So...you are staying in the States, Part II Share This:





#2 worked in the police department of a major city before quitting in disgust over the rampant police abuse she witnessed, particularly the sexual abuse of women. She determined to write a 'tell all' book and spent the better part of a year doing so. Reportedly she had a publisher eager to see the manuscript when completed. So far, so good....or it would have been had she not told all about the 'tell all.' Anyone who would listen got an earful-and-a-half about her book, including the contacts she retained in the police department.



Lo and behold, after she finished the rough draft, her apartment was burglarized and the only things taken were her computer and the manuscript. It was almost as though someone knew she'd finished, where she kept the MS, etc. Who, oh who could it have been? The worst asapect of the burglary was that #2 had neglected to make a copy of the printed MS or to maintain off-site backups of her computer. And, so, the book was truly, duly gone. And lest she reconstruct it from memory, #2 was set-up by a former coworker, arrested and sentenced to an unusually long term given the nature of her 'crime.'



There are many, many lessons here. First and foremost: if you are slapping authority across the face -- even if the slap is legal -- shut up about until you have to let the authority know. If #2 had simply published the book, the publicity would have shielded her. A close second: never mistake a cop for a friend. Cops violate rights for a living; it is their profession to enforce the violation of your rights and there is no such thing as an off-duty one. Befriending a vice cop is like a lamb befriending a lion and bringing him mint jelly as a gift. Third Beware of anyone who is so "open and honest" as to show no discretion or discernment about what they say or to whom they say it. Fourth: always back up your data and keep the disk in a remote location. If possible, send back-up disks to friends or family who are out of the country. The more sensitive the data, the more imperative this becomes. Fifth never engage in anything criminal at the behest of someone you are not 100% absolutely certain you can trust. Even, then, show extreme caution. The very request should set off deafening alarm bells.



Part III of "So...you are staying in the States" will deal with #3's unique strategy for getting back at the State for fun and profit; it is a strategy I've never adopted due to moral reservations but a strategy in which I see logic. Back to category overview Back to news overview Older News Newer News



I actually took her aside once and advised her to "shut up!" because her former coworkers were not only going to be furious about being literally named but they also carried guns. I was particularly bothered by her continuing friendship with a vice cop whom she swore was a really nice guy...rather like someone being a really nice Nazi. And, so, I stopped talking to her about the book...and about almost anything else I wouldn't tell an agent of the state. Which means, the weather was discussed a lot. That's how I typically respond when someone I know has logorrhea (diarrhea of the mouth), which she called "being honest and open" with people.Lo and behold, after she finished the rough draft, her apartment was burglarized and the only things taken were her computer and the manuscript. It was almost as though someone knew she'd finished, where she kept the MS, etc. Who, oh who could it have been? The worst asapect of the burglary was that #2 had neglected to make a copy of the printed MS or to maintain off-site backups of her computer. And, so, the book was truly, duly gone. And lest she reconstruct it from memory, #2 was set-up by a former coworker, arrested and sentenced to an unusually long term given the nature of her 'crime.'There are many, many lessons here.if you are slapping authority across the face -- even if the slap is legal -- shut up about until you have to let the authority know. If #2 had simply published the book, the publicity would have shielded her.: never mistake a cop for a friend. Cops violate rights for a living; it is their profession to enforce the violation of your rights and there is no such thing as an off-duty one. Befriending a vice cop is like a lamb befriending a lion and bringing him mint jelly as a gift.Beware of anyone who is so "open and honest" as to show no discretion or discernment about what they say or to whom they say it.: always back up your data and keep the disk in a remote location. If possible, send back-up disks to friends or family who are out of the country. The more sensitive the data, the more imperative this becomes.never engage in anything criminal at the behest of someone you are not 100% absolutely certain you can trust. Even, then, show extreme caution. The very request should set off deafening alarm bells.Part III of "So...you are staying in the States" will deal with #3's unique strategy for getting back at the State for fun and profit; it is a strategy I've never adopted due to moral reservations but a strategy in which I see logic. Printer Friendly Wendy McElroy - Monday 02 March 2009 - 13:58:28 - Permalink Part I of "So...you are staying in the States" described the tactics my friend (code named #1) employed to increase his personal freedom. It also critiqued what I view as poor tactics on his part...at least, if freedom was the goal. In Part II, I discuss friend #2 of whom I am far more critical; indeed, her story is a cautionary tale but one with important lessons for anyone who values personal liberty. On with the tale...#2 worked in the police department of a major city before quitting in disgust over the rampant police abuse she witnessed, particularly the sexual abuse of women. She determined to write a 'tell all' book and spent the better part of a year doing so. Reportedly she had a publisher eager to see the manuscript when completed. So far, so good....or it would have been had she not told all about the 'tell all.' Anyone who would listen got an earful-and-a-half about her book, including the contacts she retained in the police department.