Net Transparency and The Rise of Taliban Militia-like Geek Thugs

Unless you've been living under Iraq, you're certainly aware that one of the most import social debates happening today is on the topic of "privacy." Some of privacy's loudest advocates are also ironically the loudest supporters of the "Age of Transparency." Odd.

Here we look at the cultural demand for transparency on the net. We look to examine it from a business perspective and potentially its long-term implications. We try to quell some of the misinformation and vitriol. Here specifically we try to highlight some of the key points as it relates to public relations.

By way of introduction, we'd like to thank a friend, Rachel Smolkin, managing editor of American Journalism Review, for her inspirational piece in the April/May issue. Titled "Too Transparent?," Rachel evaluates the issue from the perspective of a journalist. In her words, "It's healthy for news organizations to be much more open about their decision making than they have been in the past. But in response to relentless pounding from bloggers and other critics, is the transparency movement getting out of hand?"

The answer is YES! To understand that, first: What exactly is transparency? How did it come about? And how is it now the weapon of Taliban Militia-like Net geeks who bully others to impose their fundamentalist beliefs.

I am presently writing a reference piece on the topic of "transparency on the net." Thought this might be a relavant placeholder for the fans.