we need the backwaters and the lanes...

Recently we were staying with a load of mates in a big house in another part of the country.

I was out running with no particular goal. Just finding my way down small roads and tracks and it stuck me very forcefully as I jogged - us humans - "we need the backwaters and the lanes".

I'm not even sure I know exactly what I mean. Just that we humans need places out of view, off the beaten track, where its safe to think, love, fight, get high - whatever. Out of the view of full on public scrutiny and debate. Somewhere to foster ideas where our ego can take a backseat.

Jim Spanfeller, the CEO of Forbes.com recently talked about the web as a "cesspool". here Outside of the fact I can guarantee Mr Spanfeller still has his emails printed off by his secretary (who he is almost certainly shagging aswell) as well as the fact that cesspools and primordial soups often create pretty amazing stuff (us for one..) - he's missing the point - completely.

What he (and many people over 50) see as a cesspool - a lot of the rest of us know as a maze of virtual backwaters and lanes. A vibrant, thought provoking and dynamic place - where real freedom of expression and ideas is made possible.