The news was shattering when Poverty Stricken sent a message to his subscribers saying he was leaving WebTV.
Jeff, aka Poverty Stricken, has one of the best known and most used sites in the WebTV community, The WebTV Utility. He will be greatly missed by all of us who know him and use the tools he linked to that helped us with our web pages. By using such tools as Gifworks, NetMechanic, Transweb, File Dex, ImageMagick and so many others we could capture images and isolate links, reduce file size and much more. At his site you could find test beds, tutorials, Newsgroups... and the list goes on and on. It was so sad to think we would not be able to use such a wonderful site again.
I was up late, surfing the web for things to write about in Net4TV Voice, when the news came in. When I first received the message I was in disbelief. I looked at the address to see if it was real. Was this just another WebTV rumor? I had just "met" Poverty Stricken online a few days before and found him to be such a very nice person. He was very helpful to me about a new web page I was doing. I had written to him about listing his site as a link on my page. He had answered my message, almost immediately, and we exchanged a few e-mails. In one message I commented to him that he appeared to be such a nice person as well as being very helpful with his site. He told me that he always liked to try to get to know the people that used his site and was always glad to help whenever he could. That is the kind of person I found him to be. So it was hard to believe he was leaving just a few days after this conversation.
I immediately wrote back to see if he would answer a few questions for everyone before he left. He answered within a few minutes and agreed to the interview. These are my questions and his answers to those questions.
CountryBlue22: Jeff, we are so sorry to learn you will be leaving us at WebTV. What made you decide to do this now?PovertyStricken: A variety of personal and online issues led to my decision, but I'd say it is mainly due to my obsession with this LBB [little black box]. I've found that I'd spend too many hours in front of WebTV where I could be spending quality time elsewhere. I've taken to deleting email (sometimes unread) without replying to those who've requested help (or otherwise). This isn't fair, and is something that's bothered me for a while now. Other issues include, but not limited to, a complete and total disregard by WNI regarding their paying subscribers, the attempt to place the TOS in the hands of their paying subscribers via the newly offered "club" newsgroups, and the sheer display of indifference for our community as a whole. I can no longer justify paying for sub-par and lackluster "service." Especially when we, the WebTV Community, pay top-dollar for "service."
CB22: Did loosing your site, when it crashed awhile back, have anything to do with this decision?PS: Not at all. In fact, after my initial over reaction, it gave me incentive to rebuild. Thankfully, the server saved a few domains. I was lucky to have been one of the salvageable accounts.
CB22: Are you making personal changes in your life other than leaving WebTV? If so, did these changes have anything to do with your leaving WebTV?PS: Leaving WebTV *is* a personal change. This LBB has become a part, too large a part, of my personal life. Realizing this, leaving WebTV will allow me to explore life's infinite options that I'd neglected due to my obsession with WebTV. I am a USSSA and ASA decorated and sanctioned softball pitcher. That's something I'd like to get involved with again. I am an avid chess enthusiast, and I enjoy electronics and radio as a hobby. Those are some of the personal interests I'd like to reacquaint myself with.
CB22: How long have you been on WebTV?PS: WebTV was given to me as a gift in August, 1997, as a birthday present. I haven't been seen since.
CB22: Will you give us a little personal background on yourself?PS: I am a 33 year-old white male born and raised in Brooklyn New York. I am employed as a unionized civil service worker for the New York City Transit Authority. In the immortal words of Ralph Kramden, "A dus I bribe" :-)
CB22: You said in your letter to your friends that you found WebTV too addictive and time consuming. Many of us feel that way. Will you give us an idea how much time you spend online and how much time it takes to maintain your site?PS: Maintaining the site itself doesn't require that much time. Basically, it's self-sustaining, with the exception of referrer forms and links. Those will always need updating as new pages are created and old pages are removed. Each "WebTV update" usually requires rewriting tutorials and changing a few form actions to reflect both server-side and client-side changes. I know that the Test Bed will need updating, and I'd like to get that done before I cancel the account. There's also the matter of the "Club" group, the "Featured Site" award, the firewalled newsgroups, and the slew of e-mail I send and receive. That's where I've spent most of my time these days, upwards of 8 to 10 hours daily. More than that on my days off.
CB22: What will you miss most about WebTV?PS: That's easy. YOU. All of you. The people, our community, the family we adopt online. I've become as close as one could possible become to faces never seen. The friends I've made online are comparable to those I know personally. One of those friends, Mike Chestney, of Mike's WebTV F-Key, is someone who I've become very close friends with. I hope to someday meet the man that epitomizes everything good there is about the WebTV experience.
CB22: What will you NOT miss about WebTV?PS: WebTV Networks, Inc.
CB22: Will you stay in touch with us from time to time?PS: No. When I quit my 2 pack-a-day habit 6 years ago, I quit "cold-turkey." That's my way. All or nothing. To those who have sent their phone numbers and addresses, I do plan a personal thank-you, but as far as online communication is concerned, I'm leaving the internet. Some have interpreted my other interests as moving on to a PC. Not true. While I did plan that, not too long ago, I believe a complete break and separation from the internet is best. That's not to say I'll never return. It just means I can't have an active account and be strong enough to ignore the red light. I'm only human :-)
CB22: Do you feel you have made close personal friends online during the time you have been a subscriber?PS: The benefit of owning a WebTV terminal affords us a segregated community. As such, we can't help but to form friendships, bonds to one another, and the closeness one would expect from a community with such common interests. Of course, as in all communities, not everyone will agree. Disagreements, arguments, and indifferences are par-for-the-course. As a whole, however, I believe we are a close-knit community, and would be there for each other when the occasion arises.
CB22: Was leaving a sudden decision or had you been contemplating leaving for some time?PS: I cannot continue to work 9 hours daily, then eat, sleep, and drink WebTV. My personal schedule begins at 2:45AM EDT when I wake for work. I'm home by 12:15 and immediately come online. I may be here until as late as 11 PM. 3+ hours of sleep has definitely taken it's toll on me, both physically and emotionally. It's time to say goodbye :-)
CB22: What type of set did you receive as a gift when you first started with WebTV? Have you since upgraded to another model?PS: I am writing this letter using the same Philips Magnavox original Classic manufactured in 1996. Having been through numerous wired keyboards, both plus and classic models, I've since purchased a wired keyboard manufactured by Compaq. I wholeheartedly recommend a wired keyboard to everyone who has had it with the wireless variety. I never did buy a printer.
CB22: Do you have anything to say to those of us who will be left behind?PS: You will all be sorely missed. More than you will ever know. To those who knew me, all I can say is it was my genuine pleasure to have had the opportunity to know you. I've spent the better part of the last 3 years getting to know you all. I feel as if a family member has gone. My time on WebTV will always be fondly remembered, as will all the friends I've made along the way.
I would like to thank Net4TV for their eternal support of my efforts, both in public and in private. Thank you Laura, and staff, for all you've done for our community. We have been truly blessed by your efforts. As I write this, I realize that I will not be here to see this interview published. So I guess this is goodbye. As of Monday, May 8, 2000, my e-mail address will cease to exist. I will miss you all so very much. Before I go, I just want to thank each and every one of you who allowed me into your lives. Please know that although you simply typed words on a screen, you touched the heart of someone you never met. Goodbye, my friends. Be well, be safe, and be happy.
PS :-)
