Hacker News Reader

Comment by dandelany | Hacker News Reader

I don't know, that seems like a tautology - the only reason it can be weaponized against your enemies is because it's taboo.

View on HN

Charlie Stross features a gay couple in one of his novels, and one of the conditions of their employment for a top secret government office is that they must be explicitly out about their homosexuality - one attends a Pride Parade once a year in order to comply with these regulations.

I thought it was a pretty clever idea.

That's a pretty common requirement for many classified positions in the real world (not having to attend pride parade, but being out about your sexual preferences).

is this true ?! Any evidence? Is there a page on whitehouse.gov with F R Smith - foot fetish (moderate), would like to be a Gimp but never found the right owner.

Yes it's sort of true - the concern here is about being susceptible to blackmail or coercion, which rules out pretty much anyone who has a personal secret which they feel ashamed about or would go to great lengths to keep secret. If you're gay and out, there's no security concern, but if you're in the closet, there is a chance someone could find out and blackmail you into revealing secret information.

This also applies to people with large amounts of debt - which IIRC is one of the most common reasons people are denied clearance. See here for more info (scroll to "Vulnerability to Coercion"): http://www.dhra.mil/perserec/adr/falsification/falsification...

The debt issues has less to do with blackmail, and more to do with having serious financial strains. They're concerned you'll sell information in exchange for money so that you can pay off your debts. It's the same for drug addiction and gambling.

I think there was a guy that was caught spying recently that had a gambling addiction.

It's the same idea - vulnerability to coercion.

Same thing. Image you are Iran. If you have 10 people to pick from to bribe and ask to work for you. Pick the one with largest dept and offer to pay that debt in return for co-operation.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com