Egos, Intel, and the concept of "Silence"

ARGH!!!!!

The egos in the "intel" groups are so ridiculously HUGE that they will do anything to make a name for themselves. Anything to get their 15 minutes of FAME.  Some of these people are so egotistical that they will blurt out confidential intel to any Tom, Dick or Harry they can find to talk to on the internet.

I have invented a new term for this affliction.  It's called Okieitis.

So to all of you people out there that just can NOT keep intel to yourself, that just have to blab it across the various chat rooms and skype rooms and private message boards,Facebook and twitter ...  Well to all of you I just want to say thank you for your stupidity.  Thank you for caring so much about your overly stroked, vanity sucking, raging narcissistic, vainglorious, self-centred, conceited, arrogant EGOS, that you will blow it for everyone.

*deep breath in*
*deep breath out*

Sorry, I am a bit angry at the moment, having spent several hours being raked over the hot coals last night.


Ok, let me explain this in simple terms.

When a piece of extremely sensitive information gets leaked on the internet, that information gets back to the person, or people, or agency etc... that was the source of that piece of information.  At that point, the source of the information now knows that whomever they gave that piece of information to is no longer secure and/or trustworthy. In best case scenario: the source refuses to give that person information ever again, and that person has lost a valuable asset. In the almost-worst case scenario: the source's "boss" finds out that a piece of highly sensitive information has been leaked from their department/agency, and everyone that had access to that information is investigated, people are fired and charges are laid against them (and perhaps against the person who they leaked the information to). Absolutely very worst case scenario:  The sources Boss/agency finds out about the leak and after discussion with other very high up people that are involved in the situation, they decide that the leak has caused serious damage and is very detrimental to the situation, they then "stop" everything while they deal with the situation (which also includes investigating and firing and bringing up on charges).

Then there is the secondary damage that happens.  In this case, other stupid people read or hear the highly sensitive information, and they make stupid choices based on that information and perhaps the action they decide to take is not only stupid and self centred  but also causes massive delays- ie: people sitting around waiting in a certain city decide to all go to a certain location and demand that the people in that location do what they demand- this then caused other "agencies" to take immediate action to stop these idiots, which of course STOPS EVERYTHING.

And there is yet another damaging thing that can happen, and that is that the "bad guys" get a hold of the "top secret" information  that has been leaked and then THEY take action and do something to interfere with the process.

Do you understand now?  Do you see how damaging these leaks are?  Do you now realize that when people are told to "shut up" or to go silent, it means......

...SHUT UP AND GO SILENT!!!

It really is a very simple concept to grasp.

If you're told to be quiet, then BE QUIET.

... and to all those people who run websites geared to getting information to the public, I would please ask that you think about the information you are posting before you post it.  I realize that sometimes you do not realize the sensitive nature of the information you are sent, but most of you know someone with whom you could vet that information out with first.  I am therefore asking that you please review information very carefully before posting it.  The ramifications of posting the wrong thing can be extremely far reaching.

Silence truly is Golden.