I'm for Internet transparency too. Although, I'm not sure I agree with a unified online identity. I think that the word "online" needs to be removed. Unified identity - so that we are always ourselves, no matter what the circumstances. Instead of augmenting our personality/identity to fit in a certain situation, we should just be ourselves.

Why do we have to look at the virtual/online world as different place when, in reality, all it is just another part of the real world. Your virtual identity, although in this "virtual world" is still tied to physical tactile things like you physical self and your computer. Can't we just use the social networking sites (I really dislike that term) as an extension of ourselves? We like to volunteer information we otherwise would easily volunteer in these websites yet complain when perfect strangers (and in some cases well known acquaintances) start snooping around our profiles.

In some cases it distances us from each other. I could ask Joe Shmoe what books he likes, but I'd much rather get it from his facebook. I know Joe, but I've never asked him that before in all the years I've known him what books he likes.

I have a love hate relationship with such websites. I use them... a lot. But sometimes find myself regretting what kind of information I post there.