There is something beautiful about about:blank. Go ahead. Type it into your browser window. http://about:blank. What do you see there?
That’s right. Absolutely nothing. It’s a blank page. It’s a white canvas. There is nothing there at all. There are no promises there. There is nothing to live up to. There is nothing. Blank.
In a world that wants to fill every possible space with ads and information, it’s nice to have some solace. It’s nice to have a little digital quiet space.
I like about:blank because it is that quiet space. When I type http://about:blank into my browser, I know what will be returned is nothing. In all it’s peace.
I often use about:blank as my start page. I don’t need to see anything when I open a new window. I don’t need to be overrun with information. I don’t need to have my thought train derailed by a social network or a story waiting for me, or a tempting ad from a start page.
I need a little quiet time. I need a little quiet space. I need some time to think. To consider my next move. My next action is what’s important.
Where am I am going?
What am I doing?
Why did I open this window to begin with?
Sometimes the answer is simply to close the window and walk away.