Web Relic Showcase – The Netstorian

Web Relic Showcase: Eric Conveys an Emotion

The Netstorian discusses Eric Conveys an Emotion (1998-2008)

Screenshot of Eric Conveys an Emotion — Screenshot of “Realizing that Your Hair Just Caught on Fire” emotion page from Eric Conveys an Emotion

Name: Eric Conveys an Emotion
URL: http://www.emotioneric.com/
Year created: 1998
Year abandoned: 2008

Before social media, websites connected with their audiences through blog comments, guestbooks, and e-mails. The extent of these methods often resulted in FAQ and “Reader Mail” sections and not much more in terms of additional site content. A smaller number of personal sites, however, relied heavily on audience interaction to assist in the site’s content. In this instance, Eric Conveys an Emotion is a successful example. Continue reading “Web Relic Showcase: Eric Conveys an Emotion”

Web Relic Showcase: The Subservient Chicken

Screenshot of The Subservient Chicken — Screenshot of the website. The chicken is on standby, ready to obey any commands.

Name: The Subservient Chicken
URL: http://web.archive.org/web/20040727012738/http://www.subservientchicken.com/
Year created: 2004
Year abandoned: 2011 [Only minor layout updates from 2005-2011]

If you recall any Burger King commercials from the early 2000’s, you may remember one which featured the “Subservient Chicken”. These ads were created to promote the restaurant’s then-new TenderCrisp Chicken Sandwich. The commercial featured a man controlling a person in a chicken suit to obey his every command, leading to the tagline “Chicken the way you like it”. This led to a marketing campaign in the form of website launched in 2004. The site allowed users to control the same person in the chicken suit via webcam. Continue reading “Web Relic Showcase: The Subservient Chicken”

Web Relic Showcase: Cap’n’ Wacky’s Boatload of Love

Name: Cap’n’ Wacky’s Boatload of Love
URL: http://www.capnwacky.com/valentines/index.html
Year Created: 2000
Year Abandoned: 2001 (Minor update in 2010)

Valentine’s Day is one of those days that people have mixed feelings about. For those who would rather see a more humorous side of Valentine’s Day, it can be found on pages like Cap’n’ Wacky’s Boatload of Love. Continue reading “Web Relic Showcase: Cap’n’ Wacky’s Boatload of Love”

Web Relic Showcase: Ted’s Caving Page

Name: Ted’s Caving Page
URL: http://www.angelfire.com/trek/caver/
Year created: 2001
Year abandoned: 2001

If you’re a fan of reading creepy stories on the Internet, chances are you read Creepypastas. Scary stories are timeless, and without a doubt have always existed online. One frightening tale from the early web that stands out more than the rest is the story of Ted the Caver. Continue reading “Web Relic Showcase: Ted’s Caving Page”

Web Relic Showcase: Furniture Porn

Furniture Porn main page screenshot — Screenshot of the main page. Appropriately viewed on Netscape Communicator on Windows 98.

Name: Furniture Porn
URL: www.furnitureporn.com
Year created: 1992
Year abandoned: 2001

If there’s anywhere to go searching for something bizarre, it’s the Internet. Most websites created before 1995 served a serious purpose of some sort. Someone may have created a website to promote their business or organization, provide information to the public, or to host a digital personal portfolio.

Between all the seriousness, there were also some personal websites with no more of an intention than to make users laugh. One of these websites was Furniture porn. Continue reading “Web Relic Showcase: Furniture Porn”

Web Relic Showcase: GeoCities NorthPole

The NorthPole community page as displayed on Internet Archive

Neighbourhood name: NorthPole
Year created: 1996
Year abandoned: Unknown
URL: http://web.archive.org/web/19961221000658/http://www.geocities.com/NorthPole/

Before the elimination of GeoCities neighborhoods, homesteaders were given 41 different places to categorize their webpages, based on community and interests. In 1996, there were only 29 neighborhoods. For a short time in 1996, a temporary 30th neighborhood called “NorthPole” was created for the Christmas season. Continue reading “Web Relic Showcase: GeoCities NorthPole”