By Jerry Riley

There is only one way to assure yourself that your secret is safe. DON’T tell anyone. But, what fun is having a secret, if you don’t tell someone? There lies the problem —well, at least my reason for this column. If you think you have to tell someone, be sure it is someone you trust! Remember though, some trustworthy people just can not be trusted, sometimes.

It’s pretty much just human nature to show how much we know, to those who may not know, what you know, you know? The person you told may only tell one person. That person may only tell one more person, and, suddenly, your secret is no secret.

The manner of revealing of a secret may be as much at fault as the original teller. The question, “Can you keep a secret?” may imply this is a secret, but you aren’t sure the that the teller wouldn’t have told you if it was actually a secret. Therefore, you have rationalized, that it is not a secret, freeing you to pass on the secret. Before you entrust someone with your secret, be sure they understated they are not to tell anyone. You might also remind them to tell whoever they tell, that it is a secret. By that time we are back to everyone knows what your secret is!

I guess, if you really need to tell a secret, make one up and see where it goes - and what a revotin’ development this is!

The bottom line, actually, is do not tell anyone anything that you would not say publicly.

Jerry Riley comments for the News Bulletin. He is a retired telecommunications supervisor.