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Comment by sago | Hacker News Reader

I watched a fascinating interview with a former MI6 manager. This was probably about 10 years ago. The interviewer made some comment about the men she had to manage: the agents. She said, effectively 'men?'.

The Grey Man principle is a good one, as far as it goes, except maybe the gender.

Fictional spies are interesting reflections of social angst, but I think we're about ready now for a fictional Valerie Plame.

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What does gender truly have to do with the "Grey Man" idea? The core idea as I see it is to blend in with your surroundings, be "boring grey" instead standing out. Sure, "Grey Man" has the word "Man" in it, but I think the operative word in it is "Grey."

Also, where was the interview you watched?

Oh, I wasn't trying to make a massive point on gender, beyond pointing to the fact that fictional spies tend to be male. My interpretation of 'grey man' is not so much blending in, as not being the kind of person one would expect to be a spy. A person who 'looks like they can handle themselves' is probably less useful than an inconspicuous office intern. It would be interesting to see a fictional spy that was believable in that way.

I'm trying to remember where. It was a TV program in the UK, and I think the interview took place in an unused london underground station, I think. Sorry. ...

[edit 1:] Was it some kind of show where they trained people to be spies for the camera? I seem to also remember footage of someone having to plant a letter in their mother's handbag without being seen by them. Sorry for not being helpful. Like I said I wasn't trying to make a significant point: the discussion of spies just reminded me.

[edit 2:] Can't find a YT clip of that bit, but the show was 'Spymaster', or 'Spy'. I hope I'm not remembering it too wrongly.

Any chance you can link to the interview? Couldn't find anything through Google

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