Step up to the new medium. An alias is who we are in this day and age. I have friends who call me Truth. The fact that you don't know my or other people's real names really bugs you for one reason and one reason only. You aren't able to single them out in the community and gossip about them. (not you, in particular, but others)

This is the life we live in today. In this day and age of identity theft, we need to protect ourselves every step of the way. The names you have written up top just put another reference in a google search. Cross reference that with a zabasearch and you have where they live, their age, their phone number and a map to their house. It's a ridiculous time and everyone needs to protect themselves.

Who knows what my real name is? I could be one of your best friends and you don't know. If you did know, would you stop inviting me over? Would we still be friends? Probably not.

The world would be much better if we didn't read into names and read into the content of people instead.

Peggy, I think you are 100% correct. "The Truth" is mistaken in thinking that everyone online is hiding behind an alias. In the blogosphere, transparency - including one's identity - is very highly valued among adults.

It is, of course, different for minors than it is for those who are older. We don't want our kids getting into trouble online and so we encourage them to be anonymous.

It is probably safe to assume that those who don't sign their names are minors. Perhaps we could ask that instead of just using a screen name, these folks sign "Los Gatos teen" or "Los Gatos minor" or "Los Gatos student"? That way the expectation would be lifted that they'd share in the transparency and the reason would be understood that it's for their safety.

Mary Pope-Handy
Los Gatos

A different perspective:

Those of us in other professions know that prospective employers Google the names of applicants. Personal postings show along with professional accomplishments. Sometimes its a professional issue. Not all using a sign-on other then their name use it to be rude. There are many reasons anonymity if important. Some are just plain not interested in public displays. Nothing is straightforward including this.

First off, I didn't say everyone online is hiding behind an alias. People aren't hiding at all. There are many who choose an alias to protect against identity theft.

When blogs first came out, only the ones with a name that was associated with a reputable magazine or newspaper were considered credible. Since that time, people have come to know the aliases and trust them. They trust them because they know that their content is credible and aligns with their thoughts. Blogging is also used as a diary for a decent number of people. Those people use aliases because they don't want some people hurt in the process. Did you have a diary when you were younger? Did you use real names?

I love the fact that you make the assumption that those who don't use their names are minors. If the alias was Classof72, what would you assume?

So why is it you read so much into a name? If my last name was Rockefeller or Carnegie, what would you read into it? Maybe reading the content and trying to understand it vs. trying to figure out who the writer is might help everyone out.

Names can give a lot of background information, but it cannot give you any information on what's inside. Please open your mind and accept aliases as people too.

FYI, I'm well over 40 years of age.

Right on Peggy!

It is shameful the way so many people hide behind an alias. Especially using labels such as "TheTruth." Should be "HereIsMyOpinion" or DontListenToTheLies,OnlyToMe."

I "stepped up" to the new medium 30 years ago. Are you really afraid that someone will steal your identity from an editorial? Has this actually EVER happened?

Newspapers have been publishing the names of those that submit letters to the editor for decades.

Get real. This is not a "Dear Abby" forum.

Thanks and looking forward to your anonymous reply,

WonderingWhySomePeopleAreSoManipulative

Identity theft has picked up steam in the last couple of years, mostly from only name references. Sure you have people who steal from mailboxes, but the majoriy comes from a name online cross referenced with many other sources. It stinks and there really isn't a way to prevent it.

Aliases don't necessarily change based upon what you write. It's too much of a pain to do that. Although everything I write is my opinion, I'm simply known as TheTruth online and prefer to keep it this way. Like I've said before, read the content and not the name.

Since you've already formed an opinion of me, I bet I could walk up to you on the street and introduce myself as TheTruth and you would know my personality. I'm not a bad person, just a stubborn one with opinions.

Dear Peggy,

I applaud you for your stand!

Probably the best known group of people who did not want to have their names known were the Ku Klux Klan. They reigned long before identidy theft, etc. were even know. Like today's anonymous, they did not want their neighbors to know what they were doing or what they were promoting.

Well, let?s see. How do Measure D supporters act? In the Los Gatos Observer article ?Los Gatos Skate park Organizers allege illegal tactics, (Alastair Dallas 11/30/07) ?Copies of the petition that put Measure D on the Feb. 5, 2008 ballot were allegedly given by the Town of Los Gatos to opponents of Measure D, thereby revealing the names and addresses of those supporting the initiative.? It was wrong of the town to give the names, and it was wrong of the Measure D supporters to get them, but they took them anyway. According to another article in the Observer, named opponents have been called NIMBYS, the Glickmans had an orange thrown against their window, signs have been vandalized, people (voters) were lied to when they signed petitions (?The park will be built with privately collected/donated funds.?). Also, because politicians are named, Measure D supporters are claiming it?s a political issue. It?s not political to me.
I totally do not trust Measure D supporters. To me, they are bullies. Instead of discussing the issue, they go on personal attacks. If they knew who I was, I think they would try to attack me, too. The glory and the beauty of the United States is the freedom of confidential voting and three cheers for the Observer for allowing confidential comments. (And by the way, if I?ve screwed up in my English in anyway, too bad. I still get to vote.) Plus, I?m in my sixties (which my support for a senior center might have made obvious.) Go Mike Wasserman!

So are you comparing me to a Ku Klux Klan member? Glad you can act so grown up about this freedom that we still have in the United States. It does appear, however, that you and Peggy Dallas would gladly give up this freedom in a heartbeat.

How do you know so much about the Ku Klux Klan anyway? I thought it was best to not give hate groups the courtesy of thinking about them. I would much be preferred to be compared to something a little more upstanding.

As for LosGatosResident. Don't worry about screwing up your English. I had to edit mine 3 times to get it right and I'm sure I still have corrections to make.

(Edited 01/31/08 9:29 pm)

robertgelkin,

We only put Yes on D signs in yards with written permission...All were by request..

We have had no calls to remove Yes on D signs because facts were misinterpreted...

You claim "There are at least 20 examples of this in our neighborhood."

If you can provide me 20 names and addresses of those who you convinced to remove Yes on D signs in your neighborhood...I will write a check for the balance of the cost of the skatepark...

A different perspective:

Those of us in other professions know that prospective employers Google the names of applicants. Personal postings show along with professional accomplishments. Sometimes its a professional issue. Not all using a sign-on other then their name use it to be rude. There are many reasons anonymity if important. Some are just plain not interested in public displays. Nothing is straightforward including this.

I can't believe "LosGatosResident". Scared of talking to Yes on D people? Someone has definitely sent you down a weeded path of information. I have never been considered a bully or someone that cannot be approached. Quite the opposite. I'm known for heavy analysis of a situation backed up with facts. I am sorry to hear that somewhere you have heard differently. Please write us at www.losgatosskatepark.com with your questions and concerns. Tell us what facts and/or other information does not makes sense or needs more detail.

I personally promise - if you approach us - we won't touch a hair on your head or even come close.

All I ask is we get the facts.

I don't understand how collecting signatures - something not as easy as people think is a problem. We actually had many more but we had a few false starts plus some mailed directly to the Register of Voters making them invalid. This is part of the democratic process. We didn't go into this decision lightly. There is much history and items that never made it to the news that led us to this point.

How did we get here --- we have elected leaders but no leadership. Most well run towns have progressive recreational plans that balance the needs of citizens, with all other needs people ask for during the course of ones life.

We do not. In fact our Rec. department is strictly an operations type function.

Please - step back for a second. We are a symptom of a bigger problem. The kids were told go raise 1 million. No kid group ever did this. We spoke to council - telling them about the 300K raised as well as issues we ran into during grant writing. Lots of information shared. We got blank stares. Anyway - there is so much more.

Think - why would a standard skatepark - something that is commonly found across the country in poor and rich towns be a ballot measure? Really think about it. Leave your focus to the side for a few minutes. No one will know...

Does this really make sense? Think - how do towns develop? How do they build their public facilities for different segments of the population?

Oh - this project could have been such a positive project and community building project.

We - can make this happen - but - why - do the NO on D folks use fear and twisted facts. Give me a fact and I can back it up.

Well - I hope you think about seeking the information. You'll be amazed.

And by the way - a citizens vote is a private matter. This is why sharing those documents with the NO people after having the proponents sign a document stating that signatures are confidential is substancial. If this was a more contraversal issue - would you want the other side to know your plan to vote?

... and I'm the last person people are scared to meet!

Pleasure talking with you.

All of the reasons people have given here pro and con for using or not using an alias when making comments are valid: being targeted, ostracized, identity theft, taking responsibility for your actions and thoughts. However, the one overarching issue here is fear. FEAR. People in our nation and in our communities have now been fed a FEAR rich diet of propaganda. We're supposed to be terrified of everyone and everything, including each other. It labels those who don't agree or who live or believe differently as the enemy, they are people to be afraid of, people to be STOPPED. And those who are frightened of everyone and everything (like "good Germans"), especially losing some aspect of their community, personal property, or even their safety, take it out on others. Our government and the violent (violence is also PORN) TV/media have not only GIVEN US ALL PERMISSION TO DO THAT, but showed us how to do it. This is exactly what Hitler/Goehring did to the populace of Germany, and this is clearly the environment that the Bush/Cheney regime has inflicted on Americans. And, frankly, we have all helped with our mindless consumerism, greed, indifference, and lust for distraction and stimulation. When we wake up and remember history, and when we refuse to be programmed to kill, hurt and steal or withhold (all kinds of things) from others, then we can all speak up with our own names, respecting our own and others' ideas, and call each other friend.

Maybe Ms. Dallas is right. Let's come out of the shadows. Let's stop hiding. Let's stop hurting each other. Let's stop allowing others with an agenda (that depends on the division of people and communities) tell us who to be afraid of and who to hate. Let's stop making children who want to play on their skate boards the "enemy." Let's stop being selfish. Let'sreach across and call each other brother and sister. Let's change the way we take care of ourselves and each other. Yes, we do need to take care of each other. Let's stop being afraid. As Jerold Jampolsky (sp) said, "love is letting go of fear."

When that happens, let me know, and I'll sign my real name to this.

By the way: a well known psychological phenomenon is that when people who are depressed often find even aberrant ways to stimulate themselves emotionally. Some work out. Some stir up trouble. They both get the juices going. This nation has been LOOTED and taken down the path of death, destruction, chaos and poverty, with all the attendant social deficits. YES, we have much to fear, but not from each other. How about we join hands, hearts and minds, and focus our attention on those who have conspired to divide us with FEAR, and target THEM for a while.

Remember: ALWAYS, ALWAYS ASK WHY.

I can't remember every having such a divisive issue in any election here in Town - and I've lived here for a very long time. It saddens me that what I see as simply the issue of cost vs use (or "bang for your buck" as we used to say) excalated - no, deteriorated - into personal attacks and accusations. I think we'd all love to see a skatepark in Town. We simply can't afford what was proposed. Maybe when the economy turns around again, the issue can be revisited. But next time let's stick to the real issue and leave personalities out of it.

Toni Blackstock

Toni, I agree with you so much about the need to leave personal attacks out of it (if and when there's a "next time" - on this or on any other issue, for that matter). There are good, reasonable, well intentioned people on both sides of the issue. There was no benefit to the mudslinging and nasty comments. A few people misbehaved, apparently on both extremes, but they do not represent the majority of people involved in the campaigning.