A Clean New Internet?

Sometimes, when things aren't going your way, the best way to handle things is to simply walk away. At least, that's the philosophy being followed by the Japanese communications ministry, which apparently intends to build a new Internet.According to an Associated Press story, the Japanese government, concerned about growing "quality and security" problems, is working to set up a research organization by the fall of 2008. With luck, they're hoping to have the new network up and running in 10 to 15 years.

It will be interesting to see how the new network will keep out the hackers, spammers, and loudmouths who are causing it to be built in the first place. My own experience, as a confirmed and unrepentant packrat, is that if you create a nice, clean space in order to escape an overcrowded room, that space will eventually accumulate the same amount of junk as the first. I strongly suspect that a new Internet, no matter how carefully planned, will be prone to the same phenomenon -- or will be so controlled that it will lack the creativity that the current whirlpool offers.