Steve Pate, of Sydney, Australia, is a webmaster and runs his own Web design company, Whaam! Web Creations. He is also 15 years old and in tenth grade. His Web sites include http://www.whaam.com, which features his Web design company, http://www.thrill-seeker.com, which links to adventure sites, http://www.youthweb.com, a site he is starting for the online youth community, and http://cybersoaps.com/, which features his new Web series, The Dark Domain. He creates, designs, builds and maintains all his Web sites completely by himself.

We were curious. How did an ordinary teenager become a webmaster of the universe? Zeen asked him a few questions, via email, of course.

So, how did you get started on the Internet?

It all started when my sister decided that we should connect to the Net. For about one month, I just used it as an information resource and a bit of fun. Gradually, as I learned more, I decided that I too could have my own Web site. My first site was on Geocities (I think we all start with that) and from there my sites got bigger and I purchased my own domain names -- whaam.com and thrill-seeker.com. I had some of my own money from acting I did in commericials, so that is how I supported myself at first.

How did you learn what you know now?

Completely from time and experience. I just mucked around and slowly learnt more and more until eventually I was completely comfortable with the Net. Because of my sites with Geocities, I was kind of forced into learning HTML, which is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I now use a program which saves time and you don't really need to know HTML to use it, but it is essential that you know the basics of HTML anyway.

The best way to learn anything in my opinion is through experience. I used to look at the document sources of Web pages and learn from that. Also, if things got too difficult, I would email one of my friends in America, Ken (a teacher at a high school), and ask him for help, as he was always willing to throw in suggestions.

What are the special advantages and challenges for a fifteen-year-old doing Web work?

Well, I would have to say that there really aren't any advantages for a kid my age to be doing Web work. In fact it's funny, because most of the people I deal with through the Net, like my clients, probably wouldn't even be talking to me if they knew what age I was. I never tell people that I'm only fifteen, because they seem to feel an instant distrust which is extremely annoying.

It is quite challenging, sure, but definitely not limiting. Nobody knows how old I am, so that way they can't discriminate. I wouldn't say that I lie about my age or anything, I just never let on and they never ask!

Being my age on the Internet is actually quite exciting, it's like being involved in the big world of business and I'm only fifteen!

Where do you think the Internet is going?

Well, it's hard to say but it actually frightens me quite a lot. I mean, the Internet has only really become known in the last few years and already there are billions of Web sites all cluttered up and that number is increasing all the time. Being a webmaster you realise that promoting your Web site is one of the hardest things -- I'm still finding it difficult. There are just too many other Web sites to compete with and it's hard to get noticed in the crowd. I think that in a few years' time the Internet will just be too overwhelming.

I find it funny the way the big companies are being fooled into believing that publishing a Web site will increase their sales -- most of the time that simply isn't true. It costs money for people to use the Internet so they're not going to waste their time visiting a site which does not offer them anything. That's why I created Thrill Seeker - it's a website that people will actually want to visit to find information on the things that interest them.

What is the importance of the Internet to society?

The importance... hmmm. Actually I'm not sure if I would call the Internet particularly important, I mean don't get me wrong I think it's a wonderful thing but I'm not sure if it has a major importance to society. I think the Internet is great though, the way you have this gateway to the rest of the world. I love the way you have access to so much information -- it's brilliant!

What dreams of yours have you turned into reality?

Haha, you used my motto!

Basically, I always wanted to have my own little business. I also wanted a chance to be creative and have people actually view my work and hopefully get some kind of enjoyment out of it. I never thought this would be possible at the age of fifteen, but thanks to the Internet I have realised that this most certainly is possible. In fact, the Internet seems to have endless possibilities and I love that.

Do you do your own graphic design and programming?

Yes, indeed I do. My graphic design work is simple but people tell me it is effective. I never really like my own graphic design work but I get good feedback about it, so I suppose it must be all right. I also construct my Web pages myself. It's quite fun.

I didn't program the search engines on my pages though, because that is a little too complicated for me, although I do have a basic understanding of it. I hired somebody to do that programming for me.

In fact, I now have quite a lot of good people whom I hire out when neccesary. They are all very competent, skilled and creative.

Who or what has encouraged you?

I think just browsing around the Net encouraged me and looking at sites where I would think "Gosh, I'd love to have a site like that!" but I never used to think it would be possible. I was encouraged to start up a little Web design firm when I looked around at some other Web design firms and saw that most of them are completely shockingly and unbelievably awful! It used to make me wonder why they would even contemplate being graphic designers, if they designed stuff like that.

On the home side of things I receive little-to-no support because most of my family has no idea about the Internet.

What are your future goals?

Well, in the near future I would certainly like to improve my sites as at the moment they are only very brand new and have little content. It takes a while to build up a site, it's actually quite frustrating, you just have to wait. It's all a big waiting game. My sites all have potential but they just need time and I need encouragement to keep pursuing them.

In the distant future I would like to see myself having a lot of fun, being very successful and making a lot of money through the Internet, but I it's hard to see that happening. But then there's my motto which goes, "Dreams turn into ideas and ideas turn into reality" so who knows...

What do you think the Internet offers young people?

The Internet is truly wonderful for young people. A lot of kids out there are rejected by their peers but find refuge in the Internet. I am lucky enough to be only using the Internet as a way to fill in time and stop me from getting bored, it's just a hobby. However, a lot of teenagers out there find that the Internet is their only escape and way to contact other people who feel the same way and can sympathize with them. In that respect, the Internet is great.

There's only one problem though - the Internet is so slow at loading and everybody knows just how short the attention span of us teenagers is.

Check Out:

Whaam! Web Creations: http://www.whaam.com
Thrill Seeker World Wide: http://www.thrill-seeker.com

The Internet's only search engine and index site dedicated to the outdoors and adventure on the Internet. Thrill Seeker also has a comprehensive list of categories with links to wild sites.

CyberSoaps: http://www.cybersoaps.com