DON’T TELL ANYONE.
"Don’t tell anyone." The irony of these three simple words remains laughable to this day. Very often, in situations where this statement is made the supposed secrete ends up in the open. Indeed, it’s true that a secrete is no more a secrete once it is told to another person.

"Don’t tell him/her I told you." This, my friend, is the most hilarious of these kinds of statements. It is the fastest way to get your story on the street (bush radio). I have seen the aftermath of this result in bad blood among friends, shattered homes, and heartbreak in general.
I have come to understand that people don’t like being told what to do in such a way that makes them feel self-censored. So, when we use statements of this sort the expression of the second party is inhibited to a degree.

Am I in any way insinuating that sharing delicate matters with people is wrong. No, not at all. But, I’m implying that the responsibility of secrecy can not be tossed at just anybody. However, when we use the above statements we’re in essence demanding responsibility from them.
Hence, before we place demands of these kinds on anyone, we must be certain that the individual(s) has the capacity and willingness to contain the magnitude of what they’re being told. Else, we stand a chance of having our story published on bush radio faster than we’d like to imagine.

This shouldn’t brew fear in anyone but instead, awaken everyone to the fact that just by nicely saying the words 'don’t tell does not guarantee the safety of the supposed secret. At best, the person passes it on with a simple request "Don’t tell anyone."