Transparency

November 2nd, 2005 | Filed under Blog

As you all know I love blogs by people I know in the “real” world even more than I love blogs themselves. There is something really great in reading posts by people whom you have interacted with in the real world and have a handle on their perspective of things. I was recently referred to a friend’s blog via another friend and I immediately subscribed. While puttering around online I decided to check out the blog’s blogroll (or set of links on the right) and began reading some of the linked blogs. I figured, if I liked what this person had to say why wouldn’t I enjoy things he liked?

Unfortunately, I was immediately turned off by these “linked to” blogs due only to the fact that they are anonymous. Sorry, but I need transparency. Being someone who reads a lot of blogs I am completely in-love with the ability for all of us to have our own little Gutenberg Press at our desk. The realatively new ability for anyone to be able to self-publish online is nothing short of amazing in my mind. And as much as I love reading blogs, I don’t however, have time for those who don’t own up to their own opinions and ideas.

If you are afraid to write something because it might get you in trouble you have two options: 1. Don’t write it, buy a journal and write your ideas and blasphemes there instead of on the web for everyone to see. or 2. If you can’t help from writing your little diatribe online write it, put your name on it and own up to your own ideas and concepts. If you current employer doesn’t like it, or you offend a friend, who cares you just had to get that out in the open didn’t you? Maybe blogging it isn’t the best choice if it is going to cause so much havoc in your life.

Along those same lines I don’t like blogging with the idea that a future employer may see it and not hire me due to my posts. Case in point: In one of my last posts I had to rant about the ridiculousness of our politicians speaking ability. I’m very open about who I am online and have no problem putting my url on a job application and a link to my resume and reel (both still coming), so in theory any future employer might see that post and be offended and thus not offer me a job. Personally, I don’t want to work somewhere that is going to not hire me based on my opinions that have little or nothing to do with the company. If a HR person is going to be that closed minded about who they hire are these really the kind of people I want to associate with on a daily basis?

That being said there are defintely things that I avoid talking about when blogging. Why you may ask? Because I’m not Dave Winer and I can’t afford to the be that brash at this stage of my life. You may have noticed, for instance, that I don’t blog about specific things at work. This is a conscious choice, and in some ways the result of using various blogs as a reference like Dave Morin and Mike Silverman who both work for very cool, very big technology companies but refrain from commenting about their day jobs. I like my job and I chose not to make it the subject of my blog, which in case you forgot is title “my life, or something like it.” Considering my job is a large part of my life, and what I do everyday, I do not, however, let it define who I am. Every once in a while I may go on a tiraid about rediculous things that piss me off at work (trust me it happens…there is a post I already have coming!), but I never mention my place of employment, or the people in my office. Why? I dunno know but I guess it has to with a level of respect that I have for these people, but lord knows I was never told not to do it. It is a conscious decision on my part.

There are of course exceptions to this rule as there always are when attempting to deal in absolutes. A lot of the great politic literature of the past 400 years was written with pseudonyms, including some of my favorite works by Uncle Ben. But that was different time, and place in which exposing your views was comparable to putting your life on the line. Speaking of which, people who live/blog in strict societies such as China who censor, arest and shut down bloggers have a very good reason to delight in their anonimity for many of the same reasons that Franklin did. Check out this qoute from Wired

China’s government encourages internet use for business and education but tries to ban access to material deemed subversive. It also recently demanded that website owners register with authorities by June 30 or face fines. Chinese censors scour internet bulletin boards and blogs for sensitive material, and block access to violators. Sites that let the public post comments are told to censor themselves or face penalties.”

I’ll let you decide what their version of “subversive” in Chinese context is.

Now I’m not saying anonomous blogging, at least in the beginning is all bad. My original blog LackofApathy didn’t have anything about myself on it only because I had been scared to death by everyone telling me the Internet was were the Bogey Man lived and he would eat your soul…or something. After listening to a ton of podcasts and blogs about having an identity online I realized that I was sick of having the top hit on for “Matthew Kappenman” on google be a bunch of photos from The Ranch. I decided that I wanted control over my personal brand. I’m not saying that all blogging needs to be about increasing your “personal brand,” as the American Copywriter guys would say. For me personally, it is about increasing my brand and allowing not only friends and family, but strangers (who I hope to make friends…like Jim up in Canada) to get to know me and be honest while sharing information.

So basically, my advice is to ante up and have the guts to claim what you have to say in this “new medium.” Be transparent, let the world know how you feel and I guarantee you that that level of honestly will come around to help you in the end. Or, get yourself a livejournal account and lock it down from other people checking it.

If your blog is purely for your friends and family, slap your name on it. Really, why not? Now, will I continue reading this person’s blog? Probably, but only because I already know who he is! :)