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Grim Truth: 12 May 1994
May. 12th, 2011 10:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_dorisGreetings, British Journal-Readers.
We’re saddened by the comments that we’ve received, alleging that we neither knew nor cared anything for Sirius Black. Some people have even accused us of working for the Ministry! That could not be further from the Grim Truth that we set out to communicate by taking up our quill in Doris's journal.
Some have also questioned whether we’ve purloined the journal of an innocent, as others have done, to accomplish our mission. This is simply answered: Doris herself is one of our number and volunteered her journal expressly for the purpose of spreading the word. She fervently believes, as do we all, in Sirius Black’s legacy and his original message.
However, it’s true that one of the difficulties facing many who disapprove of the Protectorate is finding a way to speak together without attracting unwanted Ministerial attention. That’s why codes are a vital tool. With a sufficiently clever code, members of secret societies may communicate openly under the very eye of Ministry officials - even those tasked with monitoring private messages.
There are many books on ciphers and cryptography which detail the creation of an effective code. The simplest involve using a book that all readers own or have access to read. A combination of numbers embedded in the text of your entry represent the page number and word on the page.
The Ministry are not so foolish, however, as to ignore a post consisting of nothing but numbers. We suggest a more subtle means of communication through creating a code in which discussing one topic equates to a place of meeting, another topic signifies the time, and so on, so that all who read your post will receive the signal to meet. Once assembled, you may discuss your discontent and make whatever plans you need.
For example, a leader may post something seemingly innocuous: a book review or an account of a child’s recital. Hidden within the writing, however, may be phrases or words which are rare enough not to be confused, but plain enough not to attract attention. One location may stand in for another place - St Paul’s for the Old Vic, for example - and the phrase ‘one dozen’ might signify noon or midnight. (As you might imagine, using a 24-hour clock among yourselves may be helpful to avoid confusion about that.)
The right code can mean the difference between a solitary dissenter shouting into the void and a united coalition of like-minded wizards and witches, working together to bring about change.
Use this information wisely.
We’re saddened by the comments that we’ve received, alleging that we neither knew nor cared anything for Sirius Black. Some people have even accused us of working for the Ministry! That could not be further from the Grim Truth that we set out to communicate by taking up our quill in Doris's journal.
Some have also questioned whether we’ve purloined the journal of an innocent, as others have done, to accomplish our mission. This is simply answered: Doris herself is one of our number and volunteered her journal expressly for the purpose of spreading the word. She fervently believes, as do we all, in Sirius Black’s legacy and his original message.
However, it’s true that one of the difficulties facing many who disapprove of the Protectorate is finding a way to speak together without attracting unwanted Ministerial attention. That’s why codes are a vital tool. With a sufficiently clever code, members of secret societies may communicate openly under the very eye of Ministry officials - even those tasked with monitoring private messages.
There are many books on ciphers and cryptography which detail the creation of an effective code. The simplest involve using a book that all readers own or have access to read. A combination of numbers embedded in the text of your entry represent the page number and word on the page.
The Ministry are not so foolish, however, as to ignore a post consisting of nothing but numbers. We suggest a more subtle means of communication through creating a code in which discussing one topic equates to a place of meeting, another topic signifies the time, and so on, so that all who read your post will receive the signal to meet. Once assembled, you may discuss your discontent and make whatever plans you need.
For example, a leader may post something seemingly innocuous: a book review or an account of a child’s recital. Hidden within the writing, however, may be phrases or words which are rare enough not to be confused, but plain enough not to attract attention. One location may stand in for another place - St Paul’s for the Old Vic, for example - and the phrase ‘one dozen’ might signify noon or midnight. (As you might imagine, using a 24-hour clock among yourselves may be helpful to avoid confusion about that.)
The right code can mean the difference between a solitary dissenter shouting into the void and a united coalition of like-minded wizards and witches, working together to bring about change.
Use this information wisely.
