The FTC is proposing ..."greater transparency and consumer control" ... These are the most important elements in any proposed self-regulation framework. It is NOT just about behavioral advertising. Greater transparency and consumer control should be applied to a wider construct than just behavioral advertising. Data is not being collected just to provide ads targeted to the consumer.

For example, data is also collected for interchange between social networking sites (which may later be used for behavioral advertising). Data is also collected to be sold (either raw or anonymized) - are you OK with someone else making money from selling your data without paying you even a penny?

Benjamin Franklin – (btw, my personal fave founding father) – was the poster child for “good citizenship”. His commitment to civic duty and community was clear. He helped establish or improve institutions such as public libraries, public hospitals, mutual insurance companies, volunteer fire departments, agricultural colleges and intellectual societies … when he wasn’t busy flying kites, inventing bi-focals or the smokeless fireplace (would he have time for a Twitter account? … @bfranklin something in this lightning thing …)

Sneak preview of the Pseuds Access widget. Coming soon.

Your name is the key to your identity and reputation. To most of us it is truly our most personal asset. Your name, including your associated persona is very valuable. Ask Tiger Woods. (Eldrick "Tiger" Woods, who changed his name legally to Tiger Woods). On the internet your name is exposed for the world to see, friend, poke, index, correlate, track and spam.

The next time someone asks your name … feel free to reply “Which one?” and ponder “Why do they need to know?” …

Back to the "Which one?" question ... anthroponym or pseudonym?

An Anthroponym is the name of a human being.

A Pseudonym, also known as an alias, is used by an individual as an alternative to a person's legal name. In most legal systems, a name assumed for a non-fraudulent purpose is a legal name and usable as the person’s true name

Enough *nyms? Read on.