Anonymity is a faceless void providing little context

Can’t recall if I’ve discussed anonymous letters previously. Thought I should in case other readers have that idea; I sincerely hope they won’t. Seems like playing games to me and I’m a bit old now for game playing. I’ve been advised by other writers who have received such letters to toss them:

1) Immediately since face to face discussion is not possible.

2) Very soon since they are in the same class as writing on toilet walls.

3) After a second reading at a later time since you might gather some worthwhile information under somewhat different circumstances.

I prefer No. 3 since I’m sometimes a bit slow. Youth is quick and I remember those days only too well; sometimes I was too quick. I did notice in a recent Weekly Reader that they don’t accept anonymous letters. Must mean they wastebasket them since the post office couldn’t return without a return address.

The anonymous letters that I have received are most often critical. They usually take exception to something I have written and they are letting me know, in no uncertain words, the specific mistakes that I made and exactly how they feel about it. But, pleasantly surprising me, I had a complimentary one recently. Why someone would not want to identify themselves is difficult for me to understand. Courage of convictions?

One of the anonymous letter writers asked me why I didn’t stick to aging in this column and leave politics to somebody who knows what they are talking about. Dave Barry, comedian, shared his wisdom at age 50, and the following are a few of his 25 points that I agree with whole heartedly:

You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight-saving time.

A penny saved is worthless.

They can hold all the peace talks they want, but there will never be peace in the Middle East. Billions of years from now, when Earth is hurtling toward the sun and there is nothing left alive on the planet except a few microorganisms, the microorganisms living in the Middle East will be bitter enemies.

The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background is that deep down, we all believe that we are above average drivers.

Why is “abbreviation” such a long word?

Even if something is made idiot proof, someone will make a better idiot.

We are all born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.

Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.

Be nice to your kids. They’ll choose your nursing home.

Some closing humor example of a fellow who did have the courage of his convictions, “A new business was opening and one of the owner’s friends sent flowers. The flowers arrived at the new business site and the new owner read the card, “Rest in Peace.” Angrily he called the florist and complained vigorously. The florist apologized but, even worse, said that somewhere there is a funeral taking place with their flowers saying, “Congratulations on your new location.”

Tags: senior citizens, community, superior