Comments on: Time to clean up the Nairn blogs

By: Brian Turner

Brian Turner — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:50:14 +0000

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.

By: E.Maree

E.Maree — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:11:23 +0000

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.

By: Nairnac

Nairnac — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:33:12 +0000

the plot thickens – the gurn is not the spin and now the spin seems to have spun !!!

By: jaytee

jaytee — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:57:26 +0000

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I would go so far as to say that many more locals would do well to copy your free spirit and enterprise, and put the outdated socialist claptrap where it belongs!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.

By: Brian Turner

Brian Turner — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:02:22 +0000

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.

By: Bill (Scotland)

Bill (Scotland) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:06:58 +0000

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

By: sickened by the spin

sickened by the spin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:53:33 +0000

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.

By: Brian Turner

Brian Turner — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:24:26 +0000

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.

By: Iain

Iain — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:03:41 +0000

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.