My first diary, name included.

Having just signed up for Kos last week, this is my first diary. I'm a bit of an outsider to Kos and to blogging in general. Bare with me if I'm a little off with the proper etiquette.

There is one thing that really jumped out at me when I started reading these pages. I was surprised how very few people actually sign posts and comments using their real names. I could understand this if we were talking about the latest Hollywood marriage or Brittany video, but we are discussing the most important issues of the day. National security, taxes, the economy, jobs, health care, the future of the Party, voting rights, the list goes on. So many people carefully write well thought-out and well-researched comments under names like "Sk8trDude," "Chick4Dean," and "RedStateB*tch." (I'm just making these up. If anyone really is using these names, it is totally coincidence.) It just doesn't make sense. Is it possible that these critical issues deserve better than this? I think so. Does using these "cutesy" names understate their importance? I tend to think that it does.

For those of you who do use these cute made-up names, why? Is it nothing more than self-expression? Or is there something more to it? I suspect some use alternative names so they can come into a site like this and vent their frustration in a way they wouldn't think to do to someone's face. Maybe it's a little easier to call someone else a liar or a fool when no one knows your real name.

Or is there some better reason to hide your identity? Are we possibly talking with really important people who don't want to cause a stir by posting? Is "BigDog from AR" really the big dog from Arkansas? What about "VT_Gov"? Is that you, Howard? (Again, making the names up.)

I'm starting to understand the value in that annoying blurb that candidates have to use at the end of all of their political advertisements: I'm X, and I support this message. This little debated ammendment to the McCain-Feingold Bill forces candidates to stand behind the comments made in that ad, even if the content of the ads aren't closely regulated. Should all of us be forced to stand behind our comments using our own names? I want to hold myself to that level of scrutiny. That's why I do use my name.