Cybergrrl Aliza Sherman at Towne Square 2000!!!
Alyssa (Miss P): Our special guest today, Aliza Sherman, is president of Cybergrrl, Inc., a media and entertainment company at the forefront of creating online programming, products, services and virtual communities for women.
She is the first spokesperson for women in new media, and her cartoon creation Cybergrrl is the Internet's first cyber-celebrity. Aliza is the founder of Webgrrls (sm), a networking group for women interested in the Internet that currently has over 100 chapters world-wide.
She is a freelance writer and the author of the new book, Cybergrrl: A Woman's Guide to the World Wide Web (Ballantine)
Cybergrrl... welcome to Towne Square!!~Bo~: )APPLAUSE
Arctic Frost: )applause
Foxy: )applauseCybergrrl: Thank you for having me here!
Arctic Frost: Thanks for coming!!!
Alyssa (Miss P): Well since AF has a question ... let's start with that!
Cybergrrl: okay, I'll stop with props at the moment and get down to businessArctic Frost: Cybergrrl, you've done so much, not just for the Internet but women on the internet. How did you realise there was a hole needing filling and how did you achieve such fame?
Cybergrrl: Well, I think I found that quite by accident - both actually. I started my business really early on in Net years - 1995, and I think at that time I was just looking for resources for me, as a woman... and when I didn't find any, I decided to create them...I did it all so early in the game, that it turns out I sort of led the way for women online. Stumbled to the front, I guess. And the media is super nice to Cybergrrl and to me, because I think we have a great story to tell...
Alyssa (Miss P): absolutely
Cybergrrl: really inspiring and really meaningful, and not just for other women, but for guys, too...
Arctic Frost: You bet!
Cybergrrl: so it was right time, right place, and a lot of sleepless nights!Guest 547: There's alot of talk about forming SIG's in Chicago, what do you see as being good or bad about it?
Foxy: :first, define a SIG
Cybergrrl: SIGs - Special Interest Groups...well, I think that SIGs in any organization are a very good thing, especially when an organization grows rapidly and ends up being so big that it might not serve all members in every way. So a SIG is a great way to specialize and give members a really specific service or benefit. SIGs can be a great asset to any organization. But the big picture can't ever go out of focus. A SIG is still a part of a bigger whole.
Arctic Frost: synergyAlyssa (Miss P): Since we have both men and women in our audience. How do you define the differences in how men and women approach the Internet?
Cybergrrl: I hate to generalize, but I always answer this question with this statement... I think we can all agree that men and women are different in many ways, so it stands to reason that they would approach technology and the Internet in different ways. A little Men are from Mars, Women from Venus thing.Again - I *hate* to generalize but...I find that the online experience for women tends to be a more emotional one...getting online for the first time brings up a lot of emotions... finding what you need brings up other emotions... not finding what you need still other emotions...
Where as I find guys are into the Net and Tech as a tool... they don't mind fiddling around with it...like guys and their cars, guys and their stereo systems... Again - not to generalize... but this is based on talking to hundreds and hundreds of women (and guys) about their Net experiences and feelings.
Alyssa (Miss P): Let's hear a man's question then...Wizzard?
Cybergrrl: fire away!Wizzard©: Okay...to what degree has the involvement of women progress in the net...how do you think this has changed or influenced the net and to what extent do you believe you have had an impact upon this?
Cybergrrl: Well, I think that varies for each person... it's less of a woman thing but more of an individual thing. I find that many women still don't believe other women are online. Particularly women with whom they might have something in common. But once they realize that they can find other women to talk with...about everything from parenting to work to relationships to hobbies...you name it, women are immediately taken by the connection aspect of the Net. I think that the Net has changed drastically since I first logged on in 1989....The main thing is that women are visible and making an impact in the very way the Internet looks and feels...and I think that is great for everyone. A woman's touch never hurt things...and I think it has made the technology a little warmer and more accessible...
It is hard to say what impact I have personally had... on this whole Net thing and with women on the Net...because I just love what I do and am amazed when other people notice....I hear good things and what keeps me going is to know that I am touching people's lives in a positive way. If I can be a role model to other women and men, too - I think that is very very cool and will do my best to live up to the task!
Arctic Frost: You're doing a great job!
Alyssa (Miss P): )applause
wizard: ^Q so why do so many woman still express so much rage against each other?
Arctic Frost: )applause
Alyssa (Miss P): You sure are!!
Cybergrrl: (thanks for the applause!)
Cybergrrl: Well, I don't experience rage so I'm not sure what you mean...
Arctic Frost: Hahahahha
Cybergrrl: I'm pretty darn happy...
Arctic Frost: Me too:0
Alyssa (Miss P): must be the bunny ears!!!
Cybergrrl: Well, not rage at other women on the Net - but a few days a month I must say...the rage hits me!
Alyssa (Miss P): !LOL
Wizzard©: hahahahaha
Foxy: :glad it's you saying it, and not meArctic Frost: Aliza, I have found such great opportunity on the net. I don't seem to run into any of the failings of business in rl ... As a woman that is.
Alyssa (Miss P): Oh I totally agree AF!
Arctic Frost: Is this imagined in my peticular case?
Cybergrrl: Yeah AF, I know what you mean.... I experience the same thing.
Arctic Frost: Or is life on the Internet more open to what woman can offer business?
Cybergrrl: and not just that as a woman I feel I have a lot of opportunity on the Net... but even when I was working from my studio apartment, alone, I could appear to be a much bigger company just because I had a big, cool website...
Arctic Frost: Ohhh what an awesome point!!
Cybergrrl: and even now, people can't believe that only about 3 people work on the Cybergrrl sites right now...
Arctic Frost: I didn't even think about that
Cybergrrl: So I think the Net opens doors for each of us - men and women - to take some power, and build a business or publish our work or just plain express ourselves to many people. I think that is an amazing thing!
Alyssa (Miss P): We're so much more visible, it is amazing!
Arctic Frost: Boy I wish my boss was here. She'd flip over you:
Cybergrrl: <---breaking into song and dance da - da - dada -Arctic Frost: You mentioned communities in your opening. Any we can visit?
Cybergrrl: Well, we have this site called the Cybergrrl Village at village.cybergrrl.com and it is a totally web-based (no plug ins required) service that is free and has email, forums, quick messaging, profiles, etc. like a little AOL. We've got forums like women in comics, education, health, pets, the glass ceiling, etc...
Alyssa (Miss P): The Cybergrrl Webstation is at http://www.cybergrrl.com/
Cybergrrl: so that's a community that feels like a place. And then there is Webgrrls - in real life and online - Webgrrls is an amazingly warm, sharing, international community of women helping other women learn about the Net... www.webgrrls.com
Alyssa (Miss P): Yes webgrrls is an amazing resource.....
Cybergrrl: The beauty of the Net is that each of us can build a community around anything... and in the building, we learn so much.
Alyssa (Miss P): the support and total NON competitive nature of the grrls I've met is truly marvelous
Cybergrrl: a toast to everyone here tonite!Foxy: )applause
Arctic Frost: clink clink
Alyssa (Miss P): :ooh martinis!!!!
*Tess: woohoo drinks
Cybergrrl: hurry, before I get prop-happy again!
Alyssa (Miss P): LOL OK, let's give the big Wizzard another turnWizzard©: ok what led you into internet involvement in the first place?
Cybergrrl: well... When I bought my first computer in 1989... Amstrad 1640 for those interested.. I learned about BBS's, and played lots of games...
Arctic Frost: :a girl after my true heart
Cybergrrl: and then... I discovered that I could talk to other people. When I learned about the Web in 1994, I was hooked! I mean, here I could publish my own stuff, no one could stop me... and have fun doing it. That was really the best thing for me. Total freedom of expression. I created the Cybergrrl character to be me online - my alter ego - and the rest, as they say, is history.I think my reasons for being online first and foremost were pretty selfish - I wanted to express myself and make connections and get information. Then I found out, so did millions of other people!
Alyssa (Miss P): What would you consider the greatest obstacles you see in your "efforts" to get more women online?
Cybergrrl: I don't feel like there are obstacles. I think there are challenges, such as women tend to be their own biggest barriers to avoiding technology and the Net. The reasons women might not be going online are usually fears they feel inside or fears influenced by the media that they use as excuses...
or even the fear that they won't ever have the time to learn or once they learn, they won't have the time to use the Net... or it will take up too much time.So I think that my job is to dispel the myths about the Net to women, and to help them see how the Net is great for them both personally and professionally and to try to make it all make sense and be relevant to their everyday lives. We're lucky to have this medium - now we all must use it to do great things!!
Alyssa (Miss P): !YAY!
Arctic Frost: !Bravo!Alyssa (Miss P): I'd love to see more positive news in the media... It seems we are challenged by bad press...the horror stories, stalking, etc
Cybergrrl: Alyssa, so would I. So I try to get the media to cover more individual women through Webgrrls... to get all those positive stories about finding jobs, meeting up with long lost friends, getting...
Guest 547: saw something awesome about young girls learning to make robots
Cybergrrl: lifesaving health information, etc. We're always sending media opportunities through the Webgrrls pipeline...
Alyssa (Miss P): Yes it's been a phenomenal resource ....Alyssa (Miss P): Wizzard?
Wizzard©: What influence do you feel... this medium may have upon international cooperation...by taking "relations" out of the hands of government and bringing it to a "grassroots" level?
Cybergrrl: Wizzard - interesting question...
Arctic Frost: I'd like to add here, Aliza... Wizzard does a 24 hours around the world event. He has brought countries together in one mass group to do one event together for a 24 hour period.Cybergrrl: it is so hard to see what impact the Internet will have in decades to come. But I know just from personal experience alone that in a few short years it has brought me closer to people around the world... and even people right down the block from me in NYC who I would never have met if it were not for the Internet.
I think the new communities...the new politics of the communities online, are absolutely fascinating. Who rules, who follows, who makes up the laws, how is it enforced...
Is it a free for all or is there some kind of inherent democracy at work...is it a touch of utopia and a dash of our own life experiences...and how do we get so many countries and cultures together on a daily basis cooperating so much...and discussing everything from stamp collecting to leader electing...It really blows me away.
I don't know what will happen next, but I hope that the Net brings out the best in all of us...and brings worlds together in a way that makes the world a better place....am I just a dreamer!?
Alyssa (Miss P): )applause
~Bo~: )APPLAUSE
Cybergrrl: <blush>
Arctic Frost: Man, that was the best way I've ever heard that stated!
Alyssa (Miss P): I think everyone of us in this room has the same dream...Cybergrrl: This is really a lot of fun - everyone in my office keeps hearing the applause and is getting a kick!
Alyssa (Miss P): Isn't she fabulous?!!
Arctic Frost: She is!!
Cybergrrl: <deep blush>
Arctic Frost: It is so wonderful you came to speak with us
Cybergrrl: Thank you for having me here!Guest 547: It was great to talk with you again, thanks for all the work you've done and this wonderful thing you started.
Alyssa (Miss P): We really appreciate you sharing the time...and so glad you had such fun with it too!
Cybergrrl: You better believe I had fun! Hey, I just hope we all take this time in our lifetime to create big things on the Net... for ourselves and for others. It's not just me, it is all of us!Alyssa (Miss P): Aliza's book is available at http://www.books.com/scripts/view.exe?isbn~0345423828
The Cybergrrl Webstation is at http://www.cybergrrl.com/Cybergrrl: Please visit my site and email me to say hello!
Alyssa (Miss P): And with Aliza's permission, a copy of this transcript will be available at the Towne Square 2000 web site
Cybergrrl: Very cool - I'll link to the transcript!
Alyssa (Miss P): Oh great thank you!
Cybergrrl: And I'll take a screen shot of me with my bunny ears on and put it up on my site as the link! hehe
Arctic Frost: Hahaha
Alyssa (Miss P): I already did ... hehehee
Ben©: hehe
Guest 547: )TEEHEE
Alyssa (Miss P): :or maybe it was the pirate's hat
Guest 547: Gonna sign up as a Palace member now. Thanks and see you soon.
Arctic Frost: Thanks for coming, Guest
Cybergrrl: Yeah, I want to sign up too!
Arctic Frost: Come back again when you can:)
Arctic Frost: Oh hang out here anytime, CybergrrlCybergrrl: Has anyone seen the Adventures of Cybergrrl?
<Khool>: Just once... a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...
Cybergrrl: It's at www.cybergrrl.com/planet/comic and would make a cool Palace environment, I think!
Alyssa (Miss P): adventures of cybergrrl live action
Cybergrrl: Cybergrrl comic is drawn by a woman in our office, Yvonne, who is 25, I think...and it is written by me! It's got a little Xfiles, a little Dreamscape, a little Buffy, and a little mystery to it...something for everyone!
Alyssa (Miss P): It's very fun!
Arctic Frost: Sounds like my kind of comic!
Wizzard©: :hmmmm no Babylong 5?
Alyssa (Miss P): LOL
Cybergrrl: We kept the strip as a straight graphic to make sure it loaded as quickly as possible... but still, it can be slow. Eventually, we want to animate it!
Alyssa (Miss P): Bring her into PalaceSpace and you've got animation
Cybergrrl: Wow, I have so much to learn!
Arctic Frost: Yes, these avs can animate
Wizzard©: also, with careful choice of art and color it can be set to music and put in Real Video
Alyssa (Miss P): make sure you have Animation enabled in Preferences.....under your edit menu
Cybergrrl: Wow AF and Alyssa! This is too cool! I really am amazed!
Wizzard©: this is nothing CG... doesn't even scratch the surfaceCybergrrl: double bunny ears! I'm getting a little giddy here!
Cybergrrl: well, my connection is getting funky...thanks everyone!
Arctic Frost: !Thank You!!!!
Alyssa (Miss P): Thanks so much for being here! It was a very special treat!
Arctic Frost: )applause
Arctic Frost: It was wonderful!! I'm so excited I met you!!
~Bo~: Neat chat
Read Aliza Sherman's new book:
Cybergrrl: A Woman's Guide to the World Wide WebDiscover Webgrrls:
http://www.webgrrls.comThe Adventures of Cybergrrl:
http://www.cybergrrl.com/planet/comicVisit The Cybergrrl Webstation :
http://www.cybergrrl.com/