A rules!” and “Star B forever!” It felt like my little corner of the internet had been taken hostage by warring fandoms.

I woke up in a cold sweat. For a brief moment, I thought it had actually happened. I even checked my blog’s analytics (thankfully, everything was intact). But the dream lingered with me, and it got me thinking about the real-life power of fandoms.

The passion fans have for their favorite celebrities can be awe-inspiring, but it can also be a double-edged sword. It’s not unheard of for minor spats to escalate into full-blown online battles, with unsuspecting bystanders caught in the crossfire. Thankfully, my actual audience is much more chill (at least for now—please stay that way).

If this dream taught me anything, it’s to tread carefully when writing about hot topics. Not that I’m about to start dissecting celebrity drama anytime soon, but if I do, I’ll make sure to stock up on fire extinguishers for my comments section—just in case.

In an era dominated by platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, running a personal website or independent blog may seem like an outdated or futile endeavor. However, after much thought, I decided to return to blogging on my independent site. Here’s why:

1. Full Control Over My Content​

On social media, algorithms dictate what gets seen. If you don’t play along, your work can easily get buried. This passive exposure model takes away much of the control creators have over their content.

With my personal website, I have complete control over my creative environment and content. For example, by paying only for a domain name (xieyonglin.com) and server hosting each year, I can design the site layout, develop features, and write freely about topics that interest me—without being constrained by platform algorithms.

2. Creating Long-Lasting Value​

Many people have shared meaningful work on social media, only to find those posts gone years later due to broken links or platform closures. Here's the status of some platforms I’ve used in the past:

• Google+: Shut down in 2019
• Vine: Discontinued in 2017
• MySpace: Lost significant data in a 2019 server migration
• Yahoo Answers: Permanently closed in 2021

An independent blog, on the other hand, offers a lasting space for accumulating content. Readers can revisit posts years later, and the articles retain their value, becoming a part of my personal brand.

3. Escaping the Performative Nature of Social Media​

Every time I scroll through social media, I can’t help but wonder, How does everyone live such amazing lives every single day? Gourmet meals, luxurious vacations, and perfect lifestyles fill the feeds. Is it just me, caught up in the grind of an ordinary life, feeling envious, reflective, and sometimes inadequate?

In truth, many of these images are staged or curated to project an idealized version of life. For instance, some creators on video platforms fabricate dramatic or heartwarming scenes for attention—such as faking animal rescues or inventing elaborate plots. While these posts might seem captivating, they often distort reality and fill our minds with “junk food” content, making it harder to find truly valuable information.

4. Attracting Readers Who Care About the Content​

Interactions on social media are often quick and superficial—likes, shares, and brief comments rarely lead to meaningful engagement.

Independent blogs, however, benefit from search engine indexing. When people search for specific topics or questions, my blog can appear in the results, attracting readers genuinely interested in the content I share. These visitors often leave thoughtful comments that spark deeper discussions.

To foster this type of engagement, I’ve added a comment system to my site, hoping to connect with readers based on shared interests rather than surface-level interactions.

5. Focusing on the Content Itself​

On social media, users are often influenced by metrics like likes and follower counts, which can overshadow the actual purpose of creating content. For me, blogging is about documenting my life and growth, not chasing validation. Writing on my blog allows me to focus on the quality of my content, keeping my creative intentions pure.

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The Journey of My Personal Website​

My journey with personal websites has been filled with ups and downs over the years. Reflecting on it brings a mix of nostalgia and motivation.

I first started building websites as a teenager, inspired by tech experts who had their own platforms. I experimented with a free .tk domain and tinkered with WordPress. Later, as life got busier with studies, updates became sporadic, and I eventually took the site offline.

This time, I hope to keep it running consistently. After all, isn’t life about recording and revisiting moments? Thinking about reading today’s words ten years from now brings a sense of anticipation.

Do you still blog? Share your stories in the comments—I’d love to hear them!