"Welcome to my home page. I kiss you!!!"

There is no humbler creature than a single man grovelling for a date. This would-be ladies' man was Mahir Cagri, offering prospective romance-seekers a bounty of accordion serenades and his expertise in Ping Pong.

Instead he discovered his clumsy sincerity had made him world famous. From nation after nation, the cheers rolled in. "We kiss you back, Mahir," strangers said. Fan letters, ad offers, and a message from David Bowie. ("Mahir is a hero of Webnetness.") Julia Roberts sent him an autographed photo.

With 12 million people watching, Mahir had to ask himself what to do next. And then the innocent Turk did something that was simple and beautiful. On an unforgettable day in 1999, he posted a message introducing himself - and then ended it with links raising money for the International Red Cross.

It turns out he really did have a big heart.