Halloween Costumes, Blogs, and Authenticity

Halloween is coming up in a few weeks, and my kids are planning their Halloween costumes, which has me thinking about blogs and authenticity.

To be effective, you need to blog as your real self, transparently and authentically. If you try to "change" yourself for your blog, well, it just doesn't work long term. Writing in a conversational manner on a regular basis, as bloggers do, make it difficult to disguise your real self.

For example, I doubt I could pull off the "I'm a 100% serious business type with no sense of humor who confirms to established lines of thought" for very long -- it's just not me.

But can bloggers disguise their real selves for the occasional post, just like wearing a costume for Halloween or perhaps a costume party?

For example:

• Could I do a fake guest post as a female, just as I once wore a dress on Halloween(and I make an ugly woman!)?
• How about a satirical post about a topic you normally blog on?
• Maybe a mock post as Fred Flintstone? (famous cartoon character)

Well, I say why not? If it's fun and not harmful, who cares?

Just as on Halloween I might disguise myself for the fun of it, there is nothing wrong with an occasional non-authentic blog post. Even if it might be technically dishonest, as long as you are just "lying recreationally," as in a practical joke, I say it's OK.

Stand by for a string of posts by Hannah Montana next :)

Oh, and Halloween? My kids will be dressed as Jesters, and I'll either be a ghost (sheet over my head) or perhaps buy a great commercial Halloween costume.

Hmmm, maybe an un-authentic yet appropriate post on Halloween :)