Professional/Personal Info Survey: Final Results

Here are the final numbers…

Response breakdown, by question. Answers listed in order of popularity. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number. Some respondents skipped some questions.

NOTE: When I first published this survey, I neglected to include the option “disinterested” with several questions. I’ve since corrected that error. However, the first 30 responses probably under-reported “disinterested” reactions. As more responses came in, the impact of that initial under-counting lessened.

SURVEY QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES:

1. I think that web sites or weblogs where people primarily discuss their business, career, or area of professional expertise should NEVER offer ANY personal information – such as hobbies, whether they’re married or have kids, etc.
   • 56 (32%) said: I DISAGREE: I think some personal information offered in a business context is OK.
   • 48 (28%) said: I STRONGLY DISAGREE: I actually prefer to see some personal information, even in a business setting. I like to get to know the person behind the blog.
   • 39 (22%) said: I SOMEWHAT AGREE: It depends on the situation. (The sole “other” response offered to this question so far clearly falls into the “it depends” category.)
   • 15 (9%) said: Other
   • 10 (6%) said: NEUTRAL: It doesn’t matter to me.
   • 7 (4%) said: I AGREE: Personal and business info should always be kept completely separate. If you must disclose something personal, do that only in an entirely separate forum – preferably where I won’t stumble across it.
2. In a weblog you read mainly for business reasons, the author mentions in the context of a posting that she’s married. Your reaction is:
   • 79 (45%) said: POSITIVE: I like hearing a bit of personal context for a weblog I read regularly.
   • 64 (36%) said: NEUTRAL: I have no reaction to that disclosure
   • 16 (9%) said: DISINTERESTED. (However, the first 30 responses were gathered before I added this option to this question. So this answer may be slightly under-represented.)
   • 14 (8%) said: Other
   • 3 (2%) said: EMBARRASSED: I’m not repelled, but it feels slightly inappropriate.
   • 1 (1%) said: REPELLED: I did not come here to read personal info and am offended that it was provided.
3. On a weblog you read mainly for business reasons, the author occasionally posts about his penchant for stamp collecting. Your reaction:
   • 71 (41%) said: POSITIVE: I enjoy hearing a bit of personal context in a weblog I read regularly. It makes the blog a bit less stiff.
   • 39 (22%) said: DISINTERESTED: I tend to skip those posts, but enjoy reading the rest of the weblog. (This includes one “other” response which uses the word “disinterested.”)
   • 32 (18%) said:NEUTRAL: I have no reaction to the occasional stamp-collecting posts.
   • 16 (9%) said: STRONGLY POSITIVE: The stamp collecting posts actually add value to the weblog, and they often relate to the business topics in surprising ways.
   • 11 (6%) said: Other
   • 3 (2%) said: EMBARRASSED: I’m not repelled, but it feels slightly inappropriate and causes me to question that blogger’s judgement.
   • 2 (2%) said: REPELLED: I did not come here to read about stamp collecting and might stop reading because of those occasional posts
4. In one weblog you read mainly for business reasons, the author mentions in a posting that he is gay. Your reaction:
   • 46 (26%) said: POSITIVE: I always like to know more about the person behind the blog.
   • 38 (22%) said: NEUTRAL: I have no reaction to this disclosure. (This includes one “other” response that said “No reaction positive or negative.”)
   • 25 (14%) said: STRONGLY POSITIVE: I’m glad that the author is confident enough to be “out.”
   • 24 (14%) said: Other
   • 14 (8%) said: DISINTERESTED: (However, the first 30 responses were gathered before I added this option to this question, so this answer may be somewhat under-reported. Two early responders specifically said “disinterested” in their responses under “other.”)
   • 14 (8%) said: EMBARRASSED: I’m not repelled, but it seems somewhat inappropriate, especially in a business setting.
   • 8 (5%) said: RELIEVED/GRATEFUL: I too am gay (or am close to someone who is) and now feel a bit less alone or ashamed because of this blogger’s admission.
   • 3 (2%) said: REPELLED: That kind of personal information has no place on a business weblog.
   • 3 (2%) said: SCANDALIZED/NERVOUS: Homosexuality is shameful/taboo and should never be openly discussed, especially in a business setting.
5. In a posting to a weblog you read mainly for business reasons, the author mentions that she is Christian. Your reaction:
   • 43 (24%) said: POSITIVE: I always like to know more about the person behind the blog.
   • 36 (20%) said: Other – and these responses were very interesting
   • 35 (20%) said: NEUTRAL: I have no reaction to this disclosure.
   • 18 (10%) said: DISINTERESTED (However, the first 30 responses were gathered before I added this option to this question, so this answer may be somewhat under-reported. Two early responders specifically said “disinterested” in their responses under “other.”)
   • 15 (9%) said: EMBARRASSED: I’m not repelled, but it seems somewhat inappropriate, especially in a business setting.
   • 10 (6%) said: RELIEVED/GRATEFUL: I too am religious/spiritual (or am close to someone who is) and am pleased to see when someone does not find that embarrassing.
   • 10 (6%) said: REPELLED: That kind of personal information has no place on a business weblog. (One of these respondents used the word “repelled” in the “other” field for this question.)
   • 8 (5%) said: STRONGLY POSITIVE: I’m glad that the author is confident enough to be “out.”
   • 1 (1%) said: SCANDALIZED/NERVOUS: Religion/spirituality is not a topic that should be mentioned in mixed company, and especially not in a business setting. It’s too potentially volatile. Keep it in church.
6. On a blog that you read mainly for business reasons, the author one day mentions in a post that he’s one of the millions of people who suffers from depression. Your reaction:
   • 45 (26%) said: POSITIVE: I always like to know more about the person behind the blog.
   • 30 (17%) said: STRONGLY POSITIVE: I’m proud that the author is confident enough to be “out.”
   • 29 (17%) said: NEUTRAL: I have no reaction to this disclosure
   • 23 (13%) said: Other
   • 17 (10%) said: DISINTERESTED (However, the first 30 responses were gathered before I added this option to this question, so this answer may be somewhat under-reported. Two early responders specifically said “disinterested” in their responses under “other.”)
   • 17 (10%) said: EMBARRASSED: I’m not repelled, but it seems somewhat inappropriate, especially in a business setting.
   • 9 (5%) said: GRATEFUL/RELIEVED: I too suffer depression or another mental illness (or am close to someone who does), and now feel less ashamed or alone.
   • 3 (2%) said: SCANDALIZED/NERVOUS: Depression (or any mental illness) is shameful/taboo and should never be openly discussed, especially in a business setting. And how could someone with any mental illness ever be credible, anyway? (One of these responses came from the “other” field for this question, in which someone expressed being nervous about hiring someone who openly admitted to having depression.)
   • 2 (1%) said: REPELLED: That kind of personal information has no place on a business weblog.
7. Would you ever disclose personal information on your business site or blog?
   • 80 (45%) said: Maybe
   • 60 (34%) said: Yes, I already do
   • 25 (14%) said:Yes, I’d like to
   • 11 (6%) said: Never
8. In Question 8, people elaborated on their answers to Question 7.
9. Here’s what might make you quit reading a weblog that interests you mainly for business reasons:
   • 106 (60%) said: I don’t care about the personal disclosures either way. I’d only stop reading if the amount and quality of the business-related information declined. (This includes one response from the “other” field for this question which began, ” I usually don’t care about the personal disclosures either way…”
   • 38 (22%) said: Other
   • 19 (11%) said: If personal topics start appearing more than once a week
   • 9 (5%) said:I prefer to know the person behind the blog and would stop reading if the blogger never mentioned anything personal
   • 3 (2%) said: If personal topics start appearing more than once a month.
   • 1 (1%) said: Any disclosure of any personal information, no matter how rare or minor.
10. In the final question, 57% of respondents so far chose to identify themselves – usually by name, and with URLs or other contact information.