Please provide a
short bio on yourself.
My name is Elizabeth Banks. I'm 13 years old, and actively involved
in my community in Texas.
Site name and address
Banks' Beanies, http://banksbeanies.com
When was your site
first posted?
January '98
Please explain how
you got started posting a web page on Beanie Babies.
I wanted to make new friends and meet new people in the Beanie
World!
What types of difficulties
have you encountered while operating your site?
Well, it's hard to express honest opinions without getting some
kind of hate mail. Also, there's been tons of technical problems
too, like (hehe) learning HTML and being able to design effective
web sites.
What is your opinion
of the bean bag market?
I think it is finally stabling out, which is fantastic! I think
there's no reason for people to "freak out" because
even if the Beanie business were to crash you should be in it
because you love it, not because you want to make an investment!
In your opinion,
how safe is the Internet for kids?
Very safe, depending on where you go. Many places, like Yahooligans
and Kidspace provide very kid-friendly sites! However, there's
always going to be some weirdo's out there, so kids need to be
careful!
Describe a typical
day that includes your responsibility to your website.
Well, first I update news/rumors (top priority). Then, I brainstorm
ideas that I hope to do in the future. Then, I try to make them
happen. Every day there's a little progress.
Do you find websites
to be interactive for kids or are they competitive?
VERY COMPETITIVE!!! There are few really and truly kid-friendly
sites. If sites weren't competitive, people wouldn't be having
a cow about this whole c-toys/beanieworld merger. Just like Beanies,
you should be into the Internet for fun !
What types of variety
do you offer on your site for other kids to view?
Well, I have a clique for kids to be in, and a great club! I'm
also working very hard on a game section (it's very hard to write
a good script!), and several other surprises!
What has been your
best and worst experience working on your website?
My best experience has been meeting so many new people, and becoming
buddies with both kids and adults who I would have never met!
My worst experience is seeing people go psycho if you express
an opinion they don't agree with. I've had several VERY mean guestbook
entries after various interviews that didn't have "kid-appropriate"
language.
What would you say
to another kid who may be interested in posting his or her own
site?
Go for it! It's gobs of fun and a great experience for anyone,
whether or not they're a kid or an adult!
******************************
Please provide a
short bio on yourself:
I am a 14 year old male and in the 8th grade. I live in Cincinnati,
Ohio and have been collecting Beanie Babies since November 1997.
Outside of Beanies, I am in a show Choir, concert choir, and I
play the piano. I love Music!
Site name and address:
http://members.aol.com/beans45014-
Beanie News Galore Online!~
When was your site
first posted?
My site was first posted at geocities on June 17, 1998. My rumors/news
page was posted on July 3, 1998. Last January my site was moved
to members.aol.com to provide a better, bigger, site and a contest!
Please explain how
you got started posting a web page on Beanie Babies:
I don't really know how it started. I thought it looked like a
lot of fun and a way to make some friends. I also thought it would
help keep me more informed about Ty Inc., and Beanie Babies.
What types of difficulties
have you encountered while operating your site?
The worst difficulties is when I do a small error in the HTML
code of my site and it
ruins the whole page. It takes me forever to figure out what I
did and then I laugh at my mistake. The other problem is with
AOL. They seem to always be down, which shuts down my site.
What is your opinion
of the bean bag market?
I think the Bean Bag Market is wonderful! With the creation and
popularity of Beanie Babies, many companies, such as Disney, have
brought out their own line. This gives collectors with different
tastes different bean bag products to collect. If you don't like
Ty Beanies, there are other bean bag products out there.
In your opinion,
how safe is the Internet for kids?
I think in a sense, the Internet is fairly safe for kids. I would
ever suggest a kid purchasing a Beanie Baby or other product over
the Internet without parent help.
Describe a typical
day that includes your responsibility to your website:
I get up everyday at 5:30 in the morning and get ready for school
that day. I get on the computer at 6:15 and read e-mail, update
my site, and visit other sites. I am usually on until about 7:00.
When I get home from school, I get on the computer at 3:30 and
update again.
Do you find websites
to be interactive for kids or are they competitive?
I would have to say both. Web-sites are always interactive for
kids and adults. There are contests out there and kids can always
make "pen-pals" over the net. I also think that all
web-sites (beanie related or not) are always competitive.
What types of variety
do you offer on your site for other kids to view?
I offer a contest, open to anyone, especially kids. I also offer
a discussion list, which can help kids make some friends over
the Internet about a subject they enjoy and like: Beanies.
What has been your
best and worst experience working on your website?
The best experience out of my site is the satisfaction of being
able to do what I like and being good at it. The worst thing would
have to be the time involved. There are hours and hours involved
in a web-site, but it's worth it.
What would you say
to another kid who may be interested in posting his or her own site? GO
FOR IT! Having a web-site is excellent and fun! Go to www.htmlgoodies,
find a server(geocities, aol, tripod) and start working. Before
you know it, you'll have a wonderful site up in no time. I wish
everyone good luck!
Thanks,
-Brent
*****************************
Please provide a short bio on yourself.
My name is Devin Lazerine. I am 15 years old and I am the webmaster
atBeanie411. Some of my hobbies include spending time with my
friends and family, playing video games, listening to music, watching
TV, and working on my website, of course!
Site name and address
Beanie411
- http://www.beanie411.com
When was your site
first posted?
My site was first posted under the name "Beanie Baby Universe"
in January 1998. "Beanie411" has been around since January
1999.
Please explain how
you got started posting a web page on Beanie Babies.
I first got started posting a web page on Beanie Babies when I
noticed a wealth of information on the Internet on Beanie Babies.
I thought that I could showcase all this information in one site
that people could come to rely on as they're one and only beanie
source.
What types of difficulties
have you encountered while operating your site?
The types of difficulties I have encountered while operating my
site have been competition and frustration. When I say competition
I mean trying to attract visitors to my site. I remember the day
I received 12 hits to "Beanie Baby Universe," I was
so excited. Now if I got 12 hits I would consider that a bad day.
Don't even get me started on how frustrated my site has gotten
me at times, from HTML code problems to server trouble, the problems
never end! :)
What is your opinion
of the beanie baby market?
I will be honest with you. I think the Beanie Baby market for
the moment is weak, but that is due to overproduction of the beanies.
It seems that we can already go into our local retailer and find
all the January '99 releases (excluding the bears) for $5-7 sitting
on the shelf. Is it just me or didn't it take around 5 months
before you would see any of the new releases sitting around for
retail price? The future of Beanie Babies seems to be lying in
older retired pieces, which are selling for what they are worth
and no less.
Do I think the beanie market is ready to crash?
No, I just think that at the moment the market is a little too
flooded with current beanies. I do see a lot of promise in Ty
BBOC Collector's Cards though. They are almost hotter
than Beanie Babies at the moment.
In your opinion,
how safe is the Internet for kids?
As long as you know where not to go and who not to talk to, the
Internet can be very fun and safe at the same time. If a kid were
very young, I would recommend a parent's supervision of their
child. As for how addictive the Internet can be, that's another
question you don't want to get me started on.
Describe a typical
day that includes your responsibility to your website.
A typical WEEKDAY that includes responsibility for my site would
be going to school till 3 PM, coming home, doing my homework,
then going online to update. It's not as boring as it sounds,
really. =)
Do you find websites
to be interactive for kids or are they competitive?
I find websites to be both interactive for kids and competitive,
it just depends on the site and its material. If you go to CNN.com,
it is obviously not going to be as kid user friendly as Nickelodeon.Com
would be.
What types of variety
do you offer on your site for other kids to view?
Beanie411 offers 20+ features all kid friendly. A few include
"Chat With The Stars" where kids can come and meet their
favorite beanie celebrities at scheduled times, "Who Will
Retire Next?" where kids can vote for which Beanie Baby they
think will retire next, and the upcoming "Beanie FANatic"
where kids will be able to meet their favorite beanie celebrities
in a one on one chat and win some cool prizes while their at it.
What has been your
best and worst experience working on your website?
My best experience working on my site would be all the gratification
I get from providing others with a free source for beanie info
and all the great people I have met on the way. The worst experiences
would have to be getting a few nasty emails from some people who
just don't appreciate you providing a free source for info to
them. "If you can't say anything nice, don't say nothing
at all."
What would you say
to another kid who may be interested in posting his or her own site?
Go for it and never give up cause if you do you can never reach
the top.
*****************************
Please provide a short bio on yourself.
My Name is Ryan Connell, and I am fourteen years old. My hobbies
are the Internet, hiking, collecting beanie babies, friends and
families. I have been collecting beanie babies for over a year
and love them!
Site name and address
My website is called Beaniez and is located at
http://www.beaniez.cjb.net
When was your site
first posted?
"Beaniez" was first introduced on March 21, 1999, but
before "Beaniez", I use to own and run "Beanie
Babies Land" where "Beaniez" now is, since August.
Please explain how
you got started posting a web page on Beanie Babies.
I started searching the internet, for beanie baby webpages, but
no site had everything about beanies, and I thought others felt
the same way, so I decided to make the ultimate beanie website
of the millenium!
What types of difficulties
have you encountered while operating your site?
Many difficulties while operating a beanie site is making sure
I have all the latest information for people when they need it,
and try to be as much help as possible.
What is your opinion
of the bean bag market?
I, personally, detest the bean bag market. The purposes of these
toys are to help fill in the empty part in a child's life and
entertain them, not for adults to sell at ridiculous prices. Bean
bag today's are for kids, and adults need to remember that.
In your opinion,
how safe is the Internet for kids?
Unfortunately, not safe at all! There is some websites with crude
information and photographs, and some advertise to little kids
to come to win a toy (like a Furby or a beanie) and when you enter
the website, there is something you do NOT want little eyes to
see!! Its revolting!!!
Describe a typical
day that includes your responsibility to your website.
I wake up at 6:30AM and head for my laptop computer (Christmas
present) to see if there is any beanie news that early in the
morning. If there is, I add it and then prepare for school. Once
I arrive home from school I go back to my laptop and check for
more news, then cue up with my beanie friends in beanieshop.com
Do you find websites
to be interactive for kids or are they competitive?
I find them both interactive and competitive. You get to meet
many new people who share the same interest as you. The way it
is competitive is that you want to be popular, and not just the
biggest beanie website...but the best!
What types of variety
do you offer on your site for other kids to view?
Beaniez offers beanie news for those interested, many fun games
like "Tic Tac Toe with Wise" and "Chilly's Checkboxes",
and a huge section called BeanieKidz, run by Kevin, which has
more beanie games, postcards and a beanie club!
What has been your
best and worst experience working on your website?
I have never had a bad experience working on my site for everyday
has been better than the next--sure there are days when you get
frustrated with something, but that's the joys of making a website-the
best experience is to know someone visited and enjoyed the hard
work!
What would you say
to another kid who may be interested in posting his or her own
site?
It's the best! You get to express your personality, and feelings,
and lets you make a contribution or leave your mark for someone
to see, and creating a webpage does just that!!
**Thank you for this interview!
Ryan Connell
http://www.beaniez.cjb.net
The above text has been published in the kid's exact words and
has not been altered in any way. Although I may not agree with
some of their responses, I truly understand how they feel. Have
you ever heard the old expression (Out of the mouths of babes)?
It certainly rings true here!
Kids, keep up the good work! We all enjoy your site and look forward
to viewing it often.