October 31, 1997

Hi everyone. It's taken me six months to work up to writing a new column. And, unfortunately, it's probably at a low point in the life of this website.

The Dark Knight was, I believe, the third website devoted to Batman. It has endured for over two and a half years - an eternity on the web. For these two and a half years, I have endeavored to provide you, the visitor, the best Batman site I possibly could provide. I don't make money from this site, so it is truly a labour of love. Here's what I've been trying to do:

My goal with this site was to provide a resource for old, and particularly new, Batman fans. To provide them with the most up-to-date info on who the people in the comics are, about the stories that take place, and about the comics these stories take place in. I have always emphasized content over style, and that fact remains today. I try to provide decent graphics to accompany the content. Well, admittedly, I'm hardly a graphic artist, I do try.

After I had developed a fair amount of content, I started working on the interactive areas of the site. Because, even better than learning about Batman is talking about Batman with other Batman fans. So I put up the message board, The Gotham News. And over time, it became immensely popular. So popular, in fact, that I put up a chat room, The Gotham Gossip. And, when that area's popularity rose, I wrote my own chat program.

I then started again on content and fun, developed the Design a Scene area. And I informed you of what comics were out, and coming out, through the Comic Release Guide. And, to help you decide which comics to read, I provided you with Comic Ratings. There's an Art Gallery, where Jonathan Westin and others have provided some excellent Batman artwork.

And through it all, I have always sought feedback from you, the visitor, about this site. What do you like? What don't you like? A Survey helped launch various stages of this site. So, I try hard to keep things up. Now, I've had a lot of changes in my life recently, with a new job, a new home, and now, a soon-to-arrive baby. So, I admit, I haven't had the opportunity to work on the site a lot.

There have been highs and lows with this site. I enjoy getting recognition through various Awards, magazine reviews, and site reviews. I even was interviewed on TV regarding this site. And now this site is getting a million hits a month. Those are the highs. And then there are the lows - dealing with people like Roach and T15. My blowup with Kevin Bell, and then our reconciliation. And now Joshua Grayson. Joshua and I have been involved in a lengthy, and verbose, discussion regarding this site, and the disgust Joshua holds for me, several visitors, and the site.

Joshua thinks I should shut down parts of the site, like The Gotham News and the 'Goss, to teach people a lesson. Because some people get offended by what others say or do.

So here I am, at a crossroads. I wanted to spend a lot of time over the next couple of months to seriously revamp this site. To develop a whole new interface, and a whole new mood. To really work hard at producing a world-class website, something that people could enjoy, and that I could be proud of. But instead, I'm now despondent, reading messages on other sites that are attacks on my site, and on me, personally. I get constant complaints about certain people on the Goss, and those same complaintants are the target of other complaints. I get some people who write me and criticize me and my website. And none of this boosts my spirits.

My raison d'etre with this site was to have fun, and give something back to the Internet community. But I sit here today and wonder if I should just shut down this site for good. Just wipe the whole thing from this webserver, and say good riddance. I don't make money from it, so it certainly can't hurt me financially. The complaints appear to be starting to outweigh the compliments or thanks, so removing the site can't hurt me emtionally or time-wise.

So, I'm putting this to you. What should I do? Should I wipe out this site, so that tomorrow it will appear as if it never existed? Should I just ignore the emotional drain that the complaints is causing? Should I wipe out every handle and allow only a select few into the 'Goss? You tell me. Go to The Gotham News, and post your thoughts. And please, at least prove something by not arguing in follow-ups to other's messages on this subject. For once, let's clear the air, and hear about what everyone things. So, go ahead, and post your thoughts as follow-ups to my notice of this new column.

Well, those are my deep, dark, rambling thoughts for today. And believe me, these are some pretty heartfelt ones.

Patrick

Footnote: One week after posting these thoughts, I made the decision to march on with the site. My gratitude goes to those people who took the time to email me or who left a message for me on the Gotham News.

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