Alternative for the terms webmaster and webmistress?

[loren]

i was reworking my site's info page recently and i decided to split things into two tabs, one for site info and one "about the webmaster." in doing so, i realized that i don't really like referring to myself as a webmaster. i know a lot of people here do, and i'm not trying to argue that you shouldn't, but it just isn't for me.

googling "webmaster alternate title" leads to professional sounding terms like web admin, web developer, SEO specialist (eek), web designer and server administrator, which is a step in the opposite direction of where i'm trying to go with this. i'm looking for alternatatives that are LESS professional sounding.

to elaborate on my feelings a bit, i don't quite feel like the "master" of my site. it feels more like a space that i maintain, tend to, and care for. however, web maintainer and web tender don't sound very good to me. i'm thinking more along the lines of something like web crafter or web weaver.

so, does anyone have any unique ways they like to refer to themselves with regards to running their site?

[Cele]

In English uh admin is what comes to mind. In Finnish it's common to say what could be translated to upkeeper. Webkeeper?

[Icey!]

In English uh admin is what comes to mind. In Finnish it's common to say what could be translated to upkeeper. Webkeeper?

That's actually not a bad name for a term. I feel this name describes someone who runs a site a bit better than a "Webmaster" since most Webmasters are mainly people who copy and paste code from another site and tweaks it, but even then the "Webkeeper" would be TERRIBLE at keeping their code in check.

[Melooon]

I came here to say Web Keeper because it reminds me of lighthouse keeper, but Iv BEEN BEATEN!!

You can call yourself anything - you could be the site duck if you want! However since I guess thats not very descriptive, heres a few random ideas:

Hyper Warden, Web Slooth, Code Smith, Site Stitcher, Web God/Godess, Web Author, Oracle, Seamstress, Dreamweaver™, Web Abbot, Site Crafter, Web Monger, Digi Spider, Librarian, Page Worm, Web Pharaoh, Archivist, Site Dreamer, Link Officer, Page Sweeper

Maybe something there will spark an idea

[Icey!]

I came here to say Web Keeper because it reminds me of lighthouse keeper, but Iv BEEN BEATEN!!

You can call yourself anything - you could be the site duck if you want! However since I guess thats not very descriptive, heres a few random ideas:

Hyper Warden, Web Slooth, Code Smith, Site Stitcher, Web God/Godess, Web Author, Oracle, Seamstress, Dreamweaver™, Web Abbot, Site Crafter, Web Monger, Digi Spider, Librarian, Page Worm, Web Pharaoh, Archivist, Site Dreamer, Link Officer, Page Sweeper

Maybe something there will spark an idea

Site Stitcher 100%

[Melooon]

I would add though - you said you don't like the word master because you see yourself more as a web maintainer - however someone who keeps bonsai trees becomes a Bonsai Master - the word master does not refer to domination of the media, it refers to your mastery of the skill. You might not feel you have that mastery yet (or maybe you do!) but claiming the title of webmaster is very much an act of rebellion, we say it because we are proclaiming that we have the right to develop the skill of web mastery (something that social media and generic site builders takes away!)

[TheFrugalGamer]

You could always go with more generic terms about what you're doing. "About the Gardener" would be fine, I think. Also Owner, Author, Artist, etc.

[loren]

thank you all! these are exactly the kinds of suggestions i was looking for.

i really like webkeeper and think that's what i'll go with for now. like Melon mentioned, the similarity to lighthouse keeper is really appealing. it makes me want to make a lighthouse-inspired page for my site...

    .n.          
    /___\          \_/
    [ |0]         --(_)--
    [___]          / \
    }-=-{          
    |-" |
    |.-"|        <|
~~~~~~~|_.-|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|\~~~~~~~~
  .=.| _.|__       /| \
  /:. \" _|_/\      /_|__\  
.-/::. |  |""|-._    ~~~~
 `===-'-----'""` '-.        
         __.-'    

some other favorites:

• site stitcher (alliteration is always fun)
• Dreamweaver™
• page worm (reminds me of worm online ~~~)
• archivist
• gardener

+ a few i thought of just now: code guardian, digital guide, site founder, webpage artisan

honestly i may rotate between all of these terms every time i update the page. i (and my site) don't have to stick to any one thing! i think switching it up will reflect my ever evolving relationship with web crafting.

someone who keeps bonsai trees becomes a Bonsai Master - the word master does not refer to domination of the media, it refers to your mastery of the skill. You might not feel you have that mastery yet (or maybe you do!) but claiming the title of webmaster is very much an act of rebellion, we say it because we are proclaiming that we have the right to develop the skill of web mastery (something that social media and generic site builders takes away!)

thank you for saying this! it definitely frames the term in a way that feels better to me. right now i prefer the alternatives (they're fun!), but maybe one day i'll join other webmasters in that act of rebellion.

[debleb]

I like the idea of being a digital spider.

[BananaBoots]

I've been using webmaster up until now but it feels a little too gendered for my tastes. I'm a big fan of "webgardener" maybe? Sometimes I think of my website as a journal or scrapbook but I don't think there's really an associated title with those

[starbreaker]

I refer to myself as the "operator". Mainly because "system operator" is a bit verbose and the short form "sysop" is both obscure and used more in relation to BBSes and IRC. Also, I used to be a fan of the "Bastard Operator From Hell" stories.

However, I wonder if "webtender" might be worth using. It reminds me of "bartender", and one tends a garden, does one not? Also, perhaps "webkeep" in similar fashion to "barkeep"?

[McCartney]

"Webdeveloper" and "webdev" are terms I've seen used IRL too.

[Kallistero]

I came here to say Web Keeper because it reminds me of lighthouse keeper, but Iv BEEN BEATEN!!

You can call yourself anything - you could be the site duck if you want! However since I guess thats not very descriptive, heres a few random ideas:

Hyper Warden, Web Slooth, Code Smith, Site Stitcher, Web God/Godess, Web Author, Oracle, Seamstress, Dreamweaver™, Web Abbot, Site Crafter, Web Monger, Digi Spider, Librarian, Page Worm, Web Pharaoh, Archivist, Site Dreamer, Link Officer, Page Sweeper

Maybe something there will spark an idea

i really like webkeeper and think that's what i'll go with for now. like Melon mentioned, the similarity to lighthouse keeper is really appealing. it makes me want to make a lighthouse-inspired page for my site...

some other favorites:

• site stitcher (alliteration is always fun)
• Dreamweaver™
• page worm (reminds me of worm online ~~~)
• archivist
• gardener

+ a few i thought of just now: code guardian, digital guide, site founder, webpage artisan

honestly i may rotate between all of these terms every time i update the page. i (and my site) don't have to stick to any one thing! i think switching it up will reflect my ever evolving relationship with web crafting.

I refer to myself as the "operator". Mainly because "system operator" is a bit verbose and the short form "sysop" is both obscure and used more in relation to BBSes and IRC. Also, I used to be a fan of the "Bastard Operator From Hell" stories.

However, I wonder if "webtender" might be worth using. It reminds me of "bartender", and one tends a garden, does one not? Also, perhaps "webkeep" in similar fashion to "barkeep"?

Invented terms are what I took a look in here for! 

I think "site owner" is always an appropriate term for like "professional" culture, but I'm in when it comes to being called:

• cybermancer
• Web crafter
• Internaut (like astronaut)
• binary star
• onlinerider
• pagemaker
• digi-bender
• source-rer code-rer
• site summoner
• net spreader
• markup & onliner
• script writer

[wygolvillage]

I've been into "cyberwitch" lately. Makes me imagine my website is a secluded little place where I cultivate magical code-plants and cast spells on the internet. I do also still use Webmaster for myself though.

[lycoseadae]

some of the suggestions here made me think of the term webweaver! like youre a spider weaving your web(site)