After reading the article by Richards and Kosmala (2013), I couldn’t help
but raise many questions about surveillance. In case you do not know the
background of the article, the article talks about how workers are cynical
about what they do at work and how using blogs can make the worker feel like they
have some sort of control and distance away from corporate initiatives. An
online community was created for employees to be able to post their thoughts
and feelings anonymously without being in risk of getting into trouble. Yes, the workers are able to present
themselves and be included into the public sphere, which provided in a
definition ‘represents the free flow of public discussion and exchange of views
that is seen, in particular, as fundamental to the legitimacy of democratic
systems’ (Gunter 2009, p.128). So, allowing workers to be able to speak freely
in the public sphere is refreshing and comforting? Well, an anonymous blogger in Richards and
Kosmala’s (2013) article said ‘the
only way you can do anything is by anonymous blogging (fat lot of good that
does!) and by whistleblowing (bye-bye career)’ (Richards and Kosmala 2013,
p.74). Definitely a fat lot of good... What’s the point blogging and trying to
make a difference when no one knows who you are? Your own workmate could be
posting on your blog and you wouldn’t know! And this person knows that if they
ever reveal their identity, they would lose their job. But, maybe someone can
find your identity. Is your identity really secret? There are so many stories
where employers have found their employees on social networking sites, so what
stops them from potentially finding their employees publishing anonymous blogs?
I understand that publishing the blogs may be a sense of relief for employees,
but think carefully! I have never and would never even think about posting
something, even anonymously online about my work. You never know who is watching,
who is following and who may recognise you. Your online identity is never truly
hidden. Remember that…
Gunter, B 2009, ‘BLOGS’, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, retrieved 10
September 2013, http://reader.eblib.com.au.ezproxyf.deakin.edu.au/(S(go4rap5euiun2ze3im3ux1i0))/Reader.aspx?p=456419&o=154&u=Y6MUu2SE1v4X3uAKK2QSQA%3d%3d&t=1378797059&h=A60C740835C5A8A59C4579BAF4926A400412D1AD&s=9926571&ut=484&pg=1&r=img&c=-1&pat=n
Richards, J., and Kosmala, K., 2013 ‘In the end, you can only slag
people off for so long’: employee cynicism through work blogging’, New
Technology, Work and Employment, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 68 – 77.
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