Dipping into the Blogpond

Anyone with a finger on the pulse of the blogosphere would no doubt have heard about Kathy Sierra.

I have to say that I wasn’t familiar with Kathy or her blog, but from what I understand she’s well respected in her field and her blog seems filled with good quality information. Irrespective of her reputation or standing in the community, what she has experienced is just downright scary.

It’s a dilemma that faces a blogger, and perhaps more so women than men, about how much to reveal of oneself.

As a parent, I try to instil on my children about keeping safe online. They (the ones old enough to be using the internet) both have (private) Myspace profiles and have dabbled with other sites. I’m also conscious of what I write about my family.

Yet as a professional (as Kathy is), in order to receive credibility you need to “put yourself out there”, make your presence known and felt. To have to deal with what she has, in return for just doing what she does (best), is really sad – be it male or female. And unacceptable.

And I say good luck to Robert Scoble – if he and Maryam need a week to digest the situation, then who has the right to criticise that?

I hope that Kathy can find peace and happiness in what ever path she should choose.