May 22, 2005
Transparency is like "truth" or "honesty," except it's neither of those things, which is why it takes a new term of art like "transparency" to accomplish its intent. We're all cynical enough to know that we ought to be very skeptical whenever we observe that some authority figure, or company is doing something, especially something that appears to be altruistic. We intuitively understand that it's unreasonable to expect entities that compete for attention and authority ever to be completely truthful or honest about their intentions. We want to believe that promoting and embracing "transparency" may inhibit those entities from the worst examples of deceit, and give us the opportunity to "see" the truth behind their actions.
We also want to believe in ourselves, in our power to "change the world," or, at least, make the world a better place. Part of believing in the notion of "transparency" is also a wish to believe in ourselves and this power to make the world a better place.
The entities that compete for attention and authority understand all this. Therefore, many of them they try to act in ways that give observers some reason to believe that they're being "transparent." They understand that this makes the people who believe in "transparency" feel good about themselves. It validates and flatters them. People enjoy receiving validation and flattery, and they're quite reluctant to criticize those who give it to them.
Instead, they will turn their attention to other entities that they perceive as not being as "transparent." They will criticize them and feel good about themselves in their effort, believing they're helping to "change the world." It's a "win-win" proposition. The supposedly "transparent" entities benefit, from having negative attention directed at their competitors.
I think that the entities that make no show of embracing "transparency," are the ones that are the most transparent. And I think that people who don't put any particular faith in the idea of transparency are the ones most likely to actually see what's going on.
-- Dave Rogers @ Groundhog Day
Posted by Vanderleun at May 22, 2005 07:47 AM from American Digest