- most websites have navigational centers and landmarks, like menus and homepages, that direct traffic through its content, making "navigation simple and [[the internet has been suburbanized|ubiquitous]]" ([source](https://www.eastgate.com/garden/The_Limits_of_Structure.html)). ([[the internet has been suburbanized]]) - you might see a series of links in the header, links to other key pages within the body, and a feed of recently published or most read blog posts. - there could be dozens of other pages and articles on the site, but users are unlikely to come across it themselves. - this has a few implications and creates some restrictions: - **content is arbitrarily prioritized**. once something is no longer “most recent” or “most read”, it will be bumped from the homepage. - **users are discouraged from exploring other material**. constantly returning to landmarks like the homepage, post feed, or `categories`, gives users a premature sense of closure or completeness. worse, one page may or may not answer a reader’s question, and then they leave. - **there are fewer serendipitous discoveries**. rigid navigation limits your user experience. - this makes rich, large websites feel small. - on the other hand, complex navigation through links is more fluid and offer unexpected discoveries. - you’re able to create the *best* path through your material rather than the shortest. - [[the structure of digital gardens encourages curious exploration]] - [[{5.1a} idea sex|combinational creativity]] - [[{6.6} reader-generated essays as a use-case for AI]] - As [[Bernstein, Mark - 1998 - Hypertext Gardens|Bernstein]] explains: > - Links need not be treated as dangerous hazards; links are new opportunities for expression. >[!note] major overhaul [[2026-07-30]]