One thing I don't keep private is how much I value my privacy. If the contradiction in that sentence strikes you as an oxymoron, good, it shows you're thinking.

And this is but one minor example of the tension between the public nature of a blockchain and the pseudo anonymity that disconnects the immutable public ledger from real world identity.

As a public ledger, blockchain technology is a powerful publishing tool for anything, including steemit posts, votes of an election, court decisions, deeds to land and payment history, all of which provide accountability and a highly secure WORM (Write Once, Read Many) database.

Being involved with BitShares for several years I have often commented on the juxtaposition and dichotomy between public blockchain information and the need for privacy. When John Underwood's Identabit was first introduced I raised concerns of how it might affect BitShares. I was involved with Onceuponatime and the early formation of the BitShares stealth feature (now being spearheaded by kencode ofBitShares Munich) because I saw the need to protect what assets are owned from just anybody.

So for me personally the concept of a public blockchain ledger and privacy/ personal control are quite contradictory. It is the application of the tool that determines whether it will be used for good or evil, not the tool itself.

Anyone that claims they are not concerned about privacy today have not learned the valuable lessons history has to teach us. Who would want their monthly bank statements published in the local newspaper? The greater the balance in your account the more you'll probably want to hide it from the public.