Don't Do It

I've heard this advise a number of times through out my life.
I wanted to know what others thought about it.

Do you agree or disagree and why?
Is there a better way of saying it?

I prefer a more cynical way:

The only sinless one is the one who never lived.

I guess I agree. :huh:

I generally try not consider things in terms of what other people think, but in absolute terms if I wanted no-one to ever know I'd done something then it would seem easier not to do it - else who knows to what ends I would have to go to hide something such as that in the future.

I agree!

Except times when you want everyone to find out, but not now.

I guess a better way to put it would be the way some religions says, that remember someone(god, ...) is watching everything you do, and will reveal it one day.

What about people coming out as gay to homophobic family and peers? How do you simply tell them "Don't do it?"

This is without context so when context is given it can be either good or bad. The answer depends on where you are applying the quote...

If you can't be good - be careful. And remember, three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.

It would depend more on why you don't want anyone to find out ... If it is just to maintain a good reputation, then it probably doesn't matter that much.

“Disobedience, in the eyes of any one who has read history, is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and through rebellion.” ~ Oscar Wilde

If you don't want anyone to find out what you are doing/have done because you feel that it is immoral, perhaps then it would be better to "don't do it" --

If on the other hand, that which you feel as though it is right, moral and good to do, an expression of you, yet just not quite conform the status quo or popular 'opinion', then jump into it all hands and feet. Discretely maybe, as Br John advises above, as it is not very productive to get oneself lynched, but as completely as you feel appropriate.

--"People ask me, 'Do you have optimism about the world?' and I say, 'Yes, it's great just the way it is. And you are not going to fix it up. Nobody has ever made it any better. It is never going to be any better. This is it, so take it or leave it. You are not going to correct or improve it'."

Doesn't that lead to a rather passive attitude in the face of evil?

"You yourself are participating in evil, or you are not alive. Whatever you do is evil for somebody. This is one of the ironies of the whole creation."-- Josesph Campbell/Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth

When in doubt, go back to the basics, L'il Sis ... It's all there.

Reliah wrote:

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I've heard this advise a number of times through out my life.
I wanted to know what others thought about it.

Do you agree or disagree and why?
Is there a better way of saying it?

It's interesting how some are taking this as hiding something bad or evil.


I know...it always depends...there are no absolutes.... but....death and taxes

Br. John wrote: If you can't be good - be careful. And remember, three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.

You sound like my father haha
It's a compliment, by the way

Thank you all for your ideas. I had someone on Facebook mention that living this way isn't a way to live because people will judge you no matter what you do.
I'm really liking the different ideas and points of view.

I think for me the question is "Why dont I want people to know?"

Is it because I know its wrong? Then dont do it
Is it because I fear people will judge me? Then DO IT