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From Robert Jandl, M.D., Director of Health Services:

How did I get myself into this? I'm not sure. One day I was minding my own business, immersed in the care of the sick and infirm. And it was a bad day -- the kind of day where I'm up to my neck in sore throats, gall bladders, prostate exams, and rashes in embarassing places. This must have been what people meant when they described the medical profession as exciting and glamorous. The next thing you know, I'm at a computer surrounded by all these hyper-healthy Tripod people moving faster than anyone I've met in the last ten years, answering health questions from Cameroon (which I can't even find on the map). And that's not all, because...well, you see, being Dr. Bob carries certain responsibilties.

The first thing you have to understand about me and Tripod is that, on the bell curve of age, I am holding up the 95th percentile. In an organization where youth culture is everything, I come from outer space. Now that's a little weird to me, because in my sheltered, day-to-day life away from Tripod I take care of a lot of really old folks. Old, like you can't even imagine. Old, like bones falling apart and hearing's no good; like they can't even poop without extreme concentration. Old, as in born at the end of the industrial revolution, and 50th wedding anniversaries, and seventeen great-grandchildren. And old enough to do what they want and not give a hoot what anyone else thinks. There are still some ladies in my practice (and they are my favorite patients) who are old enough to feel that I am too young to be examining them. God bless them.

One day last Fall, one of our potential investors was touring Tripod's world headquarters. After enthusiastic introductions to everyone, he turned to me and said, "Hey, what are you doing here? You have gray hair!" I thanked him for pointing this out, then sat on Bo's chest until he agreed not to accept the man's dirty money until I got an apology. I mean, hey, my hair's not all gray! Who needs that kind of abuse anyway?

I promised I wouldn't write anything about what it's like being the only doctor here. But it sure is tempting! You'd think I walked around the Tripod office with a "The Doctor is In " sign stuck to my chest. Fortunately (for the rest of the staff, anyway) the Hippocratic Oath prevents me from ratting on any Tripodian's personal miseries. But if any close friends or relatives want to check my home page for frequent updates on their loved ones' most embarassing problems, please feel free.

As far as I'm concerned, even after all the hype has blown away, being at the intersection of healthcare and the Web is pretty exciting. These two venues are changing very quickly, and there are loads of opportunities to do some interesting and valuable work in both fields.

I'm a doctor; Michael Meade is a storyteller. He collects, studies, and recounts many stories passed down in the great verbal tradition of human history. These are the stories and mythologies where human understanding and wisdom are "stored." Some time ago I appealed to him to consider using the Web as another medium for his work. At the time he said no, but I'll never forget what else he said. He said, "The Internet is full of information. I'm really not too interested in that -- anyone can get information. I'm a lot more interested in knowledge. And what I really desire is wisdom."

I think that is very important. And, despite my friend's reticence, I suspect that sort of wisdom might emerge from our collective experience on the Web. How will it happen, and who will be affected? I like to think of Tripod as part of that process, working the Web, helping people to have some fun, and even finding ways to better our lives.

Best regards,

"Dr. Bob"
Rob Jandl, MD

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Read more "Letters from Tripod" in the archive.

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