Comments on: How Transparent is Too Transparent?

By: Tania Mara

Tania Mara — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:42:50 +0000

As I see it, “transparent” becomes “too transparent” when you cross the line that keeps–or at least is supposed to keep–professional and private issues apart. The example you mentioned is perfect. Private matters are just that–private.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:40:13 +0000

I live by the TMI and Need to Know rules of transparency. You can’t adopt a buzzword and disengage your ability to think. If I’m writing about some gizmo and got a demo for free from the company, I think readers should know. If I’m writing about some gizmo and launch into a rant about some personal fanaticism of mine, the TMI and Need to Know rule comes into play. Transparency, like so much of blogging, has been turned on its ear, become a marketing gimmick and often is so broad as to be nonsensical.

By: Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach

Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:24:14 +0000

I draw the line at sharing too-personal information with my readers – I’m happy to teach, I’m happy to help but my personal life my own.

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Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:36:03 +0000

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By: carrie

carrie — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:27:06 +0000

With the transparency issue, it depends what’s being revealed. There’s a big difference between admitting you got paid to review a book or product, versus going into the details of your divorce or separation. In the last few months, 2 of the bloggers I follow posted rather detailed accounts of their marital difficulties and subsequent separations. I felt like it was more than I needed to know, and didn’t quite “get” it. But then again, I am a writer, so I know that writing is cathartic, or can be. Bloggers are writers, so maybe it’s a form of therapy or cleansing to communicate about some of life’s more difficult challenges, whether the audience is into it or not.

By: David Turnbull

David Turnbull — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:41:03 +0000

I’m all for openness but I’ve actually written an article for my blog (going up in a few hours) about my distaste of what the idea of “radical transparency” could become. I’m worried that in a few years it could be considered normal to let our “followers” know where we are via GPS, or have live streams constantly running at our work stations.

Yes, I realise how paranoid that sounds, but people are becoming increasingly open with what part of their lives they share.

By: Phil

Phil — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:26:32 +0000

I was glad to see the ruling that bloggers had to acknowledge paid product endorsements. The worst thing is to read an “impartial” review only to find out someone way paid for it.

There is too much information, but the problem is more with too much bad information.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:02:54 +0000

Writers need appropriate boundaries for healthy relationships just like everyone else. When drawing those boundaries one of the key questions to ask is “Will it be helpful to the reader?” A second question is “Will this harm someone else?”

My grandmother used to tell this story:

Mabel was a woman who always had a kind word for everyone. One day her best friend said, “Mabel, you never say anything bad about anyone. Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if you said something nice about the devil himself.”

“Well,” replied Mabel, “You have to admit: he certainly is industrious.”

By: PageWrite

PageWrite — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:00:42 +0000

I agree. Honesty is important, as is distinguishing the the difference between honestly and sharing too much personal information. Sometimes personal details are relevant, interesting, or even the topic you write about, that is acceptable and often desirable, but it is important to know when you are sharing things people don’t necessarily want or need to know.

By: Deb

Deb — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:18:40 +0000

Rock on.

By: Dave Doolin | Website In A Weekend

Dave Doolin | Website In A Weekend — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:02:23 +0000

I am going the John Chow/Shoemoney route and declaring my “evil, money grubbing intentions” right up front.

This has a pleasant side effect of weeding out 2 kinds of people: 1. the humor impaired, and 2. the professionally disgruntled.

I write about WordPress. The market is really big. I’m not worried about it.

By: Alex Lim

Alex Lim — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:39:48 +0000

I believe there is a certain limit for everything- too much is abusing. When people are fed with too much information they tend get more curious and hungrier with the truth behind things, I guess everybody likes private stories. Yet, when it comes to profession and business, transparency is good to be practiced. It’s way where you can establish trust among the people you deal with. I really admire people who are honest with their business; they are the ones who stay longer.