Dealing with a threat

[foofighter]

Hi guys!

Not sure which forum to post this under, so I'll give it a shot here. I have something that I would appreciate your input on how to handle. Some time ago a business acquaintance of mine sent an email that at the end contained this line:
"I met couple of people in IL[Israel] that are really big fans of you they know all about you! Be careful if you plan to visit..."

Just out of the blue. At first I didn't know how to react. Was he saying what I thought he was saying!? Who in Israel could claim to be big "fans" of me and "know all about me" and then implicitly threaten me? And for what reason? Because I read this site? Because I have the "wrong" thoughts?

Well if they supposedly "know all about me" and don't want me to go there, the list becomes pretty short of who could say something like that. Fine. But how am I supposed to deal with this? Fear? Indignation? Shrug and move on like nothing happened? I feel angry and violated, and would like to do something about this, but I am not sure what. I could blog it, as a way to preempt any actions on their behalf, but that would cause questions from my coworkers on what is going on. I haven't done *anything* WRONG, but still. Gaaah.

Relevant to all of this is also that many of my industry peers, including myself, do work which is (whether we want it or not) used by intelligence agencies. I know my stuff is being used by at least one agency, and probably quite a few others. When I talk to my peers they frequently mention projects for alphabet soup projects that they've been involved in, or which use tools they've built. It's just a part of this life that one has to accept it seems. So, while we are all doing this, reluctantly or not, directly or indirectly, these agencies then has the balls to threaten us?! They need us more than we need them! If anything, they should fear the possibility that we stop producing tools that they can use for their dirty work.

That's about it. Any ideas on how to approach this? I'm fresh out...

 

[the rabbit]

Well initially I would probably be quaking in my boots, for how long I dont know. I think if I was in the same position and environment as you in all aspects of my life I personally would not choose to holiday in Israel unless it was absolutely Vital.

Though you know via the steps you have taken that of course these people would know of your existence , it was always on the cards that they may let themselves be known to you at some point along the WAY!

One is thinking , what is actually going on in your life right now that may be connected to their timing of greetings , timing being everything I suppose, if anything diffirent at all. Are they trying to induce fear as to put you off any projects which vitally need your attention.

I would get as much information from the person who received the greeting that was passed on to you.

Need more input.

How to deal with it?

Aknowledge, stay aware and continue your good work. Or live in fear. What else can one say.

 

[foofighter]

Well initially I would probably be quaking in my boots, for how long I dont know. I think if I was in the same position and environment as you in all aspects of my life I personally would not choose to holiday in Israel unless it was absolutely Vital.

True, I *am* quaking in my boots! I can feel the fear, taste it, and yet I know which part in me is responsible for it, and it aint Me. But knowing this it is still difficult to get out of my system through pure will. I need an antidote of sorts, I think. Just talking about it does help some, or so it seems.

Though you know via the steps you have taken that of course these people would know of your existence , it was always on the cards that they may let themselves be known to you at some point along the WAY!

Yes, you are right, that was always a possibility. But it's different between a possibility and actuality, and now I'm there it seems.

One is thinking , what is actually going on in your life right now that may be connected to their timing of greetings , timing being everything I suppose, if anything diffirent at all. Are they trying to induce fear as to put you off any projects which vitally need your attention.

Yes, your observation is very accurate, and there is indeed a particular recent project that this is most likely related to. It will change many things in my industry, if it works out, which is something they may not desire. Just the sheer enthusiasm and new thinking it is causing, by way of some of the esoteric principles I have "hidden" in it, could be a reason for wanting to stop it. Possibly. Or maybe it was just an off-hand remark, just-in-case. Who knows.

I would get as much information from the person who received the greeting that was passed on to you.

Need more input.

You know, that is a wonderful idea. I will ask him about exactly who sent this "greeting" to me, and what else they said.

How to deal with it?

Aknowledge, stay aware and continue your good work. Or live in fear. What else can one say.

As it has been said:
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."

Thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated!

 

[vinny]

I don't know. Here are my thoughts: It sounds like the message was designed with one aim: to initiate an emotional response from you, foofighter - it is a covert threat which is plausibly deniable as such. In which case, the best response of all would be no response. No feeding of the situation. No visible feedback which could get back to the sender. No external indication that it has had any effect on you whatsoever!

As you say, you haven't done anything wrong, they've got nothing legitimate on you, and you have no reason to be intimidated. though there's no point doing anything foolhardy, so don't go to Israel

 

[the rabbit]

Foofighter wrote;
Just talking about it does help some, or so it seems.

Yes the way you speak about it may be important also, to others or to yourself. The phrasing may be important and I was going to mention it , and so will now.

You wrote;

"And for what reason? Because I read this site? Because I have the "wrong" thoughts?"

Now even though I know you dont mean "Wrong thoughts" it still maybe better to actually say "right thoughts"

Something or nothing, just a thought that crossed my mind.

 

[Keit]

I don't know. Here are my thoughts: It sounds like the message was designed with one aim: to initiate an emotional response from you, foofighter - it is a covert threat which is plausibly deniable as such. In which case, the best response of all would be no response. No feeding of the situation. No visible feedback which could get back to the sender. No external indication that it has had any effect on you whatsoever!

As you say, you haven't done anything wrong, they've got nothing legitimate on you, and you have no reason to be intimidated. though there's no point doing anything foolhardy, so don't go to Israel

Well, actually, I would reply with a simple question "what do you mean? I don't get it". Because this would be a response of a person who doesn't have any idea what this "business acquaintance" is talking about.
You also didn't share too much, foofighter, (not that you have to!) about this person or your connection with him. I think that it is much more alarming that he may know something and playing games with you, then couple of IL guys "being your fans" and know everything about you. Yeah, Israel has some good specialists in the hacking field. Chances are they do know everything about you and more. So what? Did you plan to come here (Israel) anyway? Are you doing something that may be a real threat to Israeli intelligence?
But I also agree with Vin that the purpose of this sentence was to cause panic and paranoia (which succeeded). And if they know everything, they probably read this post as well. ;)

Another possibility that this "business acquaintance" was joking with you, especially if you had talks with him about M*ssad and co. And don't go to Israel

 

[foofighter]

Thanks for the excellent feedback

Well, actually, I would reply with a simple question "what do you mean? I don't get it". Because this would be a response of a person who doesn't have any idea what this "business acquaintance" is talking about.

Yes, I did answer with a question of whether there was anything particular of my work they enjoyed. No response.

You also didn't share too much, foofighter, (not that you have to!) about this person or your connection with him. I think that it is much more alarming that he may know something and playing games with you, then couple of IL guys "being your fans" and know everything about you. Yeah, Israel has some good specialists in the hacking field. Chances are they do know everything about you and more. So what? Did you plan to come here (Israel) anyway? Are you doing something that may be a real threat to Israeli intelligence?

The connection was just a regular business connection, and we had been in a F2F meeting the week before. Nothing out of the ordinary. And no, I don't plan to go to IL, and no, I'm not a threat to Israeli intelligence. Not that I know of anyway

But I also agree with Vin that the purpose of this sentence was to cause panic and paranoia (which succeeded). And if they know everything, they probably read this post as well. ;)

Good point. I didn't know what to do. I had to do something, even if it was perhaps a bad idea to post here. At least it has had some antidotal effect on the fear factor, I think, which is good.

Another possibility that this "business acquaintance" was joking with you, especially if you had talks with him about M*ssad and co. And don't go to Israel

Well, I try to avoid such subjects these days, especially with American or Israeli friends. There's just no point.

Oh well. Again, thanks for the feedback. It feels much better already.

 

[Cyre2067]

Along the lines of what others have mentioned, I'd try to gather more info while externally appearing unconcerned. Lil practice in the covert ops

Though, taken very superficially, anyone connected to intel probably knows about our lil forum and likely monitors it.

There is also the lack of info aspect. IE, i don't know your relationship to the guy who made the 'joke' in the first place. I don't know if you've mentioned your views on Israel to him or at work, thus i can't evaluate whether or not he made the 'joke' as such or if he's actually conveying something from someone in Israel. Overall, I wouldn't stress about it. If you find it disturbing you try some meditation and focus on feeling the feelings, let em stew in your emotional center, good shocks like that are important to feel. Without focus it'd be easy to let em fuel some paranoid actions.

 

[Renaissance]

Some time ago a business acquaintance of mine sent an email that at the end contained this line:
"I met couple of people in IL[Israel] that are really big fans of you they know all about you! Be careful if you plan to visit..."

This is oversimplifying things, but just for the sake of clarity are you sure he was talking about Israel? It's interesting that the reference isn't clear in saying so (or was the '[Israel]' included?). Ambiguity is of use here if it was coming from an 'agent'. It could also be good to consider a job where you're not providing tools for intelligence agencies.

If he was talking about Israel he might not have meant physically visiting Israel but just their domains .il - so it's also possible it could have been a sincere warning about getting hacked or something (although this seems less probable cause if 'they' wanted to hack you I'm sure they could).

 

[Keit]

Eh... I just read what he wrote again, and it may be actually not a threat or anything at all!
Try to read it again without the last sentence ("Be careful if you plan to visit"). How does it look like? Like there are really some hi tech people who are impressed by your job and know everything about your accomplishments.
Now, the last sentence is quite understandable, especially if they will offer you some job and invite you to Israel. You business acquaintance maybe just gave you a friendly reminder to be careful in the country will lot of dangerous stuff going on....

 

[foofighter]

This is oversimplifying things, but just for the sake of clarity are you sure he was talking about Israel? It's interesting that the reference isn't clear in saying so (or was the '[Israel]' included?). Ambiguity is of use here if it was coming from an 'agent'. It could also be good to consider a job where you're not providing tools for intelligence agencies.

He lives in Israel and works for an Israeli company, so yes, I'm pretty sure what he meant to with "IL" ([Israel] was added by me).

If he was talking about Israel he might not have meant physically visiting Israel but just their domains .il - so it's also possible it could have been a sincere warning about getting hacked or something (although this seems less probable cause if 'they' wanted to hack you I'm sure they could).

Right, well that is difficult to know for sure. Your guess is as good as mine on this one!

 

[foofighter]

Eh... I just read what he wrote again, and it may be actually not a threat or anything at all!
Try to read it again without the last sentence ("Be careful if you plan to visit"). How does it look like? Like there are really some hi tech people who are impressed by your job and know everything about your accomplishments.
Now, the last sentence is quite understandable, especially if they will offer you some job and invite you to Israel. You business acquaintance maybe just gave you a friendly reminder to be careful in the country will lot of dangerous stuff going on....

Mmm... I see what you're getting at, but the "..." is sort of not going in that direction. Also, why didn't he reply to my followup then on what particular part of my work they enjoyed?

In any case, I think I have a good sense of what to do with all of this now, regardless of what it was or wasn't. Like Vinnie said, don't do anything at all. I am, however, going to go out on a long walk now to let the remaining fear chemicals wash out of my system. Maybe some of that second-being food will be beneficial

 

[dant]

In my thinking, I would simply remain calm and think about what is it that you alone
could have possibly done or possess so as to draw their attention towards you?

Why would they care just about you, in the global scheme of things, because if anything,
SOTT and their members are perhaps the biggest single threat to the Zionist and/or
Neocons simply because we are seeking objective knowledge? It would seem to me
that the Zionist/Neocons main goal is to quash objective knowledge from the masses
in order to keep us all asleep and under control using all the tactics they can muster?

If they resort to threats, fears, disinformation, and so on, then perhaps we are on the
right track since they expose themselves through these tactics?

Another thing, what about your source of this information, ie your 'business acquaintance'?
Perhaps he is the one propagating the threat via intimidation, manipulation, and/or fear and
is part of the scheme? I am not sure if it is worth the effort to inquire of him for more information
such as WHO is "they" that he talked to?

As with anything, visiting any country in any capacity is always fraught with risks, so tread carefully.

OSIT

 

[CarpeDiem]

And if they know everything, they probably read this post as well.

Yep! And just think for a fleeting moment of how in-no real time anyone with right access tools can browse at least several major banks for ‘QFG - supporters' and get all details of many if not all here. I absolutely second Vinnie in refusing giving 'em cubic millimeter of your centeredness and firm resolve. The 'kicker' which works wonders for me in case of (self-) induced fear that 'Somebody iiisss watching YOU' - i ask myself a trivial simple as a log question - Well, Laura who was and is DOING is still alive, ark - the same, Darren (that's the big kicker!) who DID the Pentagon Flash - is still alive - so What did YOU DO to run in fear for your so precious life?' This works wonders with me. Hope that can help you too.

 

[Beau]

And if they know everything, they probably read this post as well.

Heck, they might even have remote-viewed the entire sequence months before it even happened! The plan is to "warn" you about Israel, in one way or the other, in order to spark your overall interest in these people and Israel. You probably wouldn't have thought twice about going there but now all of a sudden your interest may be piqued.