MISH MASH

I have been questioned about my identity and gently urged from some quarters to post my name. I don't see what's the big deal in using a pseudonym; most of the blogs I visit use pseudonyms. What's the difference in using Worried American or a made up name like Jane Doe?Granny knows who I am as do a few readers. But if it makes a difference to others, my name is Marie. That is my middle name and the one I've used all my many years, although on legal papers my first name is used.

When I first began using a computer in June/July 2005, a green as a gourd novice and completely computer illiterate, I leapt into the new (to me) wonderful world of the internet with boundless enthusiasm and naive innocence. I was ignorant of the dangers in that great new world, made some stupid mistakes, and had some bad experiences. I learned the hard way not to toss your identity to the winds to be exploited by bad guys.

Once burned, twice shy. I opened new email accounts using various pseudonyms for certain uses; others I use my own name(s), and those are used for people known to me. When accessing sites where I must log in, I use one of the pseudonym email acounts. Using "Worried" as the name on my blog in no wise reflects unfavorably on our readers; it doesn't mean that I distrust you. But as you well know, other blog surfers are not as decent as you are.

And I have discovered if someone knows your name and city, it is easy enough to people-find you. I have used people-find myself to locate old friends and misplaced relatives whose addresses have been lost in this very mobile society we live in. But not all people-find users have good motives. And good hackers can do a world of hurt.

So "Worried" shall remain so on this blog, even though you know I'm Marie. Good Heavens!! "Worried" isn't any worse than "Virushead" or some of the other blog names I've seen. People are very creative at times.