I think I may have deleted some comments that were not yet published. My apologies. I have comments set to be approved first, as I was advised this is necessary when running a blog concerning the Western Isles. Unfortunately, blogging is not as intuitive as I thought it would be.
If your comment does not appear here in a reasonable time, then please can you retype it? Again, I apologise for my technical and internet incompetence.
However, I've also had three comments which I've rejected, which I guess show that moderating comments makes sense.
One of these was from someone upset by the notion of someone from England moving to the Western Isles, and contained a lot of tedious unpleasantries. There's been enough research undertaken on racism - which is what the comment was - to show that this is often a manifestation of inadequacies in a persons life. Relationships, social skills, sexual fulfillment or something else. I briefly sympathised with the author for whatever was the deficiency making his life unhappy, then deleted his comment.
Two other comments made serious allegations against named residents of Berneray, and appeared to be from other residents of that island. I'm simply not interested in my blog becoming some kind of online trolling forum for people to make slanderous or libelous comments about each other, while hiding behind their computer screens. Take that nonsense into the playground, where it belongs.
As I have said before, if you don't like my commenting policy, then go and start your own blog.
Would suggest that you make a few trips up here or even try a long term rental before you settle here permanantly. Gossip is one word I picked up on in the comments so far, the other is 'scam'. It would take a long time to list the various high profile 'community' groups that cream money from public funds and then cream more of it when the original pile of dosh evaporates into thin air. These are the sort of things that wear you down after a while unless you are prepared to stick your head in the sand and live life like a Byzantine monk. Also make sure you can provide your own income although one particular 'blogger' (who you may have already come across and doesn't even live on the island) thinks that incomers should not live off pensions or be mortgage free. You will find it hard to get employment even though you may be highly qualified. It helps to be related to whoever does the recruiting or at least be one of their mates. If you have your own business be prepared to fight a rear guard action.
ReplyDeleteThe Western Isles are a great place for peace and quiet and largely crime free. But one or two individuals hold sway and no one dares to speak out against them. Think about that film with Edward Woodward and Britt Eckland, drag it into the 21st century and then take it back twenty years. Thats the Western Isles for you.
Previous commenter is right. Berneray in particular is the most corrupt place I've lived in. But also one of the safest. The phrase "To catch a passing grant" is used to exemplify the activities of some of the groups. They don't give a shit about the island, just about lining the pockets of their friends and partners.
ReplyDeleteFor your own amusement, go and find out the inextricably linked histories of Berneray Community Council and Berneray Development Group - you couldn't make it up.
Two examples of corruption. Fundraising to get a large amount of money for doing up the car park of one of the buildings on the island. Work was a mess. People complained. The partner of the workman - who just happened to be in the association in charge of the building, funny that - took umbrage. Other example; grass cutting. 500 quid for half a day of poor quality cutting. Nice work if you are linked to the group that pays for this.
As the previous commenter says, avoid the groups. They're there to make money for the best friends and partners of people on the committees. A complete shower, the lot of them. But that's Berneray, and the obsession and greed with money, all over.
I think you've adopted the correct policy regarding comments. A blog is for you to express opinions etc. Comments are a means to interact with your readership, but moderation allows you to separate the wheat from the chaff.
ReplyDelete