Author of The Blackout Book and the online course Bloom Where You’re Planted
If you’ve been in prepper circles for long, you’ve probably heard the term OpSec. It is taken from military jargon and it’s short for Operations Security. In the preparedness and survival world, it generally means not letting other people know that you are prepped, or if they know, they definitely don’t know the specifics of what you have.
Not only do we want to keep the level of our preparedness private, these days, keeping our opinions private might be likewise beneficial from a security perspective. More on that in a moment.
Trigger Warning: There’s no way I can write this article without ticking somebody off. Some readers will feel that I’m siding with the right and others will feel like I’m siding with the left. I’m not because I am not a Democrat or a Republic, nor am I a conservative or a liberal. I’m a critical thinker with diverse opinions that fall into all sorts of categories. Yet others will feel I didn’t go far enough or that there’s some “fact” or conspiracy that I didn’t reveal. I’m not an ice cream cone. I can’t make everyone happy. Also, there may be some swearing.
What is OpSec?
Here’s a definition for those who aren’t familiar with the concept.
Operations security (OPSEC) is a process that identifies critical information to determine if friendly actions can be observed by enemy intelligence, determines if information obtained by adversaries could be interpreted to be useful to them, and then executes selected measures that eliminate or reduce adversary exploitation of friendly critical information.
In a more general sense, OPSEC is the process of protecting individual pieces of data that could be grouped together to give the bigger picture (called aggregation). OPSEC is the protection of critical information deemed mission-essential from military commanders, senior leaders, management or other decision-making bodies. The process results in the development of countermeasures, which include technical and non-technical measures such as the use of email encryption software, taking precautions against eavesdropping, paying close attention to a picture you have taken (such as items in the background), or not talking openly on social media sites about information on the unit, activity or organization’s Critical Information List. (source)
This article explains the concept more thoroughly.
OpSec goes hand in hand with the gray man principle. Here’s Selco’s definition of being the gray man.
It is a simple concept that comes to be very important when SHTF, and it is often completely opposite to how a lot of preppers are planning to look or act.
In the shortest definition, it is staying uninteresting or simply looking and acting like most of the people around you in a particular moment.
It can be used in a lot of situations when SHTF, during prolonged periods of time, or during short-term events. (source)
As tensions increase dramatically in the United States, many people will find it more important than ever to practice these principles.
Extraordinary things are happening.
Over the past few years, the United States has become extremely polarized – so much so that violence can break out simply because two people or groups of people support different presidential candidates.
We’re seeing “othering” on an extraordinary level as Big Tech and the Mainstream Media throw gasoline on the raging dumpster fire that is our recent election. There’s a purge of conservative voices that goes beyond anything I’ve personally seen – way beyond the purge of alternative media a couple of years ago.
While Donald Trump is on his way out of the White House in just under two weeks, the fact remains that the two largest social media outlets in the world, Facebook and Twitter, have suspended the accounts of a sitting President of the United States. Now, they’re private businesses – they get to make their own rules and they’re protected from any legal fallout by Section 230, unlike the rest of us folks on the internet. However, the fact that they would take such an action is simply astounding in its audacity.
Go to a different outlet, you said? Well, that would be a great idea so we did. Conservatives and libertarians went to Parler in droves and the MSM sobbed into their lattes that it was a threat to democracy. And guess what else happened? Google effectively killed Parler today by removing the app from the store. José Castañeda, a Google spokesperson, said:
“In order to protect user safety on Google Play, our longstanding policies require that apps displaying user-generated content have moderation policies and enforcement that removes egregious content like posts that incite violence.
All developers agree to these terms and we have reminded Parler of this clear policy in recent months.
We’re aware of continued posting in the Parler app that seeks to incite ongoing violence in the U.S.
We recognize that there can be reasonable debate about content policies and that it can be difficult for apps to immediately remove all violative content, but for us to distribute an app through Google Play, we do require that apps implement robust moderation for egregious content.
In light of this ongoing and urgent public safety threat we are suspending the app’s listings from the Play Store until it addresses these issues.” (source)
Apple has also given Parler an ultimatum to either moderate content or get nuked there too.
And speaking of egregious things, the glaring double standard between the media coverage in Washington DC on Jan. 6th and the coverage of “protests” all over the country for the past year is particularly flagrant.
This blatant silencing of dissent is heinous and reminiscent of Communist China or North Korea. I mean, the DoJ did just revive the legality of firing squads. While we’re not currently being executed for dissenting opinions, people are losing their livelihoods, having their homes vandalized, and being ostracized. ABC News literally called for a cleansing of Trump supporters.
“Even aside from impeachment and 25th Amendment talk, Trump will be an ex-president in 13 days,” ABC’s Rick Klein and MaryAlice Parks wrote for The Note on Thursday. “The fact is that getting rid of Trump is the easy part. Cleansing the movement he commands, or getting rid of what he represents to so many Americans, is going to be something else.”
It now reads, “Cleaning up the movement he commands, or getting rid of what he represents to so many Americans, is going to be something else.”
Klein also shared the original phrase on Twitter before deleting it.(source)
Do they wish to “cleanse” all 74,223,744 people whose votes were considered official? It’s rather reminiscent of a recent hullabaloo when another guy on Twitter wanted to send Trump voters to re-education camps. (See #7 here.)
Incidentally – neither Klein’s account nor ABC News’s account were suspended by Twitter. Nor was that guy who wants to forcibly re-educate people. Just the President’s. Oh and a whole bunch of other people who had the audacity to be publicly supportive of him. But not those cleanser and re-education people. They’re cool.
Know what you’re getting yourself into before taking action.
If you’re anything like me, your initial reaction is, “F*ck this. I’ll say what I want.” I agree wholeheartedly that this is outrageous censorship on a massive scale, it’s virtual book-burning, and the double standard is utter bullsh*t and I’m furious about it.
But this is, first and foremost, a website about survival and preparedness. This is not a site about staging a revolution and I have really limited the coverage of politics since the 2016 election. I want it to be a place where everyone feels welcome to learn about preparedness and the events that affect us, regardless of their political beliefs, their religious beliefs, or which foot they put in their pants leg first.
There will be people out there who feel it is their duty to fight. There are people who support that and people who do not.
Unless you are making a conscious decision to get out there in the thick of the battle, imperiling your livelihood and risking ostracization due to cancel culture, it may be time for you to consider strengthening your OpSec. If you are going into this with your eyes open, then more power to you all.
Crackdowns like what we’re seeing now start with polarization and information blackouts. They can lead to far worse scenarios.
Selco wrote:
It is a situation where all stakes are much higher, and solutions-actions that the government ( ruling party, military leaders or whoever in your case) wants to achieve will be attempted with all means. That can include some new rules where what you think about it usually does not mean anything.
A lot of preppers think about “martial law” but in reality, they think about it still in normal terms, with rights, law, constitution, and rules…
You cannot defy military, at least not openly, because they will deal with you fast and efficiently. In times like that it is so easy to get labeled that you are dangerous, an enemy of the state, a terrorist or anything similar, and most probably you will not have any help.
Forget about the movie illusions of openly being a freedom fighter.
No matter how well-organized you are, those who impose martial law have better organization than you. Remember that martial law usually means an information blackout. “They” will own information and present it to the public the way that they want to present it. (source)
While I’m not suggesting we’re necessarily headed for martial law, we have stepped into a brand new world where our media is tightly controlled and our every decision or utterance can come back to haunt us.
Why do we need to focus more stringently on OpSec now?
I want to focus on the survival and preparedness aspects of this unbelievable situation we now find ourselves in.
As I’ve written before, survival is about surviving. Some people find this philosophy cowardly and feel we should all be willing to choose the hill of their choice to die upon. Others believe that it’s better to be strategic, live to fight another day, and choose their battles. This is a personal decision.
If you don’t wish to be involved in the political aspects of the things going on right now, if you want to quietly live out your life with limited conflict, and if your focus is on the safety of your family, you need to think about the information you are giving away about yourself. This is not just information for people of one political party or race. It’s for those who don’t want to be targeted because of their beliefs.
- Don’t make a visual statement. Do you have any political paraphernalia on display? Bumper stickers? Yard signs? Banners? T-shirts or hats?
- Avoid political conversations. Back when I was a kid, I was told that politics and religion were topics that were bad manners unless you were in the company of those you knew really well.
- Keep your preps under wraps. Trust me, when The Great Toilet Paper Crisis of 2021 happens – and it will – you don’t want to be the house with all the toilet paper that the guy repairing your furnace saw. Nobody needs to see your preps. Put things in cardboard boxes with misleading labels like “Christmas” if someone is going to be in the area where you store supplies. Don’t have shelves and shelves of canned goods out in your kitchen.
- Tighten your circle. If you thought 2020 was bad, 2021 is here and it’s old enough to drink. As expected, 2021 is not going to be a walk in the park. Selco recommends that the worse things become, the smaller your circle should be. Focus your efforts on the things you can control and your energy on the people in your inner circle.
- Remember what you learned about people. We learned a lot about how those around us handled stress during the first round of lockdowns. Don’t forget the lessons you learned about those in your circle, as well as what you discovered about friends, neighbors, and coworkers. A lot of folks were really surprised by the behavior of others when they were under stress. Think about who you really want to let in – this may have changed after the past year. Do your best to make sure that people are truly worthy of your trust.
- Be neutral on social media. Remember, the internet is forever. Even if you delete an ill-advised post, someone may have taken a screenshot or be able to find that post on the Wayback Machine. People don’t have to have the visible proof of those posts either to remember you dislike Trump or Biden, or that you’re super liberal or super conservative. Posting meme after meme expressing your adoration for certain political figures or beliefs is the digital equivalent of running your mouth in a crowded bar. You never know who’s watching or listening, nor do you know how that might come back to haunt you.
Don’t make yourself a target.
When people are hungry they’ll do things they might never have imagined doing before, like stealing food. Many of the jobs lost in 2020 are not going to be coming back in 2021, people are dealing with major financial problems, and we have supply chain issues. There’s a very real chance that we will see greater poverty in America happening to a greater number of people than we’ve ever seen in our lifetimes.
Those people will be wracking their brains trying to figure out how to survive. Don’t give them a reason to think of your place as a supply nirvana.
(If you are in that desperate position, check out this book – it’s free and it may help you make difficult decisions.)
When people are angry, they’ll also do things they normally would not and mob mentality is contagious. Take this former CEO, for example.
“My decision to enter the Capitol was wrong, and I am deeply regretful to have done so,” Rukstales said in a statement. “Without qualification and as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen, I condemn the violence and destruction that took place in Washington.”
Rukstales also apologized to his family, colleagues and “fellow countrymen” for his actions.
“It was the single worst personal decision of my life,” the exec’s statement continued. “I have no excuse for my actions and wish that I could take them back.” (source)
Don’t make yourself a target for the rage of people who aren’t behaving rationally. Your memes and banners and bumper stickers aren’t going to change their minds.
What are your thoughts?
What are your thoughts about the massive, high-level censorship? What are your suggestions for flying under the radar? Let’s discuss it (civilly, please) in the comments.
Good one. This is VERY important and quite hard at the same time. Small things that may slip now can become a giveaway when things turn dire and people are with all sense heightened.
I’ve always believed in discretion, self control and moderation. Now more than ever is good to lay low and stay alert.
There are hints already that OpSec alone will be made insufficient. The Covid-19 “protective” measures are already being used to selectively cripple various religious gatherings. I’m seeing articles that even the internet’s “forever” memory via archive.org is now in the early stages of erasing some “politically incorrect” materials — just as politically oppressive groups have done for thousands of years .. whether by scroll burning or the much later book burning.
I’m seeing where Mastercard is already blocking some purchases that it doesn’t approve of — some firearm items come to mind. If the Covid-19 vaccine becomes mandatory and contains that tracking chip that facilitates your mandatory participation in a cashless digital economy in order to survive … your privacy of purchasing choices will be destroyed and replaced by selective government permission.
The globalist push to control everything is an effort to wipe out your history, culture, art, values, communications freedom and any hope of independence from a central planning tyranny of government controlled by a few uber-wealthy oligarchs from “behind the curtain” much as hinted at in L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz.”
The gray man strategy was an excellent and necessary approach in the thousands of years of a non-digital world. If digital tracking takes over … consider how the Chinese CCP treats religious groups on its hit list. Slavery and forcible body parts “donations” come to mind as OpSec becomes obsolete.
–Lewis
MC does not block individual purchases. MC *might* choose to not contract with a given merchant processing service. But unless the financial institution that gave the card to an individual/business closed the card, MC (or VISA, Discover, Amex) does not “block” transactions it “doesn’t like”.
besides being aware of how people react under stress – I’ve been ‘stopped in my tracks’ @ some of my own actions/reactions ! don’t forget to turn that lens back on yourself –
some of what has gone down shows how there could be ‘specks’ in the eye of some who were/are examining the ‘boards’ in another’s eye – let’s keep talking/thinking !
Really good point, Elizabeth. Thank you or the reminder.
made similar points on twitter and elsewhere
Folks seem to have not learned from Solzhenitsyn. Irish have a phrase, what comes around goes around – usually to imply a good thing. Gulag’s similar phrase was me today you tomorrow. simliar but more negative. I’m dying in the gulag today, you are tomorrow. Facts bore out that eventually everyone ended up in the gulag. Even the guards.
Are people too young to remember Cheney/Bush doing this after 9/11/01? Youre either with us or the terrists. Remember how that was used to justify new common sense that shampoo, toothpaste and breastmilk are weapons too dangerous for aviation? Now we’re hearing arguments that some senators and congress critters must be put on the no fly list?
Covert partisan lawfare
In my opinion, crowds like energy. They are just waiting on a little spark to light the fire. Think of it this way. When there is a crowd of protesters or like the “assembly” of patriots in D.C., the energy is sky high and the crowd is waiting for one person to make a move. Its like pile of wood thats been soaked down with fuel and its just waiting on the littlest spark to ignite. People love the energy.
You have two questions.
1. Are you a patriot? That means being a patriot at all costs.
2. Are you the grey man, that will lay low and survive ?
By the way, Daisy, I highly commend you on this article. It needed to be said. I am also, like you, ” I will say what the **** I want to say. I really think this new world ” order” coming, is going to cause alot of ” issues” amongst the populus and this ” new” administration, if it succeeds in actually being inaugurated, has plans already designed to ” control” it harshly.
So well said Daisy!
I just had this discussion with family members yesterday, regarding minimizing their footprint by opting out of social media use etc… But you said it much more eloquently. So of course like I always do.. I passed on your article via text and email.
Like you, I don’t associate myself with either party. I’ve been a registered Independent for 20+ years, and I couldn’t be more proud to be so after all that went down with both sides of the isle in the aftermath of the storming of the capital.
I have my own mind, opinions, beliefs and convictions due to my faith that I use form my opinions, who I support and vote for. This article 100% resonated with me and I am in complete agreement with you.
Though I never left a comment on here,. Nor do I use social media to show my support. I wanted to comment today and tell you thank you for all you do!
I have been receiving and sharing your newsletters for quite a while now. I follow you on podcasts wherever you are a guest and I own your books.
Between your and Selco’s articles and books.. I have learned so much, and I am forever grateful.
God bless you and yours
Tonia
Very interesting!
I tried accessing Parler on my iOS device—using the default browser Safari, says it’s an invalid address. But if you use Brave or Firefox, even on iOS, you can still access the Parler website. My Andriod devices died, so I couldn’t check their usability. I’ve never had an account with Twitter just because I don’t have time to follow all those threads.
Talk about being fired for his beliefs, Brave browser was started by the man who had invented the Javascript language, but had been fired from Firefox because he had made a small contribution to support a traditional belief. He had made that contribution quietly, with no fanfare, somebody found out about it, and got him fired.
As for preparedness and OpSec, I’ve brought up to some of my neighbors that when I lived in California, in earthquake country, authorities instructed us to have two weeks worth of food. Do you think that would be a good idea here too? So far I’ve gotten one positive answer, equally cagey, but he has the two weeks.
I like that idea of having several 12 packs of ramen so when people come to the door begging, you can say, “This is what we are eating. We have only three more of these individual packages in the one pack that we have open and then we don’t know what we’ll do.” Every word of that can be true, even if you have a full pantry with enough for months.
I don’t know why anyone is still using Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube for anything knowing how evil they are and what their agenda is (subjugation of the human race and depopulation).
Not to mention CNN, Fox News, Washington Post, and other mainstream media, which is all fake news lying in behalf of governments for the agenda of more money and power for the ruling class “Great Reset” depopulation cult.
Think about whether you truly need to keep using services and websites that spy on you, lie to you, and hate you and may even want you dead.
“What are your thoughts about the massive, high-level censorship? What are your suggestions for flying under the radar?”
Got VPN??
Daisy, you are so right when you want to, “…focus on the survival and preparedness aspects of this unbelievable situation we now find ourselves in.”
The McCloskeys of St. Louis give us the perfect example when the SHTF enters our neighborhoods.
Do you or Selco have anything to say about such an immediate situation that can suddenly develop right in your personal space?
well done daisy! informative too. this situation is silly, and makes a body wonder if we’re living in a scifi movie…..or a downright horror film. oh well, you do what you can, prepare for the worst, hope for the best……..Bless yall…..
First of all, THANK YOU, Daisy, for all you have done and do for us to keep our heads above, so far, this raging flood of destruction under the power and control of NOT US. THANK YOU!!!
Now is the time to be looking up and coordinating with like-minded people about secession, “third-party” creation, and other reasonable ways to circumvent the encroaching rule of evil people.
Now, before this “crackdown” on such communications and access is complete and we’re all cut off and cast away from each other, at the mercy of the merciless.
Look up (use a less “Google-friendly” search engine, like DuckDuckGo or Startpage, to get more viable results and less control and manipulation of results) Computing Forever, Way of the World, Asha Logos, James Corbett, Dr. Steve Turley, HighImpactFlix/HighImpactTV, Tom Woods, Matt Christianson, Tony Heller, The Duran, Paul Weston, Mark Collett, Laura Towler, Akkad Daily, Ron Paul Liberty Report, Daughter of Albion, Geopolitics and Empire, Scanza Forum, Red Ice — these are video channels, still (momentarily) at YouTube, but most migrated over to Bitchute, and so many others, off the top of my head at the moment.
Internet e-news and Web sites, for me include Lew Rockwell, Mises, Dissident Mama, WUWT (What’s Up With That — mostly about “climate change”), Abbeville Institute, Eric Peters Autos, Taki’s Magazine, Tom Woods, Unz Review, V-Dare. Of course there are many more.
I’m sure many of you have many more I’m not aware of; we NEED to share all these invaluable “human resources” now “isolated out there,” and talk to one another, and NOT to those who would control and rule us, including those erstwhile “family” and “friends” we’ve discovered this last year are not trustworthy.
Not all are American, but we all know what’s happening here in the USA is ALSO happening everywhere else around the world — some worse than we’ve had it so far. It can’t hurt to “partner” with and listen to “foreign” commenters and preppers. Some are real characters, but serious in their information presentation and solutions, such as may be. Others are pretty much “just the facts, ma’am.” Take ’em or leave ’em. But I’ve found, if you’re serious about trying to turn this situation around, these are the best, at least for a beginning. And we do need each other, if we’re discreet in our contacts, revelations, and plans.
Upshot: if not now, if not forming our own better, freer, safer communities, in peace, to prosper ourselves, our descendants, our true friends and neighbors, by actively seeking to turn at least some of these better possibilities into concrete reality, then when?
Use Bitchute — so far it’s relatively “untouchable” by the censors, though it may very well be that TPTB will use their ultimate censorship and simply cut off Internet until they get their own as the only and exclusive means of connecting with anyone outside the walls of your own dwelling.
Daisy, I’m sorry if I’m acting out of bounds by naming names. But I believe if we are all serious about our survival and the survival of our children and grand children, and theirs, in other than a Marxist Soviet regime, literally under the six thumbs of the top rulers, as their slaves to be sacrificed to THEIR planet’s welfare, with no way out ever again, then we really do need to make these types of connections — in strength we have — now.
Tomorrow at some sooner rather than later point, WILL BE too late.
You aren’t out of bounds at all – there are some fantastic suggestions here!
Daisy,
You are a wise woman, I kind of wonder how you massed all of your knowledge. I believe people reading you are getting excellent advice. I would go one step further and say that the mass media is trying to inflame insurrection to invoke Martial law. I am still on twitter and will stay on until I am thrown off, someone has to stand up to all the lies. I’m 65 years old and can’t or won’t change now. I have always believed and defended free speech even for my adversaries, the exchange of ideas and view points are what makes us a civilization.
I understand that you are talking for survival and agree with you. However, I can’t do that myself mainly because I believe we are in this mess because of Apathy in this country. We all have been blessed by god to be living here. As a people we didn’t appreciate or treasure what we have. Millions have sacrificed, died, fought wars given everything to preserve what we have. I now believe we are going to be the generation to lose it. We all have forgotten the face of our fathers and forefathers.
The Abomination Inauguration of a traitor will be a day of mourning for me. I will shut off my television, hang my flag upside down, not go or acknowledge it and I will not be played to be violent. What happened at the Capital Building is impossible to defend however a greater injustice would be not to understand why. It was the worst thing that could have happened. President Trump will be demonized by the foolish act. If you are going to do something, do it right. This was done wrong and will give our adversaries the excuse for Martial Law they want.
I am sure you realize we are all looking at “the big reset”and it should be explained to all your people. Judging from the arrogence of our adversaries, I don’t believe we can combat it effectively any longer, all the advantages are to them. We don’t even know who they are as it doesn’t seem anyone wants to name them. I understand we suspect many and are sure of a few but you have to know where the head is before you can cut it off. That is our only hope at this time. We might get an oppertunity in the future if we last that long. The only advantage our side has is numbers and that can change very quickly.The virus is on a downward decline and people are not listening any more. They are trying to push the country into responding violently to justify martial law. They want us under their thumb to stop any type of orgaization from happening.
I see a window in the future but only if we are organized and targeted. That will only be possible if we are free. The Capital could have helped solve most of our problems had it been with intent and planning. Just looking at it any strategic planner can tell it was an accident. It could have been used to accomplish a great deal and eliminate many problems instead it was a fools errand.
All of you out there must learn to think with your minds not your emotions or you will all end up dead and gone. What is coming will make last year the last of the good years. Listen to Daisy and she will try to prepare you. Be careful but don’t quit yet we are Americans and we can pull rabbits out of our hats when we have to.
God bless, protect and guide out country and Donald Trump.
Gary J. Ciccero
Dear Gary – I just read a lot, take courses, and have very cool, truly brilliant friends. ???? Thank you for your kind words.
Gary: The capitol incursion was planned, just not planned by those who support Trump. The site called http://www.censored.news which is a news aggregator site (has reports from several sites), had videos and reports that there were busloads of Antifa wearing MAGA hats and pretending to be Trump supporters, who did most of the damage in the capitol. Prominent Antifa leaders were positively identified leading demonstrators into the capitol. Congressmen were warned ahead of time that this was coming and that Antifa was involved. The capitol police took down the barriers themselves, even when not being threatened nor forced, then waved for the demonstrators to enter the capitol and even led demonstrators where to go within the capitol. This is an American equivalent to the Reichstag fire. How many of the Trump supporters would have entered the capitol had the capitol police themselves not taken down the barriers and invited the demonstrators in?
The whole thing was designed to take eyes off the fraud and theft of the election that, in cooperation with hostile nations, is insurrection against the Constitution of the United States. Those of us who have sworn an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, and I include myself in that, will have to make a decision on how we will act out our defense. Or if we will do our duty in obedience to that oath. Or even can do anything. President Trump (I don’t count myself as a Trump fan) has sworn that same oath, will he be faithful to it, or will he betray his oath? He’s still president.
As much as we don’t want it, it appears to me that there will be civil war—the elites against the hoi polloi. I don’t know who will win. The elites are the warmongering military/industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us against. They have been joined by the technological elite. They’re the ones who support Biden. If they think that they can impose martial law to force us into their dystopian order, they will have to deal with the millions of veterans and hunters, as well as deserters from the military, to impose it. That will be the unwanted civil war.
As for OpSec, all of us will need to practice it. Those who want to be neutral will be hated by both sides, they will need to hide their neutrality. Those who advocate for either of the other sides will need to obfuscate their advocacy to avoid being singled out for attack.
As for preps, keep those under wraps.
As for Daisy, thanks for a good article.
R,O.
I HAVE NO REASON TO NOT BELIEVE YOU, IT RINGS TRUE WITH THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS COMPARED TO THE NUMBER THERE. I JUST DON’T KNOW IF IT RELEVANT. OUR PLATFORMS ARE WEAK IT REALLY DOEN’T MATTER WHAT A TUCKER CARLSON STATES WITHOUT PROOF AND A PLATFORM TO PRESENT IT. WE LEARNED THAT WITH THE ELECTION FRAUD. PROOF AND EVIDENCE ARE ONLY VALID IN A COURT OF LAW OR IN THE SCRUTINY OF PUBLIC OPINION. OUR SIDE HAS FAILED TO GET TO EITHER. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATED BY THE PLANNERS. I DON’T DISAGREE WITH PUBLIC INSURRECTION AT THIS POINT IN TIME I JUST BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE BETTER PLANNED AND ORCHESTRATED. WE ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE THAT CAN TURN THE PRESS ON AND OFF AS NEEDED. I HAVE SENT LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT OVER 7 MONTHS AGO ADVISING HIM TO START TRUMP TRUTH NETWORK WITH A NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM ATTACHED TO IT. I BELIEVE HE WILL BE ANNOUNCING A SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM SOON..
I GUESS WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS IT ALWAYS SEEMS WERE A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT. WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHO THE ENEMIES ARE AND THEN DEAL WITH THEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. AS SIMPLISTIC AS THIS SOUNDS IT IS STILL NECESSARY. IF WE CAN’T GET PAST THE WHO WE CAN’T GET TO THE WHERE AND HOW. I WISH IT WAS AS SIMPLE US AGAINST THEM I DON’T BELIEVE THAT IT IS. WE IN THIS COUNTRY DON’T REALIZE HOW RARE WHAT WE HAVE IS. WE ARE NOT JUST THE BEACON OF LIGHT TO THE WORLD, WE MAY BE ITS ONLY HOPE. WE ARE ALL THAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF NOT JUST UNITED STATES DOMINATION BUT WORLD DOMINATION. WITHOUT THIS COUNTRY THE WORLD WILL BE EASY TO CONTROL. WE WON’T JUST BE FIGHTING FOR OURSELVES WE WILL BE FIGHTING FOR EVERYONE ELSE TO. THERE MAY BE A WAY TO EXPLOIT THAT FACT IF WE CAN COMMUNICATE WORLD WIDE. IF WE ALL TRY TO HIDE AND STAY SEPARATE THAT WON’T WORK IT WILL JUST BE A MATTER OF TIME AND PRESSURE THAT WOULD DEFEAT US. I WISH I BELIEVED THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN THIS COUNTRY, I DON’T. THERE ARE MINDS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT CAN FIGURE THIS OUT, WHAT WE TRULY LACK ARE REAL LEADERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE AND YOUR COMMENTS I WILL WATCH FOR YOU HERE MY E-MAIL IS [email protected]
The only social media I use is Facebook and I’ve cut down drastically on that–I stay off it completely for at least half the month and I only have the app on my phone when I want to post a picture. I don’t say or engage in anything political on FB anymore, it’s not worth the drama that ensues. I hate that my phone undoubtedly spies on me. I feel funny every time I type something into Google so I try to be careful about that. I’ve had a blog since 2008 that I enjoy posting about my life and opinions on and I worry about that because I post pro-Trump, anti-vaccine stuff on there. Who knows who’s looking at that and keeping track? But my blog is my own space that I pay for and I’ll write what I want there. *knock on wood*
One last thing, I have Yahoo e-mail and I think funny stuff is happening to some of my emails. In the last few weeks, Glenn Beck’s e-mails are no longer coming through, not even in Spam. I thought it was the holidays but the holidays are done and still nothing. And One Million Moms, a conservative women’s group–their emails have disappeared without a trace too.
This is why I come here for the prepper advice, not politics. Great insight !
Thank you, Daisy. A very timely and insightful article. Also excellent advice.
One thing though: ” Also, there may be some swearing.” You said that as if it was a bad thing. lol
Some of my thoughts. I have been prepping for over 50 years now. I was part of the local and count Civil Defense when it was still a thing, and continued when it became FEMA. Up until I moved away from the area in 1985.
I was an advocate of preparing for floods and a major earthquake, as I lived between the Mississippi River and the St. Francis river where a swamp had once been until the Little River Drainage District project was completed and the swamp began to drain, leaving incredible farmland. However, floods still occurred. This was in the Bootheel of Missouri and I live literally a few hundred feet from one of the main faults that are part of the New Madrid Seismic Zone.
Unfortunately, due to the fact that the area had suffered the effects of a tornado a couple of years before we moved back, about all that Civil Defense/FEMA authorities wanted to do was Tornado Spotting. My efforts to include major earthquake and nuclear war preparedness not only were rebuffed firmly, but I was turned into the FBI for (at that time) unamerican activities. Now it would be domestic terrorism. I was investigated, though no charges were ever filed, and it pretty much blew over.
I was now on the record, however, and because of my efforts to encourage people to prep, my name was out there in the public. Add in a few newspaper, radio, TV, and magazine interviews, plus five interviews by doctoral candidates and one Masters candidate, and then my books, I have been a known quantity and very high on the radar for the last 30 years. Even moreso the last few years.
I continue to see the Feds coming by and making inquiries. That means I am still on the radar, now run by DHS. Therefore, those that suggest I should drop off the radar and go grayman and disappear, do not understand that if I even try to do that, a warning flag will go up and I will be actively sought.
What I do, without violating opsec for this, is to try to make arrangements to be able to not drop off the radar, but to slide down into the ground clutter of that radar. I do not go around as grayman now, as that would simply provide them with information on how I would do it, and they would look for that.
What I do is get things ready, using clandestine methods, to get into that ground clutter, go grayman, and then do whatever it is I need to do, while I have the chance with little risk of being found.
I believe those with families, jobs they cannot leave, and all the other legitimate reasons that people have to not go off-grid and as gray as possible, might want to consider something similar. Get ready to do what you have to do, but do not give your hand away now.
Just my opinion.
Oh. Of course the above might just be the ramblings of a prepper poser. Or a slightly deluded person. Or even an undercover agent. I would not want anyone to actually believe it, because, after all, that would not be very opsec wise, now would it?
I’d love to learn more about “sliding into the ground clutter” of the radar. Any interest in writing an article on that topic, Jerry? Or would it give too much away? If you’re interested please drop us an email!
“Where they burn books, they will in the end, burn human beings . . .” – Heinrich Heine
Brave comes to mind as a browser with uber privacy and so far refuses to censor anything on the internet. Can’t say the same about Firefox, who for the first time decided to block all content related to Trump supporters. I’m no Trump lover, but the suppression of unapproved thought is rather offensive to me.
Really interested in what Selco sees for the US. Since he has been there and done that, what similarities is he seeing to the situation that happened in Serejevo
My thoughts exactly.. Hopefully he can address this for us
Parler for Android can be installed by using this APK.
https://apkpure.com/parler/com.parler.parler
I am so glad I made the move to MEWe.
I never post on the Internet but will break my rule today because I agree the window on some things seems to be closing fast. So I offer this suggestion for people to be able to continue to communicate.
There is an email service called ProtonMail in Europe that provides private encrypted email services/ Some levels free, some for a charge and also offer VPN services. Their story on their website is courageous and inspiring and they want to provide freedom of speech and privacy for everyone in the world. Check them out today. God Bless…..
With the web, those who have been active cannot NOW go grey man. The internet is forever.
Those who have not said much can be very careful what they post.
But the stakes are enormously greater than most can possibly imagine, enormously greater than just some Presidential candidate. It is quite literally a fight between G-d and Satan. If the Censor-people win (Biden people–office-holding Democrats but NOT most of the rank-and-file Dems), we will be implanted and chipped and lose our free will. That is losing your soul. You will no longer be a human being just a robot, a fate far worse than death. If you don’t agree with that, then stay grey. If you see that, never mind risks, but DO treat others with respect. The means reveal the true end–be worthy of victory.
On the brighter side, of course G-d wins. Every legal recourse has been used, from courts that have refused to hear any evidence whatsoever (100% dereliction of duty–the enemy planned well) to profoundly corrupt officials of both parties, etc. etc. The game is about to change, and people of good will are going to like the turn-around well.
If you know enough to take part in the (nonviolent) fight, place TRUTH high in your values. Do not re-tweet or post anything without checking carefully. Do not go along with the duality paradigm we-are-good-and-they-are-evil. When deluded ones wake up, guide them along truly honorable paths. Daisy is doing a superb job on that one. She helps everyone she can regardless of what they know or believe about The Election of the Millennium.
The internet is forever. If you have been posting your opinions, you may as well continue fighting for what you believe in. If you have not been “interesting” before now, then stay grey until you have certain knowledge that must be shared, that you would risk everything for. In either case, use opsec about your physical neighbors.
Great article. With each passing day, I think of the Soviet Union and what they did. I laughed at this stuff 5 years ago. After seeing what the MSM and social media can and will do with anyone who thinks differently, I am no longer laughing. I’m not on facebook or twitter, never will. The only “group” I belonged to was my local garden club. After reading Selco’s books, I’m more “gray man” than a fashionable woman. Give Selco a “hug” for me. I loved his books. They made a lot of sense. Also, the movie by Angelina Jolie “In the Land of Blood and Honey” made a huge impression on me. I remember Sarajevo during the Olympics. What a change!!
DAISY…you are doing a good job! I appreciate your good sense and balance. You state what your site is about and we just have to do what we think is right with a lot of help and info from you….
Some phrases from history to help remind us about OPSEC
Loose lips sink ships!!!
Flying under the radar!!
Forgot
Silent running/stealth mode
“Avoid political conversations. Back when I was a kid, I was told that politics and religion were topics that were bad manners unless you were in the company of those you knew really well.”
Probably the best remark in the article;especially in these times. It is, in fact, a matter of courtesy, not just manners.
Courtesy is thinking of others and the way they might think; putting yourself “in their shoes”. Manners are a calculated display of deference with an aim of some benefit to oneself or one’s group – not necessarily immediate, but in the future. Many social groups have adopted manners as a tempering behaviour, arresting emotionally-driven actions before physical violence occurs; these are conducted as a matter of course. Some cultures perform “manners” obsequiously; only for direct current or future benefit.
Getting along in a society is not a prepper “opsec” issue. It is fundamental. The two subjects mentioned (religion/politics) are grounded by belief, about which individuals can be provoked to strong emotional (and possibly physical) responses. It is a courtesy between individuals to avoid these subjects (such avoidance conducted as manners, i.e. without deeper reflection) until a strong level of acquaintanceship has developed. These are also (or should be) no-go subject matter for any employees of a business while on premises (totally – meaning from the roadside, not just at a particular work station or department boundary).
Being nice in a particular circumstance; that’s manners.
Figuring out how to be nice in a particular circumstance? Courtesy.
– FB
There are only 2 universal rules rules to keep in mind. The only constant in the universe is Change
And what goes around comes around!
Yup
Everyone from ALL sides are censoring everything.
Speaking or typing is just like being read your rights now in that “everything you say can and will be used against you”
Where there’s a will, there’s a way …
Free Speech Platform Gab Reports 750% Increase in Traffic
https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2021/01/09/free-speech-platform-gab-reports-750-increase-in-traffic/
“To avoid censorship by cloud hosting companies, Gab maintains its own physical servers. Gab is also in the process of developing the Gab phone, to circumvent app store censorship.”
Regarding family – I married into a family of liberal professionals that still think Walter Mondale is the soul of the DNC. The SIL, in conversation with my wife about the DC riot, said (with not a trace of self reflection), “There should be consequences for those that espouse conspiracy theories”. She aced the “Good German” test with flying colors! Naturally I’ll have to agree with them to a point for the sake of familial peace, but I am yet again amazed at the blindness of otherwise intelligent people. Perhaps my response should be that there will be consequences for everybody, including them. I’m reminded of the old saying that you can lead a horticulture but you can’t make her think. (Code practice).
“Man cannot survive except through his mind. He comes on earth unarmed. His brain is his only weapon. Animals obtain food by force. man had no claws, no fangs, no horns, no great strength of muscle. He must plant his food or hunt it. To plant, he needs a process of thought. To hunt, he needs weapons,and to make weapons – a process of thought. From this simplest necessity to the highest religious abstraction, from the wheel to the skyscraper, everything we are and we have comes from a single attribute of man -the function of his reasoning mind.” Ayn Rand
Parler
John Matze ???????? · @John
12 hours ago ·
Impressions
24611098
Sunday (tomorrow) at midnight Amazon will be shutting off all of our servers in an attempt to completely remove free speech off the internet. There is the possibility Parler will be unavailable on the internet for up to a week as we rebuild from scratch. We prepared for events like this by never relying on amazons proprietary infrastructure and building bare metal products.
We will try our best to move to a new provider right now as we have many competing for our business, however Amazon, Google and Apple purposefully did this as a coordinated effort knowing our options would be limited and knowing this would inflict the most damage right as President Trump was banned from the tech companies.
This was a coordinated attack by the tech giants to kill competition in the market place. We were too successful too fast. You can expect the war on competition and free speech to continue, but don’t count us out. https://parler.com/profile/Marklevinshow/posts
I occasionally read your posts, and as you suggest, I usually avoid making comments.
I’m writing this on a linux desktop, so no proprietary systems. I’ve dumped firefox, and this post is via the Kongqueror browser. I’ve written my own web spider to partially replace the Google line of software (it’s complicated – like pulling yourself up using your bootlaces ), and adapted some open search software called TextMine to build my own search engine and data miner. I don’t know if anyone recalls Usenet, but it is still around.
Long story short. These things can be done, but being retired and having 24/7 to do this makes it possible. It’s taken many years, and it’s not for everyone.
Good luck to everyone in the USA, you may need it.
Your doing a great job thank you for keeping everyone in the loop.
My mind says about your article “great idea” . . . .
As a former airborne infantryman, my emotions say” F–ck it . . . we’re going in
All the way!! . . . .
Thank you for this article Daisy. I joined Parler to give it some clicks at least but keep forgetting to go onto it. The only social media I use other than that and various blogs or forums is My Fitness Pal and that is completely non political. My Twitter account is closing as of today, not that I ever got much out of that either. I try to be as gray as possible, avoiding all political discussions online or at work. My spouse is the only one who gets to hear what I really think. I’ve even banned political discussion with my folks considering they get most of their news from National Pravda Radio and Fakebook. My dad is asking a few intelligent questions but my mom is guzzling the Kool-Aid. It’s a sad thing.
Even if I’m ultimately forced to take the vaccine, periodically I’ll ask questions of people – like “hey, have you heard about all those awful side effects?” And, “how in the world is this supposed to protect us if you can get the disease multiple times anyway?” It hopefully gets them thinking.
Thank you Daisy for a great article that all should read. So, really it all boils down to “Red or dead.” And whichever way any freedom and liberty loving person goes, they had better get right with God ASAP.
Lest anyone think that the censorship issue is overblown, let me tell you what I heard today. An author that I read told me that she has to change the titles of some of her books. Why? Because Amazon is blocking titles containing the word alpha. She writes romances about werewolves.
When one lives in principle there is no “right” or “left” ideology, only right and wrong.
Just the week I cut myself off from social media (my accounts are still “active”, lest I draw attention to myself). It can only come back to haunt one at this point – nothing good comes of i.
I would say that even if one has posted political opinions online, there is still value in being “grey’. Anything you can do to remove attention from yourself at all times is a good thing. In terms of de-identifying yourself, do not just think about items (hats, bumper stickers, shirts) that identify your political or philosophical thoughts, but anything. Any identifying feature – a school bumpter sticker or t-shirt, an unusual t-shirt – will make you memorable to someone later on.
Sometimes survival is simply staying low and under the radar and enduring until the seasons change.
Thank you SO MUCH for this article!! I have had several conversations with close friends and family who are of the same mindset. Most of them are young men who feel that being a grey man is the cowards way out. I have explained to them that as I see it I am protecting those I care about. If I am not 100% sure about how you see things, you will believe that I am living paycheck to paycheck and I am down to my last round of toilet paper. This article explains it so well, and reminds me that I’m not THAT crazy. . . Just a little bit crazy.
That is an interesting point…”gray man” from a woman’s perspective. I had heated conversations prior to the election with my hubby about not wanting to post political signs in our yard for that very reason. If he were just a grumpy middle aged man (or a young man like Amber pointed out) living alone and doing whatever he wants, world be damned, that’s one thing. But there has to be consideration for the whole family, kids included, in this post-first amendment dystopian world we suddenly find ourselves in. Being gray is different for women, I think. It’s not being cowardly, it’s picking our battles and there are some that just make us more of a target, drawing unwanted attention that could compromise our opsec or put our kids at unnecessary risk. Hubby can walk in a store without a mask and no one would dare say anything to him. Can’t tell you how many times I had my mask under my nose and people came up to me and confronted me about it. Different standards. There was one time in a store that we walked in together. We then were in different aisles and I had people harass me that HE wasn’t wearing a mask!
Good column. I myself don’t choose to be “neutral on social media”, but I make that decision with my eyes open, knowing there may be negative repercussions as a result.
If I were still young, I might decide differently.
OpSec is indeed vitally important. I fervently hope there are individuals and groups who are determined to deal with criminal government thugs as they deserve, and I hope their OpSec is airtight.
OpSec is important if you are planning something they don’t want you to do. Opsec is not justification to quietly surrender and go along to get along.
Are you planning to fight secretly or are you wilfully surrendoring to the new overlords?
OPSEC = Hiding like a cowardly rat.
Excellent article, just as I’m at a crossroads: do I buy a cheap bullhorn and go down to the Legislature grounds every weekend and yell at people, or do I do whatever I can to get out of the City and into a small acreage (big enough to grow a few things and set up a workshop for some income…) and just be grey.
One hand, I feel like I’m “acquiescing to tyranny” but on the other hand, my two kids need ME, ALIVE and FREE or they don’t stand a chance. But if I don’t fight…. what are we preparing them for by raising them on that acreage? A life of servitude to our technocratic masters?
We have already gotten rid of most of the tech that is used to control us. I’m typing this on an old blackberry, from before they went Android. The wife is on board with pulling away from it all, moving to the countryside, and homeschooling the kids…… and I love the idea but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m “running away” from the fight that needs to be brought to these freaks. I suppose the decision will make itself evident in the near future. Thanks for running such a useful site!
Daisy, I am struggling with the desire to stay low and unobtrusive yet still be someone who can help others in time of need. Any suggestions on keeping OPSEC and still being able to help others?
In general I think people who are lacking basic necessities including food are in 2 distinct categories:
1.) Some people who find themselves in desperation for even food were not irresponsible. They were working and never imagined they would lose much of what they own. They do not have an attitude of entitlement.
2.) Some are terribly irresponsible and have an attitude that other people are practically obligated to meet their needs.
It’s wrong to pre-judge all who lack basic necessities.
It takes discernment to not treat all who in dire need as the same type of person.
Wise! Being invisible is always a good thing!
The only safe way people should have manifested last Jan. 6 in DC should have been a sit-in! Imagine one million people, keeping a few feet apart from each other doing that. Infiltrators and agitators would have lost! Same for the future. Sit-in. Surround a Capitol, another building, but don’t go anywhere. Just be there. Make them who hate you that they are being watched by millions, yet, those millions of people will not break the law.
Wise words!
People that went to DC, committed a big mistake, and those that now plan to go anywhere, on Jan. 20, let’s hope they don’t mess it up…
This is the ONLY way people should have demonstrated: stage a sit-in. Imagine one million people, keeping a few feet from each other (6, if willing to be politically correct,) sitting peacefully, holding their signs and banners. No moving around, no giving any infiltrators any ammunition for unrest. That would be a sight, sending out a message to those in power, that the silent majority is watching. No unrest. No BLM or ANTIFA behaviour, no destruction, no fights.
That would have turned the left nuts!!!!!
Just imagine that!
It should be stated that the degree of any social media posting or statement you make will be stretched to oblivion to meet the narrative. That means even a tiny harmless fleeting comment can become your nightmare.
I agree, but I have a hard time staying silent.
OPSEC and grey man principals are crucial for staying below anybody’s radar. BUT don’t make a bunch of changes at once, slowly and gradually deploy these strategies if a quick change will draw attention. A simple explanation of I’ve just kinda lost interest in xxx will usually suffice.
The true test will come when electricity and food are rationed, or fuels hit $10+ a gallon or any of 100 other things that will make you stand out. If food becomes scarce, you will have to lose weight in proportion to what you neighbors and friends are loosing. Government food lines? You had better be there with everybody else. A pounding generator can he heard for almost a mile when there’s no other noise, and a well lit house will definitely draw unwanted attention. The best advise is the old saying…”when in Rome, do as the Romans do”.
The Truth The Whole The Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth
So Help Me GOD
Ms Luther very well written timely informative Opinion Peace
PEACE over piece is all ONE PEOPLE
Truly seek
ONE PEOPLE
Who were The Founder’s of the land of the FREE
And Today Ms Luther your Opinion puts you in Very GOOD
Company and with that said
I hope my words find your looking this TRUTH up in a very
Good book
For it is written to YOU
Psalm 91
The Soldier’s Prayer
Selco war versus this WAR for souls of the Innocent
Being the gray man works best if you do not have SKIN
In the WAR
BUT this WAR is for all those Souls who do not care about THE TRUTH
My humble Opinion YOU do care for TRUTH
Evil is real an today it is almost in FOOL Capitals
Ms Luther my guess is YOU are Well Read
With that Said the evil of this DAY has you targeted just Like It has All who Tell The TRUTH
And this Fine line so few attempt to tell the whole Truth
The TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE
The Dragon standS in the Light of DAY
ONE PEOPLE stand in it’s WAY
FEAR GOD and Take your own part
Theodore Roosevelt wrote this book seek his Truth he explains
Who is the enemy Ms Luther also
Art of WAR
KNOW YOURSELF
Ms Luther thank you for your service