The PG ran a story Thursday about the fact that about half of the bloggers in the United States, according to a study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, choose to cloak their real identities behind a pseudonym of some kind — like, say, Uncle Crappy. The story was locally produced, and it quotes, via email, Pitt Girl, author of the Burgh Blog, my local favorite.

Pitt Girl told the PG that she keeps her identity hidden to allow her the freedom to comment on our local silliness without having to worry about reprisal. Some would say that’s a chickenshit stance, but Uncle Crappy understands completely.

I don’t know if Pitt Girl has to worry about grumpy employers, or if she’s concerned about being inundated if everyone were to find out how hot she actually is. But I don’t think she poses any kind of threat our society as a whole by hiding behind the Pitt Girl name, because the stuff she’s posting — while always sharp and funny — isn’t the kind of thing that’s going to bring down the Ravenstahl administration.

That’s pretty much the case with me as well. As most of you know, I work for a Pittsburgh-area newspaper. While journalists are permitted to participate in the political process, we are bound ethically to refrain from expressing political views or supporting political causes publicly. But Uncle Crappy enjoys an occasional political rant. And I like being be able to indulge that whim without having to worry about what my employers are going to say about it. And that’s why I’m Uncle Crappy on these pages.

I take care not to bitch about work; the only folks who would be offended by most of what I write here are those uber-sensitive people who should probably sit at home in a dark room watching Happy Days reruns, so their delicate sensibilities aren’t compromised any more than they already are.

There are folks who wield the web’s anonymity like a sledgehammer; they’re probably not too knowledgeable about libel law and fairness and the other written and unwritten rules that govern journalism. I know them pretty well, and I apply them here just as I do at work.

Look — it probably wouldn’t be too tough to figure out who I am, if you read through enough of the stuff here — but I really wish you wouldn’t. It’s all in good fun, and I’d hate to have to give it up because someone thought it would be fun to out Uncle Crappy.

Besides — how else will you know how many days, hours and seconds there are until the Michigan game?