"The Internet is the Greatest Bridge Ever Built."

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Added: Thu. Mar 05, 2009 9:02am
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"The Internet is the greatest bridge ever built. If only we will cross it."

That's a statement my boss, Marc Middleton, lobbed out during an Age of Opportunity Chat on February 26, 2009. It was part of a broader discussion on the power of technology, especially as it pertains to the over-50 crowd. The Age of Opportunity is itself proof that the statement is true -- never before have the tools and interest existed at the same time to power a meaningful, powerful chat on the issues that affect people of this lifestage? Never before have people of all ages been able to come together to discuss and debate everything from politics and entertainment to sports and health.

And so, the first AgeOp blog carnival was born. We asked people from across the Internet to share their thoughts about the statement, and the response has been amazing. Here's my take, with a little help from Forrest Gump.


10 years ago, the Internet was still under construction. The bridge supports were in place, crews were using some heavy equipment to navigate the way across the water, and while the final pavement wasn't in place, you could get across the bridge gaps with a little help.


10 years ago, I was in college, trying to decide which of two paths to follow. I was a dual major in broadcast journalism and policy studies -- and couldn't figure out how the two could ever mesh. For my four years of school, I found inner peace by aggressively pursuing all the opportunities that the journalism degree provided, while using my policy studies experience to volunteer, donate money, and take on leadership roles in student government and non-profit organizations.

The bridge had not yet been finished, and so I took the path that led me into television and Web news, and only ventured onto the do-gooder trail from time to time.

Now, the bridge is built. It's solid, and it's well populated. The traffic signals are there to help guide everyone from the veterans to the student drivers, and the map is a virtual, interactive set of directions, led by all of the people using the Internet. There are some well-known people on the bridge and there are plenty of people who are less well known but leaving a lasting and powerful mark. The bridge is open to all, and no one gets a speedpass to the front of the line.


Forrest Gump started his run across America alone. His only goal was to clear his mind, pound the pavement, and get away from his troubles. But along the way, people joined his run, bringing their own goals and their own passions. Remember the guy who made the "Have a Nice Day" shirts with Forrest's paint-covered face?

So, here's how this all comes together for me. The desire to marry the Internet and social good; the celebration of different people using the power all across the world; the mission to spread the message that the age wave is crashing down in a powerful way.

I am Forrest. I will be donating my time and money to charity, because it's important to me. I will do this with or without your assistance. But I invite you to join me as I run across the bridge. The more you take part, the more money and time I donate.

I am setting a limit, detailed below, which only represents a drop in the charity bucket, but it's a pretty large amount for me. And it's only a start. Since I couldn't do this 10 years ago -- or even 10 months ago -- it's just more proof that the bridge is complete. Here's how it will work.


(Danny Brown is leading the 12 for 12K challenge, and has not only crossed the bridge before many of us, he's on his way back to hold our hands and help us enjoy the journey.)

1. For every #ageop used on Twitter between 9am EST on March 5 and 10pm on March 26, I will donate $.25 to the 12 for 12K Challenge.
2. For every comment left on this blog between 9am EST March 5 and 10pm on March 26, I will donate $.25 to the 12 for 12K Challenge.

I am setting a donation limit of $250 for this round. If the number of tweets and comments goes above that, I will translate the tweets into volunteer hours -- one hour of volunteering for every 50 tweets and comments. I will exclude tweets/comments that are made by me, or by the @ageopportunity moderator.

The best way to get involved is to join us on Thursday nights at 9pm for our live Age of Opportunity Twitter chats. You'll use the #ageop to take part in the discussion, and donate at the same time. (please see this page for more details!)

If you have questions, please e-mail me at katy@growingbolder.com, or leave the question below. And I'd love to get your response to the statement: "The Internet is the greatest bridge ever built. If only we will cross it."