— attributed to a Mafia capo

"If you’re not doing anything wrong, what have you got to hide?" is a phrase commonly uttered by various authority figures when subjected to the righteous indignation of one who feels that his privacy has been wrongfully infringed upon. Only the righteous man truly becomes indignant . . . others might protest and bluster, but it is all an act. Those who regularly engage in wrongdoing (like politicians) are skillful liars who look upon lawful scrutiny of their activities as a mere inconvenience, and follow the rules of: "deny everything, admit nothing, demand proof, and make counter-accusations." Wrongdoers are well aware of "their rights" and the legal limitations imposed upon authority figures. The righteous man is at a disadvantage when confronted. He does not know the "rules of the game," will probably become flustered, may even feel guilty for not "co-operating," and will quickly reveal his innermost thoughts to a skilled (or unscrupulous) investigator. When busybodies and bureaucrats start meddling in one’s personal business, it can be quite disconcerting – even if one truly does not have "something to hide."

Silence is important for many reasons. For example, your "private life" should be kept private. Do you think that the last argument you had with your wife should be the subject of neighborhood gossip? Do you believe that everyone is entitled to hear your views on politics or religion? Do you feel that any snoop with a computer should be allowed access to personal financial and medical information? Maybe an ambitious co-worker or business competitor thinks that they would have a better chance of success if they could "find some dirt" on you. Maybe someone would be tempted to steal an original idea of yours, claiming it as their own, or perhaps they’d simply heap unwanted criticism upon a work in progress. How do you think it must feel to be "placed under a magnifying glass" by meddlesome busybodies with too much time on their hands, peeked at by the neighborhood pervert, or stalked by a disgruntled former employee (or psychotic ex-girlfriend)? As you can see, there are many legitimate reasons why a man should value his privacy (as well as that of others).

I was taught long ago that the only time it is permissible to lie is to either save a life or spare a homely girl’s feelings. If you feel the need to conceal sensitive information, consider why the person asking for it needs it (as well as if he needs it). Is his intent to harm you, or another? If so, you are most likely morally obligated to withhold that information. Are you under any obligation to admit possession of said information? If you are testifying in court and lie under oath, you might be committing felonious perjury, and if you are knowingly supplying false information to the police, you could be charged with "obstruction of justice," but aside from those two examples, you are under no legal obligation to co-operate with authorities (or employers, attorneys, and other meddlesome pests). If you fear being caught in a lie, you may deny any knowledge of the event in question, or simply state "I do not recall." It probably wouldn’t be in your best interests to say, in effect, "I know, but I’m not telling."

Why would a righteous man ever be interrogated? If you’ve done nothing wrong, why would a policeman, employer, or other authority figure single you out to be questioned? For one, the authorities (or lesser snoops) might be interested in the activities of an acquaintance, co-worker, or neighbor. Generally, you would be under neither a legal nor moral obligation to assist in such an investigation, unless the individual in question clearly posed a significant danger to others. In fact, provided that a "clear and present danger" did not exist, the act of providing personal (or otherwise sensitive) information to someone intending to use said information to harm another is morally reprehensible. Typically, informants are considered to be nearly as loathsome as baby rapers – especially when it is a close friend or family member being betrayed. Once you’ve wrongfully betrayed a friend, you have lost your honor – and honor (unlike face) cannot be regained. Snitches are lower than dogshit, and no-one (including the detective or employer they snivel to) will ever trust or respect them. Second only to rape, betrayal is the most abominable violation one human being can perpetrate against another.

What other sort of things might one be grilled about? Perhaps an enemy (or misguided do-gooder) had made serious (though unsubstantiated) allegations against you (child abuse and drug peddling being the most common). Perhaps you are suspected of misappropriating office supplies, committing "time theft," smoking marijuana, or owning a prohibited pet. Maybe you could even stand accused of cheating on your taxes, diverting funds from your employer, growing marijuana, owning contraband weaponry, or even committing more serious crimes! If any of these things were even partially true, you could be in a world of hurt if it were to come to the attention of the wrong people. Even seemingly minor things, like certain prescriptions in your medicine chest, or pornographic videotapes in the back of your closet, might cause embarrassment if their existence were revealed. If something that you think, do, or own is frowned upon by society at large, it would probably be in your best interests to keep that something private. If the average man’s innermost secrets (including past misdeeds that might be decades old) were suddenly revealed to those around him, it could very well result in his ridicule, persecution, and infamy. Most people are not as they appear . . . to some degree, we all wear masks.

Sometimes, we are our own worst enemies. People do like to boast and brag, especially after they’ve been drinking. Prohibited drugs often have a similar effect (marijuana lowers one’s defenses, cocaine induces "verbal diarrhea," and hallucinogens make one extremely vulnerable to any sort of manipulation). Insecure weaklings especially feel compelled to impress others. Do you have a weak ego? Be honest with yourself. A good example of a typical insecure weakling is the idiot who struts around a party, openly flaunting the fact that he’s wearing a handgun in a shoulder holster, presumably in hopes of inspiring awe and respect in those around him. It is generally advisable not to associate with boisterous braggarts (especially ones with a tendency to exaggerate, or even lie, about their accomplishments), and it would be incredibly stupid to actually trust them!

Sometimes, those closest to us can betray us unawares. Perhaps a friend’s casual remark to another about your impressive arms collection might be overheard by a fearful citizen, or maybe an unstable girlfriend might confide to her "support group" that she fears you might be "potentially violent." Young children are often persuaded to "tell all" about their homelife by well-meaning (but often ill-equipped) social workers, and (unless taught otherwise) have a tendency to parrot everything they hear. Wanting to impress his friends, your child might talk about the guns you own, ignorantly referring to your legal semi-automatic rifle as a "machinegun," which would be guaranteed to raise some eyebrows! As you can see, one’s private affairs can very easily become public knowledge.

It is of the utmost importance that one maintain communications integrity. Be aware that everything one does over the Internet is being monitored (and anyone who thinks otherwise needs to take their head out of their ass!). Be aware that all telephones are potentially tapped (many payphones are routinely tapped, and conversations over cordless and cellular phones can easily be intercepted – even inadvertently). And never put anything in writing that you would be ashamed to read in front of an auditorium full of people! Furthermore, one should be extremely selective about what one places in one’s trash receptacle, as snoops routinely dig through a target’s garbage when collecting intelligence. Sensitive documents and potentially embarrassing items should be shredded, burned, flushed, or disposed of in a similarly secure manner.

Be aware that conversations within your home can be heard by passers-by if a window happens to be open – even in another room! If you are talking inside an open garage, you might as well be sitting on your front porch. If you are unlucky enough to be residing in an apartment building, other tenants can eavesdrop upon you by listening at the heating ducts, or by placing a drinking glass against the wall (or floor) and pressing their ear to it. Similarly, when your vehicle is stopped in traffic, others can surreptitiously listen to your "private" conversation if even a single window is partially cracked. Any motorist or pedestrian within 20 feet will be able to hear every word spoken (unless your muffler had become detached). When outdoors, be aware that sound will travel far and clear at night, over water, or if the temperature is cold. Just because you cannot see anyone else nearby is no guarantee that you will not be overheard.

Whenever discussing sensitive information, be aware of who might overhear – even if they’re a complete stranger. Intelligence operatives often disguise themselves as airhead citizens, street people, or service industry employees in order to blend into their environment. Intelligence operatives are employed in a variety of capacities other than law enforcement and politics. A few examples include: private investigations, corporate espionage, and organized crime. Furthermore, these people (as well as private citizens, nowadays) have a plethora of hi-tech spy gear available to them (such as miniaturized cameras and microphones, as well as more sophisticated surveillance devices). Equipment once obtainable only by federal intelligence agencies can now be purchased by anyone with a valid credit card.

If, for whatever reason, you’ve attracted the attention of professionals, you will have difficulty keeping a secret. Your home, office, and vehicle could be broken into and hidden microphones (or even cameras) installed therein. Televisions, clocks, picture frames, electrical outlets, and sprinkler heads can all be utilized to conceal a wide-angle fiberoptic video camera lens. If you favor a particular table at a restaurant or tavern, a bug could be concealed nearby. Even the home of a family member or girlfriend could be bugged! Furthermore, a transmitter could be hidden within a watch, pen, or pair of footwear which matches your own, then substituted at first opportunity (which would be ideal since you would not be able to move out of range). A "laser bug" can record conversations by monitoring the vibrations of a windowpane, an "infinity transmitter" can turn one’s telephone into a microphone, a photocopier can be rigged to record all documents placed within, and even a semi-skilled hacker can access the hard drive of any personal computer attached to a modem.

It is unlikely that you would ever be targeted by professionals (unless of course you were a: celebrity, politician, nuclear scientist, foreign ambassador, genius inventor, corporate executive, investigative journalist, radical activist, ultra-conservative activist, professional criminal, or an outspoken sympathizer for our country’s enemies). In such a case, private "conversations" would need to be written out on a notepad before being torn to pieces and flushed (and believe it or not, even flushing or burning shredded documents may not be 100% effective when dealing with a resourceful and dedicated operative!) However, the average individual has little to fear from master spooks (but just try telling that to the paranoid wackos in the tinfoil helmets!).

If ever you were to find yourself in possession of sensitive information that might be considered dangerous (i.e.: others might be inclined to "delete the file" by emptying your brainpan if they feared it might be revealed), it is possible to "forget" said information through self-hypnosis. This form of selective amnesia is difficult to describe, but a properly trained individual can simply state, "that never happened," and the event in question will then become nearly impossible to consciously recall. The memory will, in effect, be compartmentalized within a lockbox; after which, the individual could successfully pass a polygraph examination as well as a voice stress analysis, because he truly will have no recollection of the event.

No matter who you are, someone can probably assemble a detailed file on you, simply by tapping a few digits into a keyboard (usually one’s Social Security Number is used, although other tracking codes may be substituted). From this information can be compiled one’s: spending habits, medical ailments, employment history, and criminal record, as well as everything that had ever been entered into a bureaucrat’s computer which pertains to you. From this file, a computer could deduce (with a reasonable expectation of accuracy) your likes and dislikes, political opinions, religious beliefs, deviate proclivities, and even a fairly complete psychological profile! Persons who meet specified parameters could be selected for "special attention" (marketing, etc.). You may not be able to do much about the personal data already in the hands of marketing executives (and others who would compile digitalized dossiers on every citizen they can), but by exercising a modicum of common sense, it is possible to prevent many thoughts and actions from being accessed by those who would like to "keep tabs on us." Every time you use a credit card, or the Internet, computers keep track of it. Being aware of this fact is one of the first steps towards safeguarding your privacy.

Awareness, discipline, and common sense are required if you intend to keep your secrets.