If you’ve read any of my reviews, you’ll notice that I will include lots and lots of links. I’ll add links to character names, places, or events to take the reader to additional information. Extra sites include MyAnimeList, Anime Planet, Wikia pages, Wikipedia, or other anime sites.
I even read hundreds of other anime sites looking for interesting content to share.
Why do I do that?
I do it because I think the web’s important. I think it’s important because it lets someone like li’l ole me generate content. But just me writing my butt off won’t achieve much; folks have to read what I write. In recent years, publicizing work has fallen to social networks like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Yet, all three of those venues exist for the benefit of corporations — not for us as content providers.
So, in the hopes karma will follow, I read others sites. I link to those other sites because I think that other material enhances the content I write for, and I want to celebrate others who write about the same topics. By participating in that culture, maybe I’ll attract readers to my site, if my material’s worthy!
But above all, I want to enrich our community through these links.
I think that’s important.
I didn’t realize how important until I read a post by Hossein Derakhshan. If you want to see why it’s vital we link to one another’s works, read his post on the subject.
So, I’ll continue linking to other sites. I’ll continue seeking out others who have something to say about anime and its culture. I’ll continue trying to add value to that larger conversation. It’s a small thing, but I hope it’ll make the world a bit better a place.