In the case of BP, there are bound to be alternative takes on their current situation [http://bit.ly/aipjuy]. While they are generally just sounding-off boards with anyone and everyone venting their frustration at the action or inaction of said company, if you are patient enough to sift through the cacophony, you’re likely to find nuggets of information that would be overlooked by the mainstream media, and certainly not drawn attention to by the official website.

One can see why BP would accentuate positive stories for the sake of the stockholders, but you’re right in pointing out that they do themselves no favors by appearing to “hide” distasteful elements that are bound to turn up eventually on the World Wide Web. I must say, in BP’s defense, that were I trying to conceal the extent of the disaster, I would certainly have turned off that camera showing the spewing oil day after day for all to see. Its visual aspect makes the urgency of the situation hard to ignore.

Of course, at this point, the disaster is growing to such epic proportions that it may bring the company down, so it’s uncertain what possible positive impact would be gained from true transparency other than the unquantifiable “feeling” that BP has been honest with the public and taken rightful responsibility.