taser

Nothing is secret anymore. Unfortunately for Robert Scoble, whose private correspondence was aired on a blog, we are beginning to slowly learn that anything could potentially become public knowledge.

Okay, well, Robert Scoble’s experience is on the far extreme end of things. The blogger who brought Robert’s private correspondence into the light was acting not only unethically but did something that the blogosphere considers extremely socially awkward.

Despite this, people are learning more about you, no matter what you do, and your life isn’t necessarily private anymore. Blogs are mediums for people to talk. Some people will talk with integrity, with professionalism. Others will just try to instigate, obviously not caring too much about the people who are affected. (Interestingly enough, the individual who posted to the PodCamp NYC blog about Robert didn’t identify himself; he posted instead as “podcastnyc.net”. He had the courage to write a completely inappropriate blog post but he didn’t have the courage to go all the way and use his own name. Sad.)

Blogs are just one part of the picture. The other part isn’t exactly the latest in news: your Facebook and MySpace profiles aren’t secret either. It could cost you a job offer. It can tarnish a good reputation when you flaunt characteristics that are atypical of the model employee.