Today's New York Times features a great article on what happens when blogs disclose too much information, specifically in the context of dating. It echoes some of the immediate observations I had when I first learned about blogging two-and-some years ago. This blog didn't launch until a year and a half later, with a refined purpose and after a lot of thought about its boundaries.

I make a living on selecting and packaging information, so this analysis was probably more thorough than usual. That said, for reasons that are evident from the terrific article, this blog does not discuss my friends, what we did or talked about, who I am dating or other areas where information leaks can cause trouble. I think when people feel like they may be discussed in a public forum later, they become reluctant to share information; thus, this supposed next wave of democratic journalism actually winds up upsetting the delicate optimal exchange of dialogue underpinning wholesome social relationships.

Conversely, I continue to be amazed by blogs whose authors seem to lack any notion of boundaries. (Indeed, this Times article's author, judging from some of what we learn about her in the article, seems to lack this notion herself.) You have to wonder what the next leak will be. As someone whose livelihood depends on confidentiality and trust, I prefer to post observations about things most people can share in--and to save the really good stuff for personal converations with close friends.