Secret Identity

If you have been keeping up with the latest news in technology, there are some exciting news such as Apple’s introduction of iBooks2 and iAuthor.  We will finally see the next evolution of what eBooks should be.  However, the latest news is flooded with concerning privacy issue.  Even government has been very much involved with the controversial issue with the introduction of the Stop Online Privacy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) bills.  Even major companies such as Facebook with requiring all users to switch to Timeline and Google’s new privacy policy are getting major headlines.

With such concern for privacy, there are many discussions and recommendations to protect your privacy.  Several articles recommend the separation of your personal and professional account.  Such separation would help minimize risk of privacy exposure and minimize impact of identity theft in the event of a compromise.  Even prior to these privacy issues, companies have always recommended keeping personal lives at home.  With technology, we may be able to separate our accounts, but can we truly compartmentalize our different lives?  More importantly, should we?

Even in politics today, there is a question of whether digging up a politician’s personal life is important in the selection of officials, especially the President.  While I understand it is a public position serving the community, it is interesting that we place value in their personal lives including their religious belief.  However, in our own personal lives, we prefer it be kept separate.  Don’t our values and beliefs influence our actions and work despite where we are?

It is clear that Jesus taught us to clean our insides and therefore our outsides would be clean (Matthew 23:25-28).  However, too often people work on their appearance instead of their character.  Unfortunately, we seem to be more like a chameleon where we take on the color of our environment.  At church, we demonstrate our Christian attributes.  At work (in a secular environment), we suppress those attributes and demonstrate our other attributes.  It is like having a secret identity.

On the other hand, there does need to be a balance.  As a manager, I do not want the impression that I place greater value with those who agree with my beliefs.  If I truly follow in His footsteps, I hope people would see that I value everyone equally as He does.  It is certain that my faith in Him should not be a secret identity.  We cannot simply separate our personal and professional lives.  However, should there be care taken to properly balance this at work?  What do you think?