Is This To Be The Reality
Posted: Thursday, 19 April 2007 |
Comments
I rarely watch or listen to the news nowadays, this is deliberate. Tragedies which happen in other countries can indeed touch our hearts but if we`re of the kind that mourns not being able to do anything constructive to help (born pragmatist here, you see) then all we really do is stress ourselves out over things we`ve no control over. It can seem an uncaring attitude, but then I believe that if we concentrate on what goes on in our own backyards first and foremost, where we do stand a chance of making a difference, it`d be a better thing. The danger in overexposure to tragic news is that folks can become desensitised to it and it no longer has any effect at all. We see this happening with mass repetitive charity appeals, folks just ignore it in the end. My mindset is such that if I see something happen, and can contribute any solution of worth to it I will. If not, I won`t waste energy mourning it. Sounds harsh but like anyone else, I only have a finite amount of resources to go round. I prefer to spend them wisely, where I can make a difference. Meaning no offense to anyone, just passing a comment on a thought provoking blog.
Hermit from Sanday
Well said Hermit! If everybody thought like you, there would be no wars, just a few neighbourly spats, and they can usually be sorted out....by the simple expedient of talking to each other....I know, revolutionary, ain't it???
Flying Cat from dusting down the soapbox
An old teacher once said to me " If you can't say anything nice then don't speak at all."
Muness from Ye Old Sayings Corner, Fetlar
Hermit from Sandy, Just al little word in reference to your comment see if you get it before the weekend. Even in this small island there is a big demand for newspapers. Normally I don't read the paper from end to end but what is covered by main headlines. I think we have a requirement to keep in touch even if we are severely shocked or affected. We can't withdraw into our shell and loose interest; the world is now a small place; what is news in Alaska today could be news in Tiree tomorrow. Good luck.
Island Wanderer from from Tiree
Muness from..., Felter, Is Felter an Island? Islanders always speake nice.
Island Wanderer from From Tiree
There are crazies, there are fanatics, and then there are the congenitally obtuse and incompetent politicos everywhere # Yes, Hermit: one needs to focus on things one can do in one's backyard, but the larger picture is also important. # Talking to one's neighbor and get things sorted out works often enough, but not always (the ethnic killings in Bosnia and Croatia, Iraq, Sudan, Rwanda often have neigbbors killing each other). Good advice, FC, but there are limits to "talking."
mjc from NM,USA
"We can't withdraw into our shell and loose interest; the world is now a small place" Well, I would dispute that IW...the world is what we make it after all :-) mjc, I think I might be a little mistaken here...whilst I do believe firmly in keeping my own back yard `tidy` first and foremost, I`m not ignorant of outside events. But I KNOW what resources I have, and what I am liable to do with them, so see no need to scourge my emotions with the sights, sounds and knowledge of what happens in places I can`t have a positive effect on. The media is a canny beast and adept at almost forcing us to witness such things whether or not we want to. I choose what I expose myself to. It is far from being an ostrich `head in the sand` mentality and all about not spreading my compassion too thin. Doing a fine job I am, too. :-) Incidentally, I`m not a pacifict and advocate violence when it will end a problem, not a popular viewpoint, but then the bulk of me ancestors would have recognised the wisdom of making sure their enemies had gotten such a bloody nose they wouldnae hae come back to trouble them again. That`s human nature.
Hermit from there`s a reason I`m a Hermit ye ken...
There should be no limits to talking. Nice or otherwise.....those neighbours would never have killed one another if they hadn't stopped being neighbourly. And Island Wanderer - ignorance is no defence in law. Get a map of our country and you will see FETLAR is an island in the Shetland archipelago...but well done on solving the identity crisis!
Flying Cat from Orkney Mainland
mjc from NM,USA- there are limits to "talking." what are those then?
nottalking from COLL
what happens 1,000s miles away, you can only sympathise, but do very little. perhps you could be more proactive on your own island and your neighbouring islands, such as Mull and Skye and put a stop to the blatant speculation and profiteering of croft land, which my forefathers fought to keep though some were sent away to the faraway places, some as evil as you mention. so here i am, a young man with a young family, desperately wanting to get into crofting, like my forefathers, but yet again the newspapers are filled with more tales of crofting speculation and profiteering by business men disguised as crofters. this time's its Harris, a croft being sold off for building plots by absentee crofter, croft land recnelty bought for 拢40,000 under the right to buy act and sold for 拢400,000 again an absentee crofter. and these building plots, holiday homes no less sold to rich incomers who visit maybe twice a year, have no input in the local economy, whilst locals live in caravans and run down council houses. I know you mean well, ISland wanderer, but you can't heal the world, and as a crofter yourself, why not try and help those you can and keep crofting alive. The crofters commission are useless and before much longer crofting will have died. With croftland being sold off for near on half a million pounds, Money talks, crofting walks. Crofting R.I.P.
young crofter with no croft from skye
HERMIT, Correct, it's a good idea to keep your own backyard tidy first. I'm glad though that you are not ignorant of outside events. Before you make any accusations be reminded that I'm only writing very short blogs. There is no intention of effects other than is fairly local.I believe the media is not to be taken lightly as it aims at the source as regards many news items - we are living in very uncertain times. If your ancestors lived in the wild west of today I think they would be much more worried about the indians !!! than General Custer ever was. The Iraquis could be the indians. Island wanderer.
Island Wanderer from from Tiree
FLYING CAT, There is a limit to talking these days - television for example. The old ceilidh house must still exist in Orkney, there fore good neighbours.
Island Wanderer from From Tiree
Young Crofter (Skye) Crofting R.I.P. it is indeed, nothing I can do. I think there must be a complete demise so that it can start all over again. But there might be some kind old soul who would take you in. Otherwise the chances are slim. Well what do you think???
Island Wanderer from From Tiree
IW, I wasnae mak`ing any accusations at all and am a wee bit concerned ye thought I was. :-( Was just sharing me own viewpoint on an excellent blog entry that made me think. Rare thing that...me thinking....:-)
Hermit from Sanday
i think i will have tae disguise myself as a rich businessman. masquerade as a crofter, go to the crofters commission, ask if i can decroft good croftland for 拢250,000 holiday homes, make a big fat killing /profit on the backs of those who have toiled and sweated into an early grave, pretend i am genuine and have the village interests at heart, bank all my money in an off shore account, probably the virgin isles, and watch the holiday homes go up whilst rubbing my hands with glee. is that what you are planning to do island wanderer? once croft land has gone to the highest bidder, we'll nae get it back again ever. so I say to all. goodbye crofting, hello holiday homes
young crofter with no croft from skye
There's an off button...
Flying Cat from supine in front of the telly
Don't think too much Hermit: it may not be too good for the ticker. # Awful weather today: I could use some hearty soup. Wife is off to Memphis, somewhere. All I have are chicken bouillon cubes. If she does not come back soon, even those cubes will be gone. True, there are some old beef cubes left: oh well, here comes mad cow ...
mjc from NM,USA
mjc, just like a man! I`d`ve thought, in a country where ye can hunt, ye would just get oot the gun/crossbow and go catch your ain dinner....roast moose, maybe?
Hermit from Sanday
the latest crime against crofting is in Plockton, village made favmous wi Hamish Macbeth. With croft land being sold for over 拢500,000, one house on the market for 拢200,00 actually raised 拢300,000. millionaires from the south flying up to view. we don't stand a chance . so here i am, a young man wi young family having tae leave my homeland for foreign places simply becaue fireside crofters who do not work the land have become wealthy businessmen and masquerade as crofters. the crofters commission take no action so crofting will die.
young crofter with no croft from skye
Ochone ochone....it's the same for young people everywhere. Try getting a foot on the bottom rung of the property ladder in London. Ordinary non-millionaires live there too!
Flying Cat from doom&gloomdoldrums
flying cat, I take it you are not from Scotland?? niether are you a crofter. so please dont make comments on things which are important to our heritage. its only doom and gloom becasue of folk coming from the south, buying up land, and building holiday homes. please educate yourself
young crofter wi no croft from skye
Ahhhh the old racism card's on the table. And my nationality is none of your business, nor is my background.....get off your butt and quit moaning!
Flying Cat from Danderup Cott
FC: your are correct - ordinary non-millionaires and non-mafiosi (russian and otherwise) live in London too. Just not like the millionaires. Purchasing power parity is the name of the game. Provided one can make a living, and has a roof over one's head, the islands are probably a far cry better for the hoi polloi than London or Los Angeles.
mjc from NM,USA
since when is tradition, heritage and a way of life racism, touched a sore spot have we??? Yes here we have incomers to scotland telling crofters what is best for them. crofting is a way of life, not just buying bricks and mortar, not just getting on the property ladder, it is earning one's keep, doing what crofters have done for generations. obviously flying cat has moved to rural scotland seeking an idyllic way of life, but knows absolutely zero about crofting or the history of crofting. get off your butt, what a typical saying from someone who neither knows nor cares about how hard crofting is. How much did you pay for your new lifestyle I wonder and did you outbid any locals. racism indeed, what an old sympathy card, can't you find something more original?
young crofter with no croft from skye
Oh young crofter, get off it!! Taking yourself too seriously, I fear. Come to think about it, even I, out here in the desert, know quite a bit about the story of crofting. True, I may prefer lofts to crofts ... Anyway, with your attitude, I certainly would not advance you money for putting down on a ruinous croft. You may think you know too much and forget to learn. Be modest. Leave harangues for Hyde Park Corner.
mjc from NM,USA
At least two replies/interjections which I made on this blog have not seen the light of day. Nothing offensive, and no rejection slip from IBHQ. One had to do with roping a moose and banging its head with a morningstar, and the other on the limits of talking. Oh well, ... Have a pleasant weekend y'all.
mjc from NM,USA
"A small area of land completely surrounded by legislation" = a croft. I am always very suspicious of people who declare whatever it may be to be a 'way of life'....most of us are just trying to make a living. And that's one thing you will never do with a croft. And why should we taxpayers subsidise you to be a crofter, where's the quid pro quo in that?
Flying Cat from A Northern Fastness
mjc from NM, is this a joke?? crofters are tenants, they rent !!!! A croft is a piece of land, not a building, not a ruin, not a house. Crofters rent their croft from the landowner. some lucky crofters can eventually buy the land that they have worked and improved. perhaps you should look at the Scottish Crofting Foundation website, where you , my friend may learn something. YUP, you sure do know a lot about crofting DUDE. Croft.... a ruin??? hahaha
young crofter with no croft from skye
Croft cottages. As per crofters commission org. uk., and lots of ads, it appears that croft land can be bought, some including structures. Crofters did not sleep in goose down sleeping bags in the open but built housing structures. Not all the structures are in the best shape. Please note, young would be crofter with no croft in Skye, that I said that I knew something about the STORY of crofting. Anyway, lots of luck to you.
mjc from NM,USA
There are 20 crofts I could name that havnt seen their croft tennant in 10 years. The tennants are not on some distant planet, they are no more than 20 miles away. They do nothing with their crofts, they do nothing with their lives, they make no money from crofting, but the pay their dues each year. Was that what was intended by the 1922 act, I dont think so. Young crofter - as FC says no one ever made a true living from crofting, Im not sure where your point lays, or are you wanting to build a house as well? - nothing wrong with that either. But lets not kid anyone, your no crofter. I live on my croft but I'll never make any money at it even if I live to be a hundred, and Im not that far away either.
Crofterbill from from the Vatersay bunker
Hear! hear what Vater says. Nota Bene: no one owes you a croft, young would be, and you should thank your lucky stars you don't have to make a living on one. If Crofterbill with his experience has trouble making money on one, I doubt you would do better.
mjc from NM,USA
Everybody in the world wants a piece of Scotland for themselves. The young in the mainland cities share the same problem as you young crofter and as long as Money is exchanged for property the rich will be buying ALL they can get their grubby llittle fat fingers on.
frodo the scot from utica michigan
Are you saying if you came into a load of dosh, by whatever route, that you wouldn't spend as much as it takes to buy whatever bit of land you wanted wherever you wanted??? (thereby distancing the locals ever farther from the possibility of ever living there)
Flying Cat from doing the scepticism salsa
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