Interview: Jenn of Jenn.nu
August 30, 2007 | Filed under Online
Interviewing: Jenn of Jenn.nu
Explanation: the purpose of these interviews was to get to know certain webmasters in my little ‘blog circle’ a little better – to see what inspired them to create the designs and sites that they did. They would be given ten questions via email – five of these were standard questions that were asked of all the interviewees, while the other five were tailored to fit them as an individual.
Interviewer’s Note: I’m aware that Jenn stirs up vastly different reactions in people – whether it be positive or negative. I view this as a chance for her to have her say on neutral territory with an unbiased interviewer, without people automatically jumping down her throat.
How old were you when you first discovered the joy of web design? How did you discover it?
It was the year 1998. I had just turned fourteen, and my mother bought a computer and paid for internet access. I immediately took a liking to bolt.com and kiwibox.com, and had active accounts and journals at both sites. Not long after I stumbled across Serra of fuh-q.com. I was amused by her domain name, and intrigued by her design, specifically the black background and green computer/grid images. I was inspired, and setup free hosting with tripod.com and geocities.com. Before long I had moved on to envy.nu and virtue.nu, was then hosted at orange-jello.com, and purchased my first domain name in the fall of 2001. All along i learned as much about HTML as I could. I must admit, funky-chickens.com was a source I used often! Thankfully, I progressed well beyond iframes, mouseovers and crosshair cursors.
Do your friends and family know of your activities online? Why/why not? If so, do they approve? What do they think of it?
My mother knows that I have a blog, and occassionally reads it. My younger brothers know as well, but aren’t interested because I don’t talk about cartoons and video games. My dad barely grasps the concept of a “website”, and has no idea what a blog is. My friends, both online and offline, know. I told most of my offline friends. Others “found” me via my blog, after several years of little to no communication (mainly due to moving around), and were happy to be able to connect with me through that particular medium.
Who would you name as your biggest influence?
In regards to blogging, Becca of dasbecca.com is one influence. Her ability to captivate readers with blog entries that are about everyday stuff – parenting, household stuff, finances, relationships, etc. – is incredible. I really admire that. Also, several online accquaintances and friends of mine that I have known and kept in touch with via blogs for the past six years are also influences. It’s wonderful to know that we have built such great connections and friendships simply from blogging about our individual lives. Oddly enough, that is an influence for me.
In regards to web design, I really do not have any one particular influence. I am inspired by many different types of sites and layouts, and sometimes browse through CSS galleries to gather ideas and inspiration that I can then channel into my own designs.
How would you describe your style of layout design?
I keep the focus on my layout designs on my blog, as my blog is what makes my site. I try to stick to clean, crisp layouts, with legible fonts (I have finally moved away from defining sizes by pixels!). I have learned and appreciate the fact that many small and varied details can create a beautiful design, without the use of a huge and blaring header image. I love cool and feminine colors and layouts. Grays and pinks are my favorite color combinations.
Where, in web terms, do you envision yourself in ten years time?
Probably where I am at now. I don’t see any reason why I would stop blogging, designing, or using the internet as a means to find new information and keep in touch with family and friends. Granted, I may be at a different domain, with a different content management system, and perhaps using aliases or nicknames for my children (I’ve already had thoughts of my daughter’s friends googling her name!), but I will still be around and doing what I am doing now.
It seems as though everytime I see someone mention you, it’s accompanied with a “OMG LULZ” attitude. Do you think there was any one event or occurence that started this reaction against you in a certain part of the web community?
Actually, I can pinpoint one event in particular. About two years ago, a domain owner spewed a frivilous rant about sueing another teenaged domain owner over for supposed copyright infringement in regards to a domain name. I, along with many others, thought it was ridiculous, and the domain owner was simply bullying the younger domain owner. I made a thread on Lavish (then known as Seduced) about the situation. The bullying domain owner found it, and went apeshit on me. A few friends of the domain owner took that side, and also went apeshit on me. A boyfriend of one of those friends, who is very drama hungry, and to this day still is, also sniffed out what was going on, and spent the next few months and blog entries targeting me. Others, such as the crowd you are referring to, picked up on the trails of all of the above, latched on, and haven’t let go, despite having no personal problems with me themselves.
I’ve asked this question once before, but why do you think that the same people who mock you for your sex posts, can turn around and applaud me for mine? People have suggested that it’s a matter of phrasing and terminology, but do you think it goes beyond that?
I don’t feel it has anything to do with phrasing and terminology, and everything to do with the fact that I am already a person they have decided to mock and ridicule. Therefore, regardless of the fact that the things I blog about, have said and have done are things other people have blogged about, said and have done, I am still a target, simply because it is Jenn blogging, saying or doing.
Do you worry about posting photos of your children online as they could possibly be used by people in inappropriate ways?
As a parent, I worry about and am sickened at the thought of a pedophile spotting my daughter at the swimming pool or in the shopping cart at the grocery store and then going home to get his rocks off. But I realize there is nothing I can do about that, aside from dressing my daughter appropriately and keeping her with me at all times. When it comes to posting photos of my children online, I realize that I am doing it willingly, and it is something that I do not have to do, unlike grocery shopping. However, I enjoy sharing photos of my children, and seeing photos of the children of my friends and accquaintances, and even strangers that I do not know but hope to get to know. That said, I limit photos to ones of my children being dressed, or at least having their private areas and chests covered. While I will share photos of my children and occassionally videos, I would never post anything that could be deemed inappropriate or used inappropriately, unless the person or persons were really “reaching” to.
You’ve been around the blogging scene a long time (late 90s judging by your about page), so what do you think are the main differences between the scene then, and the scene now? How have the bloggers, blogging styles, and blogs changed?
I preferred the scene “then”. Back “then” – even five years ago – people were not so judgemental. People were not so quick to start drama and continue fueling it. Instead of looking for things to dislike and automatically making up their mind about somebody, people took the time to get to know people and to like them. But now? Not so much. I’m not even referring to myself with this. I have seen it time and again with others. People are too quick and too eager to cricitize and tear one another down. I just don’t see why. Now, I’m not suggesting we all hold e-hands and sing kum-ba-yah together over Skype or YouTube, but I think the constant critiquing and nitpicking needs to stop. Stop looking for the negative and the bad, stop looking for people and things to attack and criticize.
In regards to the blogging styles and blogs: in a lot of ways, I think they have changed for the better. More and more people of all ages, lifestyles, economic means and locations are blogging. It is refreshing to see so much diversity and differences, even amongst my small list of bookmarks!
Finally, view this last question as an open invitation to say something to everyone who’s ever mocked you. Feel free to say anything you like to them here – this isn’t your site, or their site, or a forum particularly associated with either party, this is neutral territory!
My only suggestion is what I basically said in the sixth, seventh and ninth answers: put aside your need to criticize and mock. For once, get to know a person – whether it be me, a sixteen year old girl with poor web design skills or a single mom in her 30′s who makes piss poor choices, as we all do at one time or another – before casting stones. Rather than go by what you see or glimpse here and there, take the time to know the person yourself before passing judgment. And, don’t be so eager to be critical, cruel and nasty. I fully believe that what goes around comes around. You reap what you sow.
13 Responses to Interview: Jenn of Jenn.nu
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I reserve the right to edit or delete your comment as I see fit, though I only delete comments from anonymous commenters, or people with multiple aliases. Using a genuine name/email combination will ensure that your comment is approved.
You certainly posted that quick. Thank you!
Jenn on August 30, 2007 #
Interesting idea! I hope to read more of these.
I do have one comment about the interview -
“Rather than go by what you see or glimpse here and there, take the time to know the person yourself before passing judgment.”
It’s almost impossible for me to get to know everyone in the e-world. Therefore, I judge by what I read – what those people write. Unfortunately, many people lack tact when it comes to presenting themselves online, and that is why, in my opinion, they become easy targets.
Sarai on August 30, 2007 #
Ack, looks like the link to Becca’s site isn’t closed correctly. Half the interview is bold and pink in IE.
Reply: Oops, thanks for letting me know Jack!
Jack on August 30, 2007 #
Now that I can read it properly, I’ve got to say that Jenn presents herself very well in this interview, but I do agree with Sarai’s comment — I don’t judge people based on rumors about them, but I will judge them based on what I read on their site; there’s very little else for me to go by online, and I don’t have the time and inclination to email every person I see online.
Jack on August 30, 2007 #
Oooh very interesting! I like how some of your questions address some of the “criticisms” that non-fans of Jenn had complained about. Great move on your part Amanda! You’ve given a somewhat unpopular person an unbias platform to say what they want to say. Good going! *thumbs up*
Belinda on August 30, 2007 #
Wow. That was a smart move. A good unbiased interview. Sometimes I feel like I’m so far away from all the “lovely” e-drama and sitting in my little corner. I never heard of that event she mentioned of. But she certainly answered well on her part.
Rilla on August 30, 2007 #
I agree with Jack… Jenn presents herself very well here. Good idea Manda, having this interview. :)
Jordie on August 30, 2007 #
I admire Jenn. She’s one of my favorite bloggers out there. =)
Brandy on August 30, 2007 #
I applaud both Amanda and Jenn.
Kimmie on August 30, 2007 #
Interesting read, not least because I dislike Jenn (and it’s fuck all to do with her sex posts.)
I do wonder, though, why she feels it was her thread about Krissy (the author of the ‘frivilous rant’) that turned people against her? Surely if that was the case, I’d have received similar backlash because I too publicised her bullying, outright lies and thievery. IMO it’s more likely to be a combination of hypocrisy and backstabbing that got Jenn into the diddly of a pickle that she’s spent the last few years in.
I’d love to see more of these though Amanda..
Jem on August 31, 2007 #
Great interview. I think interviewing “e-famous” people will make a lot of interesting reads. Thanks to Jenn for sharing as well.
Nan on August 31, 2007 #
Great interview! :D
Malin on August 31, 2007 #
Aww, thanks for the mention in this article. I wondered how Jenn had been doing. Good to see that she is still going at it. Hard to have longevity in the blogging world!
Serra on September 1, 2007 #