That's shorthand in this text-message obsessed world (would you believe I've NEVER sent a single text message to anyone in my life and I'm supposed to be part of this tech saavy generation? I'm already a "freak" with my red hair, but now I'm beginning to wonder if I should add "weirdo" to my Bio!) for "Too Much Info" and I've been thinking a lot about transparency as it exists today in corporate America.

Obviously, we're all well aware of the impact that social networking sites have had on our industry - both the good and the bad. And it's not just the Recruiting and Staffing world that has experienced this phenomenon.

It seems as though people of all ages, demographics, and walks of life demand some sort of transparency from others (i.e. other people as well as the various companies of the world) and if the veil of secrecy isn't lifted watch out! It's almost as if people nowadays look at you as though you're "hiding something" if you haven't joined this Revolution of Things Revealed.

I still marvel at some of the "What are you doing right now?" comments people publicize on their Facebook page. I mean, do we really need to know EVERYTHING about you and what you do on a minute-to-minute, hour-by-hour basis? That brings me back to this whole TMI issue and movement regarding genuine transparency.

As mentioned, I've been doing a lot of thinking on this subject (a lot of soul-searching actually) and have even had many interesting discussions with those people whom I admire. The general consensus? Just be yourself! Don't be ashamed of who you are and/or what has made you the person you are today or of the things that have allowed you to reach the current path you're on in life! Besides, the consequences of trying to stifle such things and suppress them will only draw potentially negative attention to yourself once that very info you've chosen to ignore eventually comes out because it will in this day and age.

Simply put, you'll be perceived as being "disingenuous" when all people ever wanted was for you to be "genuine." Again, be yourself. Be real.

Wise words that I'm going to take to heart.

What do you think? In this Web 2.0 world - especially in our industry and line of work - do you think there's a risk of sharing TMI and/or of being too transparent?