Goodbye

[Martin]

....

[Govangirl]

Martin, that was really sad and I could feel your bitterness. What a shame. But surely every town is like that? I was 21 whwn I moved to England and believe me I was scared sh**tless - my mother's greetin' words still ringing in my ears, "Oh my God, she's going to live with the English" as if I was entering the Gates of Hell. After many, many years, I now have the most wonderful life and the greatest friends one could wish for. To this day my mother thinks I'm living with the enemy. Practically every day I'm 'abused' by my colleagues, my pupils, friends and strangers but I give as good as I get and treat it for what it is - good-natured banter. Everyone knows how passionate I am about my roots and my New Year Parties, my Burns Nights, my St Andrew's Day Parties, etc. etc. are locally renowned and loved. I also happen to think that the English spirit is put down by the PC brigade and I often get frustrated at their unwillingness to celebrate their heritage in the way we do. For example, as a Shakespeare lover, I cannot understand for the life of me why there is not a Shakespeare Supper celebration on 23rd April every year. His birth, his death AND St George's Day all on one day - we Scots would embrace that with a 24 hour knees-up, nae bother! So last week, out of sheer frustration, I had one myself with the celebration of everything English. I just had all the things we would have at a Burns Night except we had roast beef and yorkies and recited Shakespeare. And at 3 in the morning as a mixture of Scots and the English were all blootered and singing at the top of our voices "Daaaaahn to Margate" I realised we weren't really that different at all.
When I posted about the money myself, it was tongue in cheek and perhaps with the exception of one or two I believed that was the gist of the whole thing. We've had a long history of pretending to hate each other but that's all it is, isn't it?
Anyway, I did feel sad at your posting. I actually feel a fraud being a member as I live here and I'm not sure what other posters feel about that seeing as the only link I have, tenuous as it is, is the fact I spent many happy years in childhood holidays in Campbeltown. You've got a much more valid reason than I so I hope you think again and many others will join me in asking you to reconsider.

[gladrags]

Govan girl did you not storm off here yourself a while back because of a remark that you blew out of proportion. Martin if you base your lifestyle on what is said on places like this then you will always be moving. Good luck whatever you decide.

Seems to me if people have paper skin then public forums are not for them.

gladrags

[Govangirl]

Govan girl did you not storm off here yourself a while back because of a remark that you blew out of proportion.

Seems to me if people have paper skin then public forums are not for them.

.

gladrags

Oh dear! No, I didn't 'storm off', I simply thought perhaps it wasn't for me because I wasn't as extra-thick skinned as you appear to be. And Martin, I'm beginning to understand your reasons, mate

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Govangirl, I thought your post was excellent, and you sound like a person I would want to know no matter where you are from!

[Govangirl]

Bobbie, you've restored my faith in human nature! I'll have a wee drink to that now.

[Malky]

Wow Martin, I don't know what to say to that. As Govangirl said, your bitterness is plain to see.

I'm not going to delete you from the board though, as what you say should stay. Can I ask what particular comments on the forum have made you feel this way? Of course you can PM them to me if you don't want to post them publicly.

Can I add that no matter where you go in the world, and what city/town/village you live in, you will always encounter people who will dislike you for one reason or another - be it racism, bigotry, sexism or whatever. It's most often down to ignorance and intolerance. Don't drop yourself to that level.

There has always been a 'rivalry' between Scots and English and that most often manifests itself in sport, be it football, rugby or whatever. That applies to the Welsh and the Irish too. In Europe, everyone 'hates' the Belgians. In the US, blame Canada. There are rivalries everywhere. Govangirl says it well - people 'pretending' to hate each other.

Of course there are always those who say it and mean it. I've heard anti-English statements from people in this country that make me cringe. But the comments I've heard (not on this forum), are from Scots who have never been out of Scotland and in fact always strike me as being from people with an inferiority complex of some sort. They 'hate' the English but with no valid reasons. In reality they probably hate themselves but decide to blame 'The English'. These type of people always like to blame someone else.

This forum is for people who like Kintyre, either the place or the people, it doesn't matter. It's for anyone who has a connection, however tenuous they think it is. All are welcome to join, or read, or post. But remember that it's a public forum, so you will encounter others who have totally different views from you. Martin, I hope you haven't gone.

Malky

[Bobbie En Tejas]

In the US, blame Canada. ....

Malky

Actually, I don't think Americans have too much bad to say about Canadians unless it is tongue-in-cheek. We kinda like them and they are a nice buffer between us and the arctic.

But what you are saying is true, Malky.

I'm sure there are people in England (as everywhere else) who might not like someone else in England merely because of a neighborhood they are from.

[Ship called Dignity]

What alot of nonsense this thread is. I'd rather people came on here with actual evidence before posting such vague threads.

There are far far more positives than negatives about this forum.

The General Chit Chat and Speakers Corner sections are exactly that...

[Malky]

In the US, blame Canada. ....

Malky

Actually, I don't think Americans have too much bad to say about Canadians unless it is tongue-in-cheek. .

That's why I said 'blame Canada'. Straight from Southpark

Malky

[4th gen Suthen']

Well done folks, you should by now be inline for an award from Scottish Tourism etc.
I've never had anything but good to say about Scotland and especially Kintyre, it's been the love of my life for so many years and my ambition in the end had been to eventually move back there.
Not any more.
Everyone I've ever come into contact with has had to suffer me saying that Kintyre is the most beautiful place on this planet, the people are the best in the world.
I'm getting to my point......

I pointed someone in the direction of this forum and he came back to me so disgusted , and I doubt he will ever take my word for anything ever again.
He came across posts implying that the English aren't welcome, all you want is the money.
Yep, I've got that impression as well. This forum is doing wonders for tourism.
I can remember back in 1968 when I first encountered Dalintober....I got bullied to frick, for the pure reason I was English. I didn't want to be in Campbeltown, I'd just been uprooted yet again and left my best friend and my first girlfriend behind, your town was the last place on this planet I wanted to be. Only a few people had the intelligence to realise I was just a kid and not blame for every wrong you still held grudges for.
Thanks to folk such as Duncan Mclean, Leslie Wallace, Allison Sowden, the Laings at Corrylach, I grew to love Kintrye, and I remember crying my eyes out on the coach to Glasgow in Jan 1971 as we were leaving.
My point is....
The Anti-English feeling on this forum has been made very plain, instead of telling people now to "visit Kintyre" I will now say "stay this side of the border, we're not wanted up there, all they want is our money".
Be proud folks, be very frick proud.
So, it is with deep regret, that I ask the admin to delete my membership of this forum.
I never was one for hassle between our two nations, but the next time I meet a "succesfull" Scot in England (begging money for the next bottle) I shall take great pleasure of telling him to piss off back to Scotland and booting him in the bollocks, I will do something I never expected to do and fly a Saint Georges flag instead of the Saltire and the Red Hand.
My fond menories of how Kintyre was will suffice, although now tainted beyond repair, it will take wild horses to drag me back now.
I'll not stop where when I'm not wanted.

Martin, I thought people on this forum were very supportive and friendly towards you when you were having a very bad time at home a couple of years ago.

I dont believe there is any anti English feeling on here or in real life Campbeltown/Kintyre.

It is a shame you feel that way...obviously something has happened that we dont know about.....

Tell us if you like!

[Beachcomber]

I'm not going to delete you from the board though, as what you say should stay.

Without wishing to be a fly in your ointment, Malky, I think you should honour Martin's request.

Unless there is a statement to the contrary in the published terms and conditions of registration it's common practise to delete a forum user's account upon request. The basis for this lies partly in common courtesy and partly in view of the fact that a person retains the copyright to their postings (again subject to anything to the contrary in the terms of use) and so have the ultimate veto on hw and where they are published.

[Malky]

Without wishing to be a fly in your ointment, Malky, I think you should honour Martin's request.

Well I was hoping he would get back to us on this because once an account is gone that's it. Of course if he doesn't then so be it.

One other thing, when speaking of common courtesy, if Martin had a grievance he could have done this by email or PM rather than in a public forum.

Malky

[EileenH]

Martin, Don't be too hasty here. I came to Campbeltown to live 25 yearsago. I was constantly told I would never be a 'Local'. Well, after all these years I'm still not a 'local'. I married a 'local' and my children are 'local' but not me. I don't care. I wouldn't live anywhere else. It's just the way Campbeltown folk are. They don't mean anything by their comments. kintyre is still the best place to be. if you came back and met all your old friends you would think again about not wanting to be associated with us lot. I have English friends who visit and love the people here so much they're looking for a house here. Enough said.

[Sheik Yir Erse]

I've never had anything but good to say about Scotland and especially Kintyre, it's been the love of my life for so many years and my ambition in the end had been to eventually move back there.

So it's been the love of your life all these years, and you had plans to move back here, but all this has changed because someone posted something on an internet forum that one of your friends didn't like. Sorry Martin but - I'm sure you're au fait with the great Scottish expression - away and have a word with yourself!

That is probably the most fickle post I've ever read on this forum. Your mate found some perceived anti-English comments on a predominantely scottish forum, jeez I hope nobody told him it rains up here as well

There's been a lot of anti-American posts on here, and Bobbie hasn't seen fit to throw in the towel, and hopefully she'll still manage to visit us one day.

As has been mentioned above, the sad reality is that: some people in Scotland don't like the English, just like some people in England don't like the Scottish, the Dutch don't like the Germans, the Danes don't really care for the Dutch and some Australians don't have a good word to say about Kiwis. Unfortunately that's how it goes, I'm sorry this has come as such a huge shock to you. I wish you luck in where ever it is you now choose to retire to.