Remaining consistent over time… I really don’t remember a point where I wasn’t sharing *something* on the web. Looking back at some of the things I’ve posted from the time I was 15 it’s easy enough for me to see that I was a completely different person then. I’m lucky if I read something posted 2 years ago and find I feel the same way about it, that’s if I even remember writing it in the first place. Perhaps I became more informed, or I was in a bit of a mood at the time, who knows, it’s that sort of context may be lost reading any of it today.

Transparency in this situation to me would mean being able to openly discuss any subject even when faced with the impossibility of escaping inconsistencies with the older views. Besides, it provides a perfect opportunity to not only reflect but reach a greater understanding with whomever is shedding light on your inconsistencies.

Transparency to me doesn’t necessarily mean sharing every detail of one’s life. I haven’t discovered any meaningful way for me as an individual to *easily* use this data for some greater purpose. Despite the quickening pace of societal changes we are undergoing brought on by technology, the social web is in its infancy. Facebook for example hasn’t given me ways to capitalize on the information I share – I can’t even archive and search it without much external effort. That being said, I don’t feel I currently add value telling the world about the nice walk I had with my dog, I still do of course, and I’ll certainly share some random song lyrics for no reason… maybe a reason or value isn’t required.

I suppose I do try sharing in a way that will hopefully provide food for later thought; a tag to be added to and expanded. There’s an immense possibility that some fantastic technology will come that allows me to fully utilize this life stream to improve myself and the world around me. This could just be me dreaming about and romanticizing an idea of transcending human biology, there may be some fear that by not sharing and archiving I’d miss out on this potential future. So in a sense I share primarily for my own edification and enlightenment, if someone happens to connect with what I share, positively or negatively, and they share in-kind I genuinely appreciate it. I think humans are inherently social in this regard and this was true before technology. Just as the Internet has changed “authority” it has given us further opportunities to enhance and strengthen our social connections whilst improving ourselves. As the technology evolves we evolve with it; if this evolving socialness forces us to be more truthful, introspective, and empathetic all the better I say.

I’ve also questioned the idea of transparency when it involves an organization I represent. There can be a certain paranoia at times when being transparent and vocal may prevent future career growth. My definition of transparency may not align to another or even be perceived as a positive thing. It also raises further questions about loyalty to oneself vs. others or the organization.

Ballmer at Microsoft’s company meeting stated company values include being self-critical, open and respectful with integrity and honesty. Great in principle, but both the individual and company face a dilemma. Is my future going to be at risk if I remain true to my ethics and values by being transparent and vocal? Does Microsoft risk disappointing shareholders, customers, and the media by doing the same? Should the individual speak out when a company is being hypocritical and not walking the talk?

One recent example, Microsoft decided to move Live Spaces customers to WordPress, the announcement made completely misrepresents actual usage data. How does this story align with the company values previously stated? Taking it further from a technical and IP perspective, does this business decision even align with Microsoft’s stance regarding GNU Public Licensing, isn’t this also somewhat hypocritical? What should my stance be given my unfavorable opinion, how transparent and vocal should I be on this topic, what form should it take, and so on?

Perhaps one measure of a person and their transparency is their ability to be self-critical and open about this very thought process in the most public of ways? I say person, because it brings up the corporate personhood debate, and to me it seems clear that being transparent is of greater risk to an individual than a corporation. Reward for living transparently will come from within for the individual that chooses to live as such; I don’t think the same can be said for the corporation. If anything, capitalism seems to encourage corporations to push back against ethics in an effort to increase value and thereby forces the avoidance of true transparency.

It’s at this point I start wondering, what does that actually says about the individuals who embody the corporation? If the majority of individuals believe they are living these values the corporation should follow suit right? Why then do we see so much evidence to the contrary and why do people remain in this flock as it masochistically heads in for slaughter? Are we so lacking in foresight to not see how inaction today may cause an irreparable reaction for us tomorrow? I personally can’t live with this idea, I need to have some hope that it’s just a matter of time before we live in a more just and empathetic society.

Published on October 5th, 2010 11:04pm