In the Information Age, Everyone Should Be Prepared to Be Doxxed

There is nothing that cannot be found online.

Every passing goose leaves a trace. Our names, phone numbers, ID numbers, email addresses, social accounts, frequently used passwords, home addresses, and relationships are all interconnected. Anyone determined enough can use some of your information to uncover the rest; different methods simply reach different depths.

For example, in last year's Fat Cat incident, internet users dug up every detail about his girlfriend Tan Zhu, including her and her family's ID information, numerous photographs, employment details, and private life. Her past actions could no longer remain hidden, and what sort of person she was became plain to see. All this investigation took place online, without interviewing Tan Zhu herself.

The recent case of Ms. Dong is similar. Internet users unearthed her qualifications, family background, and path into Peking Union Medical College Hospital, revealing a third-generation member of a powerful family with ordinary looks, poor academic ability, and less-than-perfect private morals.

Although our country emphasizes protecting personal privacy, and most people will not doxx a stranger for no reason, we cannot place our hopes in others. In the internet age, everyone should be prepared to be doxxed.

Seen another way, doxxing can sometimes be good. The Doctrine of the Mean says, “Nothing is more visible than what is hidden, nothing more apparent than what is subtle; therefore the gentleman is watchful when alone.” The Analects also says, “Sacrifice to the spirits as if they were present.” People should have a sense of reverence. You cannot act one way in public and another behind people's backs; if you do, you deserve criticism when you are doxxed.

We can therefore treat “doxxing” as a warning and assume it will certainly happen to us someday, sooner or later.

What can we do to prepare for this coming doxxing?

My own thoughts are:

1 Have your own moral principles and firmly refuse to violate them.

2 Occasionally do good deeds anonymously, so that anyone maliciously doxxing you suddenly discovers you are a fucking philanthropist and is left speechless.

3 Never proclaim yourself morally noble. Instead, show more of your vulgar, lowbrow side, so that even being doxxed will not destroy your public persona.

4 Always be compassionate. Be more tolerant, encouraging, and helpful toward others. Even before blessings arrive, misfortune will already be far away. As long as you are a reasonably decent person, far fewer people will maliciously target you.

5 Be utterly thick-skinned. If you really are doxxed and past blemishes are exposed, embrace Ah Q's spirit and do your best to comfort yourself. Remember: the shame lies in the act itself, not its disclosure. You had already repented and atoned before it was revealed, so there is no need to suffer a second injury.