Our readers sound off about the meaning of true friendship and the perils of downtown dog poop.
Tough Tickets
[RE: “Ticketed Off” and “Meter–Made Problem,” Posts, Dec. 28 and Dec. 14], it always tickles me when people who can't budget their time point the finger of blame at anyone but themselves when things go awry. So you got a ticket because your meter had expired? Welcome to Planet Earth, where parking meters (and their beloved tenders) don't know from your shopping nightmares, your prolonged appointments, your broken heels or your quirky bladder. With them, it's either feed me dinero—NOW!—or I'll turn bright red and violate your ass. Sure, most of us see the world in technicolor, but in the parking police universe, only two colors count. Still green? You're good to go, and have a pleasant afternoon. Running-late red? Thank you for your generous contribution to the city's coffers. If you're that incensed about this egregious miscarriage of justice, fight the damn thing in court—not in the newpaper.
Tim Rudolph
Santa Cruz
Man Bites Dogs
I spet a rather pleasant day downtown recently amid the last-minute Xmas shoppers but it was unfortunately made less pleasant by an encounter with three small piles of dog shit on the sidewalk, one of which appeared to have been stepped in. So I am moved to ask the city council: Who is enforcing the pick-up-after-your-dog law? What happens when the dog's best friend does not cooperate? What are the public health implications of a shopping and dining district wagging with dogs? If a homeless person defecated on the sidewalk, what would be the penalty? Are dogs permitted at the Capitola Mall? When does the dogs downtown policy come up for review?
Stephen Kessler
Santa Cruz
Freedom From Facebook
Thank you for your article on the misery Facebook can cause someone (Currents, Dec. 21). After reading the article I realized my Facebook interactions were causing me to feel depressed for parts of my day. The problem was that most of my posts were being ignored by my '”Facebook friends.” I would upload a picture or write a comment and it was like I didn't exist. I decided I would use the “Paranoid Dictator” approach to this problem and purge or “unfriend” most of my cyber buddies. This can be accomplished by clicking on a friend and selecting “unfriend.” I learned that the friend is not notified they have been unfriended. You can always go back and change your decision and bestow friendship status to someone kicked out of your kingdom. After my purge I feel happy and free. No longer will I be at the mercy of the “like heart” underneath a post, or expect a response from my “friends/traitors.” I encourage people who are feeling Facebook depression to free yourself. You have the power. It is your domain!
Name withheld in the interest of social propriety
Santa Cruz County
