Updated 9/2/2008 approx. 2 p.m.: Mack Collier has a great related post. Not so much about being judged based on political views, but about using discretion while on Twitter and other social media.

Just with the post when I asked if companies can be too transparent, people can, too.

Let me explain.

ToledoTalk.com is an active, local discussion board. A more politically-focused one — SwampBubbles.com — grew out of it when politics seemed to be reigning on ToledoTalk.

I’ve stayed away posting and commenting my political and other potential emotionally charged views on SwampBubbles, as well as local blogs.

Why?

Because I didn’t want a current or potential client to make a judgment on my employer because of my political or other personal views. Of course, wherever I post or set up a profile, I post who I am in my profile, including my blog and on my blog, I post my employer. So, it’d be easy to find out my employer by checking in on me.

Real, serious, professional prospective and current clients very likely wouldn’t have let my views affect how they view my employer. But, some may. And, that’s not a chance I wanted to take.

So, I stayed — and stay — mute on emotionally-charged topics like politics, religion, etc. I don’t even post my political or religious views or classification on places like Facebook. It shouldn’t matter to others.

However, while hearing Barack Obama’s acceptance speech last night (my wife was watching while I was at our computer), I let some political views slip on some tweets.

While I doubt it, there may be some potential employers — I am seeking, you know — and future clients who may judge (against) me because of my political views. I sincerely doubt it, but can’t be 100% positive. It’s not a chance I can afford to take.

So, I should’ve pulled back on my transparency mode.

Of course, some could argue that my political and other, more personal views could have a positive affect. Well, because you can’t have it all, I prefer to let my professional experience and credentials speak for themselves.

Not my personal views.

-Mike