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Comment by Joan Denoo on September 10, 2012 at 11:31am

Idaho Spud, It does seem that an alias is semi-protection. Not foolproof. My son-in-law answers all personal questions with nonsense. As far as I know, he hasn't been revealed online. That sounds wise to me, except for me, I have an agenda. By the way, when I worked professionally in education, I wrote under Joan Smith. Well, just try to find anything I ever wrote using that name.
My son named his son John Smith. Can you imagine the problems that creates for genealogists of the future? It is one headache I won't have to overcome. 

Comment by Idaho Spud on September 10, 2012 at 11:20am

Joan, My real name search (especially when using my middle name) comes-up with a disturbing amount of detail, but they do get some things wrong, which I like.  And, I find no quotes from me under my real name.

Comment by matthew greenberg on September 10, 2012 at 10:03am

wow, i'm quite surprised that a quote from a Social Network would be used in a mainstream news network's piece.  it's one thing if an interview on a local news network gets used to spotlight some issue, but it's another thing altogether to take something from this site and use it without permission.  it's good that you're not sensitive, but even though i use my real name here i would not want the publicity that something like this could generate.  personally i've made peace with the fact that A/N is not entirely private, and if someone were so inclined to look up my background it would not be difficult to find.  however, for your words to be used without permission is a serious transgression and i wonder about it's legality. 

please keep us updated if anyone tries to reach you for comment or clarification. 

Comment by Sentient Biped on September 9, 2012 at 11:23pm

Loren, I hope my response was not too flippant.  I'm sorry that I did not acknowledge the concern that this raised.  I agree that responsible and ethical reporting means talking to your interview subject - not quoting them without permission, or notification, from a social networking site.  What lazy irresponsible reporting.  CNN should be ashamed at its sloppiness, let alone the unethical character of its reporting.

Comment by Loren Miller on September 9, 2012 at 9:33pm

Okay, let me be clear about something: this is fame I neither desired nor solicited.  For whatever reason, Dan Merica decided to take a comment of mine and blurt it out on CNN.com for all to see, and I am sorely tempted to give him a piece of my mind for doing so without my permission or consent.  This is the kind of excitement I can do without in my life.  That I CAN deal with it and any fallout from it does in no ways mean that I WANT or desire to have it.  Anyone who wants to "congratulate" me on this doesn't understand how I feel about the situation or what it potentially means.

The ONLY saving grace about this whole business is that I live in an area where atheism may not be the big deal that it could be in, say, the Deep South.

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 9, 2012 at 5:53pm

I put in Idaho Spud and got this: 

http://idspud.blogspot.com/

He doesn't write like you. The one you found doesn't either.

Have you searched your legal name? 

Here we go, this is you. I put in "Atheist Nexus, Idaho Spud" and got:

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ie=UTF-8&a...

Comment by Sentient Biped on September 9, 2012 at 5:38pm

Spud, I've done the same thing.  Interesting.

By the way, Loren, you are right about guacamole.  It's damn near holy.  Especially with a lot of garlic.  They should use it as a dip for communion.  

Comment by Idaho Spud on September 9, 2012 at 5:06pm

Thanks Joan.  How did you search?  I searched "Idaho Spud Atheist" and came-up with what looks like all I ever said, but it did come-up with a blog that is not mine, but has good things to say about atheists:

http://godsrbored.blogspot.com/2011/10/sacred-spud-idaho.html

Comment by Sentient Biped on September 9, 2012 at 4:59pm

Congrats Loren on your new-found fame!  (I say that somewhat tongue in cheek).  I'm glad you are taking it in stride.  From time to time we get reminders about how all things on the internet are available all over the place.  I would not want the same situation, but I also know it could happen, despite using a nom de plume.  

*

I wish I could be as out as you are.  I can't.  My employment situation would become much more tenuous.  Having already been through that once, I don't think I can handle it again.  Not happy about that, but I have to make a living.

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 9, 2012 at 4:49pm

 Idaho Spud, this isn't a matter of cowardice, it just good sense. Know how and why you are vulnerable and then chose what works for you. Your search is delightful and inspiring to follow and I really respect you. Good job!

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