The Acorn really needs to dismount from its high horse, quit using a "Don't damn motherhood and apple pie" approach and consider the impacts current parks and schoolbased afterhours recreational programs have on the quality of life of the citizens of Thousand Oaks.

Probably a large proportion of the citizenry do enjoy the great outdoors. I think it equally likely that those of us who do enjoy what parks can give us equally despise the lights and noise and disruption of our tranquility that these places frequently become in Thousand Oaks.

Little League-use with highly amplified sound of the diamond in Conejo Community Park and the nighttime basketball program at Redwood Middle School are two glaringly awful examples of "park" programs run amok. This year, thankfully, a large portion of Shadow Oaks neighborhood isn't yet being accosted by noise from the Little League diamond.

There's no good mechanism for getting decision-makers to hear- - to really hear- - and understand the viewpoints of folks affected by these elephants in our living rooms.

Let decision-makers live in my backyard during the height of the baseball season or attempt to enjoy a darkened front room or drive out of my street without being confronted by blinding basketball court lights that just appeared one night without the knowledge of any of us.

Then the decision-makers might understand that Mother Nature is best enjoyed without amplified sound and halogen lights.

Shame on the Acorn for using a motherhood and apple pie approach to a problem without discovering the real viewpoints of us NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard). Leonard J. Loomis Thousand Oaks