Secrets Can Be Fun, Surprises Show Caring, Privacy Is Personal

Eamon convinces Mae in their meeting that all secrets, any secret she's ever kept, from something as simple as feigning surprise upon her entrance to his office to omitting any information she learns about Kalden to Annie, is equivalent to lying, that she is stealing others' rights to knowledge of anything going on in the world. Members of the Circle are ready to accept this mantra; they share, quite frankly, too much of their lives on social media and are a part of a large collective to better society through a permeating transparency. Yet, these mantras announced at a special Dream Friday to thousands of Circlers are actually controlling and can lead to overpowering leadership.

Each time Mae ventures off campus and kayaks in the bay, a number of Circlers are personally offended that she had not posted or shared any information to the InnerCircle or to any groups related to kayaking. What exactly could the members of these kayak interest groups or Mae's followers do if they had known she was out kayaking? Tell her not to go because they are not there? Would they even come out to me her if she offered? Mae even mentioned to Eamon that her kayaking trips are spur of the moment, usually in a bout of frustration to let off some steam. Mae clearly doesn't want any company or she would think to Zing or text somebody in regards to meeting up.

Sure, secrets can be harmful, say if diplomats are cheating the system behind citizens' backs or if a loved one finds a suspicious spot on their body but does not share until many months later when there is little modern medicine can do to help, but secrets can also be positive. Secrets can lead to heartwarming surprises, think birthday parties and gifts, wedding announcements, and even something as simple as spending some time alone doing something you love.

For instance, just this Tuesday on my walk back across campus from my morning class, I received a text from my mother informing me that she, and my father, were turning onto campus and that they'd be picking me up to go to lunch. She hadn't told me until then that they would be in the area for a business trip, or that they planned for a quick visit. According to Eamon, I should be miffed, offended even, that such crucial information had been withheld from me. Instead, I was elated, I would see my parents after several weeks and I would get free lunch! Rather than feeling uncared for or left out, it was quite the opposite; I was excited, more so than had I known ahead of time, because the surprise had become the highlight of an otherwise humdrum day. I did not feel that knowledge had been stolen from me, or that my mother owed me an explanation as to why she did not tweet, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat her entire trip or video the drive from Pittsburgh to State College.

These mantras, generally, can be applied to bigger picture aspects of the world, like government or large corporations, but to the extend workers at The Circle take it, they become overbearing and oppressive.