Transparency is the new Morality
I mentioned a dinner I had at Switch in Encore at ASW with DK and Michael from Market Leverage. Our conversation ran five hours and spanned topics from international travel, mountain climbing, federal bailouts, laissez-faire economics, the constitution, and much more.
One part that stuck out in particular came when we were discussing the horrors of war. I argued that the same atrocities have been committed by both sides of any war for tens of thousands of years, the difference now is people who aren’t on the front lines can witness the horror on ustream or CNN. This age of unprecedented transparency and availability of information has ushered in a new morality, one where a politician can no longer say one thing publicly and authorize another privately. I’m not saying we know everything about everything, but it is definitely harder to hide something from a person today who decides to educate themselves.
I drew parallels to the Milgram experiment, where students would knowingly “shock” other students at the behest of their superiors. They would deflect blame by saying they were just doing what they were told, and the superiors claimed they didn’t do anything wrong because they didn’t actually do the shocking. We discussed Jefferson thouroughly during the dinner, but now I am reminded of a Benjamin Franklin quote: “So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.”
So now, with all this information and heretofore unprecedented transparency, is it not harder to find a reason? If you can no longer do one thing privately and claim another publicly, will people do the right thing? These are important questions as we enter a new era under President-elect Obama. I for one hope personal responsibility, the core of the American spirit, will triumph. Let the Information Age lead us into the Age of Transparency.
Chris, as an American that was one of the most important conversations of my life. Thanks for bringing me back in the fold.
Wow! Sorry I was at the opposite end of the table! We had some great conversation way on the other side, but it was of a bit more…casual nature. Bet you would’ve never guessed with the Shoemoney crew.
I loved DK’s challenge to take action and let your voice be heard. I think the past few years are a great example of why it’s so important to participate and educate yourself on our current situation. Like you said, policians can’t hide as much as they used to, but you still have to do your research on the issues. Hope you enjoyed Affiliate Summit as much as we did and thanks for the great post!
Chris, the problem is that today no one can agree on what “the right thing” is. It’s all situational ethics, which means shocking someone is fine if that’s what you want to do.
There used to be a morality based on the Christian teachings of 1) love God (who made people in order to love them) and 2) treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. No more – but the yearning for such teaching is plain to see.
@don I think a lot of people yearn for some discipline, a code to adhere to and that’s why religion had been as popular as it has.
Problem today is the Golden Rule used to mean “Treat others as you would like to be treated” and now it means “He who has the gold rules.”