"All this is related to the question of identity online—related but different. What I publish can add up to my identity and with different publics I have different identities. So identity is a key component of our notions of public."

from Jeff Jarvis at Buzzmachine http://www.buzzmachine.com/2010/05/08/confusing-a-public-with-the-public/

Comments

[Tom Murphy]

I feel the issue with Facebook's disregard for other people's data is in their neglect of the fact that we don't just have one face that we present to the world. There is no single aspect of our character that can be defined as being definitively us. Our roles change with our circumstances. When I am with my children I am their parent and have to act in such a way with them that in some parts they won't appreciate until they are grown and have children of their own. I certainly don't talk to them the way I talk to my mates down the pub. (Not that I go to the pub that much anymore.)

Likewise, sometimes at work I am running the show and on other assignments I am a cog in the system. I have to adjust my behaviour accordingly., and so on. In any given day we are probably five or six different people.

Our presence online reflects that essential humannesss in our conduct. At tumblr I indulge my visual side and enjoy the quotes. I have my little astronony cardre on twitter. Facebook is by and large a repository for old friends and renewed acquaintances. I get my news from Tracked and so on. These are all public and anyone can visit me anywhere.

But as in real life most people are only interested in certain aspects of what I do and not in everything I do. (That would be weird, right.) Even the love of my life could not interest me in this year's or any year's fashion. I didn't love her any less.

Facebook seems to have forgotten this aspect human behaviour or maybe not realised it in the first place. By insisting that we want everything from everybody all of the time they are ensuring that no one wants anything from them anytime.

It is not really about privacy but about appropriateness and good manners. IMHO.