Why expose yourself online? What's in it for you? Fame, fortune... heartache perhaps?

Last week I let out a war cry about homepages -- how to do them up right and dazzle a few people. Since then, though, I've been doing more thinking. Unless you make a habit of parading naked in front of strangers in RL (real life), why would you want to do it online?

Know what I mean, jellybeans? It's a dilemma for me because I like to think of myself as a cheerleader for the 'Net-shy. I want to encourage fence-sitters. The more personal and personable we can be online, the better as far as I am concerned. However, there are downsides to this homepage business.

For example, recently a friend of mine has been bombarded by nasty e-mail from a few of her site's visitors. Now, her site is a dream -- amazing, wonder - filled, exquisitly crafted. She inspires me regularly. The hecklers, however, take issue with her style and tone. They assault her with "advice," inappropriate questions, and they make invasive assumptions about her life beyond the page. The text of the messages themselves drip with vinegar -- as if the hecklers were writing with saurkraut - stuffed faces. She's getting wigged out.

I know how she feels. Invasive, intimidating e-mail from strangers does a number on my creativity. I won't glorify my experiences by saying that I have been "stalked" online, but I definitely have felt followed and harrassed. Sometimes the mail is so mean and unconstructive that I want to pull the plug on my site.

But I don't.

And I don't want my friend to give up either. To me, the 'Net is a much better place because of people like her -- people brave enough to write creatively and generously about the world and their lives.

I think the hecklers are threatened by her courage.

So... homepage builders: be brave, smart, and as candid as you dare -- just make sure to befriend your delete key.