Is a secret a secret if more than one person knows it?

Question

I'm having a hard time deciding. If anybody else, besides me, knows a secret.. is it really a secret anymore?

Answer 1

I don't think so because a secret is something that nobody knows, so if anyone else knows its not a secret..

Answer 2

I'd say it's still a secret if the knowledge is being intentionally withheld from an interested party.



For example, a 'trade secret' might be known to all (or at least most) people who work within a particular trade, but the knowledge is deliberately kept from passing beyond that trade. As such, it is still a secret.

Secret societies are a similar case; it doesn't matter how many people know as long as none of the people from whom the information is being kept (that is, those outside the society) find out about it.

Answer 3

Hm, I think so. There are shared secrets,but they remain secrets since only a restrict number of people are aware of it. It id hard to define in quantitative terms when it's a secret and when it's not because it will depend from situation to situation. As for individual secrets,I think they're no longer secrets when shared. If we're talking about group secrets,the whole group can know and it's still a secret. You have to draw a limitation for it. If it goes beyond that limit,it's no longer a secret.

Answer 4

If a secret is something which nobody knows, then surely YOU knowing makes it no longer a secret?!



Think of an undiscovered lake in remote forest... that is a secret. Once an explorer stumbles upon it, it's no longer a secret surely?



I guess it depends on your definition of secret. The whole world could be invited to a surprise party for the one person who doesn't know about it, so it has been kept as a secret from that one person. Hasn't it?



Great question!

Answer 5

Yes, a secret is:

1. done, made, or conducted without the knowledge of others: secret negotiations.

2. kept from the knowledge of any but the initiated or privileged: a secret password.

3. faithful or cautious in keeping confidential matters confidential; close-mouthed; reticent.

4. designed or working to escape notice, knowledge, or observation: a secret drawer; the secret police.

5. secluded, sheltered, or withdrawn: a secret hiding place.

6. beyond ordinary human understanding; esoteric.

7. (of information, a document, etc.) a. bearing the classification secret.

b. limited to persons authorized to use information documents, etc., so classified.

Answer 6

A secret is still a secret if ALL people in the world know it, except that ONE person that's not supposed to.

Answer 7

Nope. When more than one single person knowing a secret, that's what we call "An open secret". As a matter of fact, in that situation, this is not a secret any more.

Answer 8

I'd have at most 10 people to know a secret, and no one else; that would be considered a secret in my world. If everyone knows but they're not telling, it's not secret because everyone knows.

Answer 9

If the first person had a secret to reveal to someone and told them not to tell anyone else and they did not tell anyone else then it is still a secret,until one of them tells someone else.The secret would have to be the first persons secret .That they only know about themselves.Otherwise then it may be only rumors or gossip.



























As always. more than a pretty face.

Answer 10

Oh, yes! All the Christians know the secrets of God! Same way, all the bakers know the secrets of making special kinds of cakes, pastry etc or even, all the cooks of McDonald know the secret of their special burger!

Answer 11

a secret is a secret until that ONE person finds out.

Answer 12

This is the way i see it:



Say you told your friend A your secret.



It is no longer a secret to her.



But it still is a secret to everyone else who are not aware of it.



So it depends on what angle you are looking at.



No definite position....Like subparticles in quantum reality.

Answer 13

It's a secret as long as at least one person is intentionally kept from knowing about it. Secret societies, for example, can have hundreds or thousands of members who keep their rituals a secret from non-members.

Answer 14

What is a secret? "kept from the knowledge of any but the initiated or privileged" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/secret)

It remains a secret as long as the original party or parties involved are the only one/s with the knowledge of what was said or the event that took place

Answer 15

NO, i dont think it is because if more than one person knows it will ruin the whole secret/surprise. It would NOT be a secret anymore =[

Answer 16

NO. secret is just for only that person. There can not be more than one person to know it or else it would not be called "a secret" isn it?

Answer 17

yes it's a secret between the X persons.( x is a variable)

Answer 18

What is Secret SERVICE?

Answer 19

There is such a thing as a "secret society" a fraternity of sort.

Answer 20

If its a few people know and they wont spread it around then yes its still a secret.

But if it gets spread around then its 2 things.

A fake rumour:meaning that its not true

Or a real rumor: meaning it is true.

A fake rumour isn't a fake rumour anymore unless proven otherwise

So i guess the answer to your question is a maybe.

Answer 21

I think it is a secret as long as the person that you DON'T want to find out doesn't know.

Just my opinion :]

Answer 22

if the secret was oral,more than one already know it.

Answer 23

yes

Answer 24

yes

Answer 25

That is the sacredness behind it.