05. FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
So uhhhh these aren't necessarily questions I've been asked before... but it's a nice place to clarify things that don't have a place elsewhere!!
Logistics
Q. What's up with all numbers in front of page titles?
A. The numbering makes it easier to keep track of the hierarchical categorization on the Index. I use a modified version of the Johnny.Decimal organizational system and also take inspiration from Zettelkasten metadata-based notetaking so that everything is interconnected.
Q. What's up with the network maps at the bottom of each page?
A. Meh, not much at the moment, but they will become more useful as additional pages are built out. They show links to other pages, which could highlight unexpected connections that aren't represented by the existing hierarchy. Visualizations are always nice. See Jacky's post on Networked Thought for more epic inspiration!
Q. How does this website run?
A. The Index is built in Obsidian to assure that I retain the source files (and that they're in non-proprietary markdown format should I ever need to change). It is published online through Ole Eskild Steensen's Digital Garden community plug-in. Both of these are free, by the way, so you should create your own!
Side note: I also use both of these for my separate project, the Game Genealogy. Meanwhile, my personal website is published through Neocities, was coded with assistance from PetraPixel's layout generator, and borrows assets from GifCities, Betty's Graphics, and other independent creators associated with the Web Revival.
Q. So information here can just change at any time?
A. Yup! That's the idea. There are obviously drawbacks to this, but I don't want to give the illusion this Index is the final word no anything. It's a snapshot collecting ideas still in development that should change when new information comes in. Maybe in the future, I'll figure out a way to archive previous page versions.
Design
Q. Aren't we over the whole "grand theory" thing?
A. Yes, super abstract and needlessly complex theories that try to explain everything usually have a number of problems... depoliticizing the status quo, omitting the concrete experiences of marginalized groups, and generally just trying too hard to make sense of a wacky little world. At the same time, siloed info can easily disappear in a sea of content. So! The compromise is basically that we reconcile interpretations of the main concepts (Power, Myth, Dominant Realm, etc.) in order to build a framework with baseline definitions. Those definitions are left incomplete though, and they're perpetually open to more detail as new insights are added. Rather than suggesting this framework is the singular way the world works, the goal is ultimately to be a launching pad of sorts. To give exposure to ideas that question systems we take for granted, to rethink existing assumptions and the role of power, and to have a way to connect ideas that may or may not work for you!