August 13, 2005 – 11:39 am
SURVEY QUESTION 5: In one weblog you read mainly for business reasons, the author mentions in a posting that she is Christian. Your reaction:
The big news here is that, of the various specific online personal disclosures explored by this survey, the response to this one truly stunned me. Admitting online that you’re a Christian currently appears particularly controversial and risky– at least in a professional context.
This is a sign of the times. Most respondents appear to be from the US, and current US public reaction to the role of Christian conservatives in American politics, law, education, and society is especially heated and polarized right now. But still, I was stunned at the level of suspicion and even vitriol levelled by some respondents toward all Christians.
CAVEATS: All of this depends, of course, on whether survey respondents are being honest – and if you consider informal, self-selected surveys of any use at all.
Here are the responses for this question, and my initial observations about them…
August 12, 2005 – 11:42 am
Now we’re starting to delve into the truly sensitive and intriguing part of the survey – mentioning personal information that might be construed as non-mainstream, taboo, controversial, or “tangentially sexual.”
SURVEY QUESTION 4: In one weblog you read mainly for business reasons, the author mentions in a posting that he is gay. Your reaction:
The big news here is that mentioning on your professional blog that you’re gay is somewhat risky – but probably not as risky as you might imagine. Still, such a non-mainstream and potentially controversial disclosure should be made in a relevent, gentle context, and considered carefully. Know your target audience.
CAVEATS: All of this depends, of course, on whether survey respondents are being honest – and if you consider informal, self-selected surveys of any use at all.
Here are the responses for this question, and my initial observations about them…
August 12, 2005 – 8:37 am
In all, 176 people responded to my survey exploring people’s comfort zone with online personal/professional information. (More about this survey.) Here are the final results…
August 11, 2005 – 5:15 pm
SURVEY QUESTION 3: On a weblog you read mainly for business reasons, the author occasionally posts about his penchant for stamp collecting. Your reaction:
The big news here so far is that half of all respondents actually liked hearing about the hypothetical business blogger’s stamp collecting hobby – including 9% who liked it very much. Who knew?
Here are the responses for this question, and my observations about them…
August 10, 2005 – 9:55 pm
SURVEY QUESTION 2: On a weblog you read mainly for business reasons, the author mentions in the context of a posting that she’s married. Your reaction is:
The big news here so far is no surprise: Marital status is generally a pretty easy and safe personal disclosure to make, even in a business setting. However, it’s important to realize that this disclosure does reveal something about one’s sexual preference, sexual activity, and relationship structure – which puts it on a par with revealing that you’re gay, bisexual, polyamorous, etc. However, since heterosexual marriage is the norm in Western society, this particular personal disclosure generally is not considered shocking or controversial. Nor does saying you’re married generally get perceived as “flag waving” or proselytizing on behalf of marriage, heterosexuality, or monogamy.
Here are the responses so far for this question, and my initial observations about them…
August 10, 2005 – 9:42 am
The big news so far in my survey results is that the often-touted perspective, “No one wants to find anything personal on a professional site or blog,” (which has been directed at me personally quite a bit lately) appears to be completely wrong. The people who prefer a “Berlin Wall” between the personal and the professional comprise a distinctly small minority.
In fact, offering at least some personal information in a professional context may even increase your audience.
Here are the numerical responses so far for this question, and my initial observations about them…
August 10, 2005 – 8:01 am
(UPDATE SEPT. 3, 2005: This survey is now closed.)
My survey on people’s comfort zones with overlapping personal/professional information online is fascinating! Many of the most interesting are revealed in the write-in responses offered in the two text fields, plus the “other” option offered for many of the questions. As promised, I’ve published these responses…
Lately I’ve been exploring the issue of what is and is not “appropriate” on a business site or blog – but only anecdotally. I’d like to get a broader perspective on how others view this issue.
More about this survey (which is now closed)…
Back on July 26, I participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Boulder Writers Alliance on the topic of “Trends in Today’s Media.” I’ve had a couple of very hectic links, and I just realized this morning that I’d neglected to post the audio from that session. Sorry about the delay. What struck me about this session is how much professional writers and editors (especially independent ones) need to think creatively about their field and work opportunities…
Recently one of my favorite authors, Paul Graham published an essay that I’ve now read three times and I’m about to read it again. It really is that important. Plus, it ties together several themes I keep encountering these days in my work and my life. See: What Business Can Learn from Open Source. I promise, this article is not at all techno-geeky. It’s philosophical and plain-spoken. Here are some key excerpts, and why they resonate with me…
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