GirlGeek of the Week
January 2000

Ann Shoket

Growing up in the 80s, my teachers were always saying that in the future we would need computer skills to get a good job. This techno-future was so hard to fathom when my entire third grade class was huddled around a Commodore 64 to play Zork!

I studied English literature and creative writing at New York University, where I used my Mac SE solely to type papers and play Tetris. But in 1994, I had my first experience with the Internet and I fell in love. It seemed like the perfect way for me to jump start my writing career. With no corporate hierarchy, I could be the head of my own magazine!

In 1996 I founded an alternative downtown New York City Web guide called GOLDENNYC.COM. By early 1998, the site had evolved into a global community of people who loved the downtown lifestyle. And so I relaunched the site as Tag, Worldwide Downtown so people around the world could share their experiences about being young and making their way outside the mainstream.

When did you first discover your love and/or obsession with computers and technology?

Before I understood much about the Internet, my boyfriend sent me love e-notes and cute jpegs. I knew that using technology to unite people and to share emotions and experiences was going to be my greatest obsession.

How do you earn a living?

Although Tag has incredibly loyal fans and gets about 2 million hits a month, it still doesn't pay the bills. So I am also a senior editor at CosmoGIRL, where I edit the technology section, and try to empower teenagers to believe in themselves.

Do you consider yourself a Geek?

There are days when I'd rather play my Dreamcast and surf the Internet than talk to another human being. And some of the greatest people I know are the biggest techies in the world. So if that's geeky, then I'd consider it a great compliment to be called a geek.

What is your favorite Web site?

Tag

What do you do when you are not working?

I'm never not working.