Time to clean up the Nairn blogs
It’s sad to see that the Nairn blogosphere is being increasingly used for nothing more than to make bitter and twisted personal attacks.
The blog “Nairn with a Spin” is continually used to ridicule and belittle other Nairn bloggers, not least JT from Simply Swans, as well as a sustained hate campaign against myself.
Even more disappointing is that “Nairn with a Spin” uses the exact same template (except for the colour) as the “Gurn from Nurn”, including the dynamic code on the right hand navigation – which would be extremely difficult to replicate without direct help from Des, the “Gurnmeister”, at the Gurn.
Des also provides a special promotional area on the Gurn to promote the Spin, regularly posts coverage of the spin even though he must be aware of its contents – and information I’ve told Des in private conversation has also appeared on the Spin.
Des, why don’t you make a public announcement telling us whether you condone or condemn the defamatory behaviour on the Spin?
After all, you keep making a call in public for “more Nairn bloggers” – but do you then privately support senseless personal attacks on them?
In my time online I’ve had to deal with all sorts of unpleasant people – but never in my life have I ever seen anything as malicious as the Spin.
It’s not even as if we’re embroiled in highly passionate subjects such as national politics or religion – instead, it’s bitter and spiteful attacks on local people for the sake of it.
Nairn “incomers”
Of course, I’m an “incomer” to Nairn, who wants to get involved in doing positive things – which makes me an easy target.
After all, what could be worse than someone from England moving in and then wanting to get involved in promoting Nairn?
Here’s a revelation for you then:
Aside from myself being obviously English:
- Des the “Gurnmeister” at GurnNurn.com, who helps collect local news and campaigns about Nairn – is English
- Iain Fairweather, the force behind VisitNairn.com and the local tourism association – is English
- JT at Simply Swans who built Swan Island and cares for the local river fowl the tourists love – is also an “incomer” to the Highlands
- Cathy Stafford, who directs the APT (Action for Planning Transparency) which encourages us to look at the planning issues that could affect our lives – is another “incomer”.
In fact, people originally born in the area tend to focus their blogs on personal interests, rather than local campaign activities:
- Bill Cameron blogs about politics
- Emma Urquart blogs about writing
- Plot tales blogs about gardening on the allotment
Isn’t it ironic that the people who dedicate so much time to helping preserve and protect the charms of Nairn – are “incomers”?
Personal attacks in Nairn
Because I’ve had it hard, I’m happy to help and do positive things where I can; the internet runs on an “open source” mentality, which means I’m happy to help and do positive things where I can; I run a business that gives me opportunities, so I’m happy to help do positive things where I can; and I’m the sort of “get involved” person wherever I go, so I always try to help – where I can.
In the meantime, whatever people think of myself as a person, the Nairn blogsophere is becoming polluted with hate. Is this how Nairn wants to be presented online?
It doesn’t matter who does it – it should never be acceptable under any circumstances, let alone in a small community environment.
It’s not something I plan to see continue and it’s time to see it finished.
There are always going to be opportunities for conflict online – I’m sure most people would fundamentally disagree with others about something – but disagreements should always be about the topic, not the person.
There should be no room in the Nairn blogosphere to allow the promotion of hate and personal attacks, of prejudice and discrimination of any kind, whether made anonymously or in person.
In the meantime, I’ve moved my family here and I call it my home, and expect to do so for many years. And whether anyone likes it or not, I am now a local resident of Nairn – and looking to help where I can – like many of the “incomers” before me.
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9 Responses to “Time to clean up the Nairn blogs”
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My Nairn Blog- Record wet summer for Scotland
- VJ Day tribute at Fort George: Colossal Celebration of the Centuries
- Nairn on Bing Maps
- Cloned cows at Inverness?
- Rosebank School deputy dies in horse fall
- Inverness explodes!
- Harbour boats burned
- Highland Aviation Museum gets Nimrod
- New flats to replace Lodgehill Clinic?
- Highland Green Party – still very out of touch
Brian,
If I were you I’d have let the criticism go over my head. It’s the nature of blogging and I agree some blogs are less than courteous.
Just one correction. I did move from England but I am Scottish.
I regret that you identify who runs various blogs as sometimes it is helpful to be anonymous and some could interpret as being spiteful.
Be careful where you go with this.
I agree, and I was just going to continue ignoring this, but sometimes I think silence implies acceptance. These are attacks on both myself and my business, and that has to be addressed.
However, this is the only post I plan to make on the matter, and I’ve said my piece.
As for anonymity – I completely disagree. If people cannot dare stand by their own words, they shouldn’t be publishing them in public – unless there are very clear and reasonable causes otherwise.
Hi Brian,
I have read so much rubbish on the spin which has sickened me, It is old fashioned bullying on a new scale and must be the work of a coward. I too am an incomer who loves Nairn and chose to settle here for similar reasons to you, I enjoy reading My Nairn, and the gurn but all this hatred directed at you must stop . Good luck with all your ventures here.
Hi Brian
As you know (from our private exchange of emails) I largely share your views. By the way, just because I am a ‘quasi-local’ in a way, as I happen to have been born in Inverness, but never lived there or anyplace nearby during my childhood and have in fact lived more than half my life outside Scotland (and indeed the UK). I don’t blog about some of the other [charitable] activities I am involved in – this is a private matter – but just because I don’t blog about it does not mean it doesn’t exist.
Whilst I do agree with you, I don’t agree with the tone of the remarks you make about ‘locals’ and ‘non-locals’ and their different activities and by implicaton virtues; we are all just people so far as I am concerned (and with my ‘political hat’ on for a second I am British first, Scottish second, happy to be both – I’ll let others decide if I am ‘local’ or not, although I’m certainly not local to Nairn, although I don’t consider that of great importance).
Best personal regards
Bill
I have to admit I agree, Bill – I should have just left the message focused on the personal attacks being unacceptable – the “incomers” was just something I picked up from Spin, which suggested this was a line of attack and something I should try and address.
However, it’s something I should have removed before publishing – the trouble is, if I put something online, and then remove it, it can be seen as just as bad as leaving it up.
If anyone has any objection to being mentioned, I’m happy to remove it – it anyone thinks I was wrong to post, I’m not so arrogant as to admit I was wrong in public.
It seems Brian, that by wishing you well on your Nairnshire portal idea that I have incurred the wrath of the Gurn etc onto your shoulders. You have obviously rattled the Gurnmeisters cage by having the temerity to use the domain name Nairnshire.co.uk as well as My Nairn ! Arghhh
As an incomer someone should have warned you of the tribal and poisonous nature of some individuals in the town, who believe they have some sort of monopoly on the internet agenda in the wee County.
Having only been in the area since 1976 (no not 1776 ) I too am an incomer, but find that most Nairnites are beginning to warm to me. Hang in there and by 2050 things should be looking up !
Seriously, I hope you don’t judge all the people of Nairn by the unwarranted vitriol you have received over your perfectly sound portal idea.
I would go so far as to say that many more locals would do well to copy your free spirit and enterprise, and put the outdated socialist claptrap where it belongs!
Nairn is a great wee place as you discovered on your travels, we want to improve it without losing it’s character and all that incomers admire about it.
With that in mind, some locals fear that incomers are champing at the bit to turn the place into Blackpool !
Your motivation on a personal level seems perfectly ok to me, all the best Joe.
the plot thickens – the gurn is not the spin and now the spin seems to have spun !!!
In case anyone missed the post on the Gurn from Nairn, Graisg has already explained that the smilarities between the sites are due to the restrictions of the Blogger template. He’s made it clear they’re not affiliated, so please don’t be hostile towards the Gurn – while I understand everyone’s been riled by this, the Spin’s attacks on Brian and JT have already done enough to harm community spirit amongst the Nairn blogs.
It looks like the Spin has reacted to all of this by deleting their blog.
I think it’s a shame. With a better community attitude, the Spin could have been a refreshingly different local blog and there was some potential in it’s form of satire towards things like the Wintersong naming. The personal attacks were never necessary and ruined it.
Time to close this thread and the subject itself.
Better to put this silliness behind us, move forward, and forgive and forget.
2010 is going to be a busy year for Nairn and our attention is better focused on that.