That conversation reminded me what's special about the web. It's egalitarian. There's a level playing field. It's open to all. It squashes hierarchy, routes around deference. I think we can feel proud for being part of it.
You know, the web is an Australian medium, that's what it made me think.
And when we decide the future of our technological world - the next 100 million hour effort - and we decide how to speak to complex systems, and how to build the internet of things, I hope we make something just as egalitarian.
And so i'm glad that it's people who make the web - who are of the web - people who think about their values, people who are egalitarian - all of you, all of us - i'm pleased it's you who will be on that journey.
Matt Webb, Web Directions South 2014 (Sydney, Australia), October 2014