Clearly you're imagining this, because we're regularly assured around here that Macs are 100% problem-free.
First thing I'd do is get some free anti viral and spy ware programs off the web and clean it up. I've got three kids and a community computer; it gets so loaded with crap that it barely turns on. It'd be worth a shot.
The question mark is a sign of not having a 'blessed' system folder.
I'd boot from the system disk, run disk first aid, at least, and try again.
If you have any higher grade disk repair software (tech tool, norton, disk warrior), I'd give them a shot first.
Following that, if the G3 has never had OSX on it, I'd check re: firmware updates, minimum version of OS9 needed, etc.
Good luck.
Our problems are vastly more elegant than yours.
;-)