A dialog with a friend

I am in the process of reading Anathem by NeaI Stephenson recently so I have been itchin' for a socratic dialog. I got one in a long conversation the other day with a friend on my facebook profile.  The topic was radical transparency.  I really enjoy thinking things through this way and I wish there were more opportunities.

 Steve Wright I do not believe that there are situations where information should be withheld. "Should" is the critical word. via Twitter - 11:45am

 Jeannie Pettigrew Whelan at 2:49pm December 30

Hmm. I don't think I believe you.

 Steve Wright at 5:12pm December 30

Really? Why?

 Jeannie Pettigrew Whelan at 9:34pm December 30

Well, I can think of several scenarios when information should be withheld...in order to preserve peace and balance. Maybe it's best to withold, but not make a big deal out of it.

Are you saying you are in favor of transparency?

 Steve Wright at 8:28am December 31

I am definitely in favor of transparency. We have earned the world we are in today by assuming the privilege of withholding information. The assumption that I can create peace and balance by choose what information to withhold is mostly hubris. We can't have balance with transparency. Additionally, the conceit that allows us to withhold information actually stunts our development. We can advance as a world only if we provide the information that will catalyze new insight.

 Jeannie Pettigrew Whelan at 10:04am December 31

Can you/do you apply this in your personal life as well? I have some specific examples in mind that are too personal to post here..If I were to divulge information that I know that others have been "shielded" from, it would cause pain, disappointment, sorrow. And it would all be for "transparency." So what?