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[NickB]

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Swarm and NickB are no longer members - you can check the membership list. Swarm PM-ed me some time ago and asked me to remove him/her after your previous accusations of dual identity, and NickB has changed his name to Admin.

Why I should pretend to be the only other forum moderator (Herby Dice) or the previous moderator (Crimson Vicar) is beyond me - the whole idea of a moderator is to assist the admin, to keep an eye on things while I am away etc. I am and never have been either of these characters.

As for your prediction that the Tories would soon overtake the SNP - the only way you could possibly have made this is because you yourself intended to manipulate the poll - either by voting repeatedly under your own multiple identities or by voting from different computers / internet connections.

As people appear to be unable to resist attempting to circumvent the restrictions in place to prevent cheating in polls I am afraid that this will be the last one I run in the Open Polls section.

[tinkerbell]

As people appear to be unable to resist attempting to circumvent the restrictions in place to prevent cheating in polls I am afraid that this will be the last one I run in the Open Polls section.[/quote]


boo longshanks

[spiderman]

Not so sure about the uniforms idea, Shankers. If you think it through, it would clearly be a good handy idea to recruit Gustl to supervise collecting the tolls at the bridge and controlling the borders barrier. This would mean that our uniform would have to involve shorts and I'm not sure we would be taken seriously enough with all our knobbly knees exposed. As to Wee Eck, I like his style and his ability to tie the others in knots at FMQ, quick-witted, confident, with a sense of humour. Give him a last chance, for heaven's sake. I want Seil independent within an independent Scotland. As for Admin/Nick, please don't go in the huff yet again. We like these polls and are trying to support this new era of Seil Chat, make it fun again - don't let Shankers & PP wind you up so easily. We appreciate your good work and need you to keep it all together. Shankers, PP, behave yourselves!

[Minimum]

Can we operate a transferrable vote system?

[Pentlandpirate]

Isn't there a danger of war breaking out? Easdalers ostracized and held to ransom? Next they will start a breeding programme and train their youngsters for battle. Come across the water at dead of night, seize the strategic points across Seil, and shepherd its inhabitants into the ghetto of Balvicar..............

Let's all try to live in peace and re-establish some honesty and decency in this world, at all levels of 'civilisation'. We've seen how the Conservatives were slagged for sleaze. Now we've seen the colour of Labour's Whiter than White. And it's not just them.....the reality is that people in general are not as honest as they should be. An internet Poll asks the question, "Would you support a law making it illegal for MP's to deliberately lie to deceive the electorate?"

I thought it was generally illegal to be dishonest anyway.

[longshanks]

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you yourself intended to manipulate the poll - either by voting repeatedly under your own multiple identities or by voting from different computers / internet connections.

Blimey old bean !
This multiple identity accusation is an old tiff well covered in the past.
Let me assure you that I only have one identity here and have only a vague idea as to how to create multiple identities. I do know you need a different email address but I only have one!
I only have one computer and one (dial up) connection.
My prediction that the Tories would overtake the SNP is based on the fact that this is essentially a Tory island. Ask Alastair; the best selling newspaper/rag in the Balvicar Stores is the Daily Torygraph.

recruit Gustl to supervise collecting the tolls at the bridge and controlling the borders barrier. This would mean that our uniform would have to involve shorts

Fair enough; scrap the uniform then but I do feel that we should have a Seil identity so I suggest the first toll monies (as collected by Guestl) should be spent on an of issue brand new kilts to party members to be worn at all times. The kilt should be in the tartan of the clan to which the member belongs by birth. That will sort out any 5th Columners.
Alright; I'll give wee Eck a second chance just so long as he apologises and repays the money. However I am still in favour of UDI for Seil whatever the SNP promise.

they will start a breeding programme

Heaven forbid...have you seen them !

By the way Pantiman; I think I'm in love with you.


Soppy Shanks (Single and available by choice)

[NickB]

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This multiple identity accusation is an old tiff well covered in the past.

Yes, repeatedly, by yourself Shankers accusing me of having multiple identities.

May I remind you that I have access to the IP addresses from which all posts are made.

On a more relevant matter, I find it hard to grasp the concept of a 'uniform' which consists of kilts of a wide variety of tartans. I don't quite see how that would differentiate the freemen of Seil from any other kilted interlopers. Surely we should design a new Seil tartan. Anyone have any suggestions for a colour scheme? Maybe something blue-ish if LS's reading of the political map of Seil is correct.

Here's the new Holyrood tartan - it's not too bad, what do you think? Or can only MSPs wear it?

[spiderman]

I like the kilt idea but Gustl would have to agree to wear it too. Might take a bit of persuading. I particularly like Nick's suggestion of having our own tartan. Don't like the blue idea though. Much prefer the one shown here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7673954.stm . I think the kilts could be easily paid for alone by the tolls on the tour buses going to Taylor's.

[canUsmellthat]

I prefer red or green kilts myself...

So tell us admin, how many identities do you suspect shankers has???

Do they still do dial up???

[Pentlandpirate]

Eeeuuuckkkk Spiderman. THAT, without exception is the worst tartan design I have EVER seen. If grey and dull is the best the SNP can come up with to celebrate 75 years, it doesn't offer much hope for the future does it? Scotland is a colourful nation, and this drab, dreich effort is simply awful.

It's a deeply offensive suggestion I know, but I would rather be seen naked than in THAT!

[sleepy]

May I humbly suggest an excellent tartan for all Seillites must be
'The Red Erskine'

[spiderman]

If you really looked like your avatar picture, PP, we would all prefer you to be seen naked! Everyone will have their own preference about tartans but - what on earth are you talking about?! - may I remind you that Scotland's best loved and most talismanic tartan is the Black Watch? In addition, the tartan I proposed even has yellow in it to satisfy your colour fetish. But I expect that all you are showing is your dislike of anything to do with the SNP. Read the Torygraph by any chance? Anyway, didn't you once say that you don't live here? If so, your opinion doesn't matter - just be quiet and pay your tolls to Gustl at the bridge!

[Pentlandpirate]

But Spider...have you seen the Black Watch tartan? It's mainly blue and green. Nothing like grey and grey. Yes, you might think the Tory's could come up with such an un-Scottish combination, but it's all the more ridiculous because it was the SNP

And, no I'm too independent to vote Conservative (have you noticed the Labour vote?)

Must admit I have been quite impressed with my face-lift, but I could only afford the works from the shoulder up. The bandy legs with prolific curly ginger hair still give me the somewhat rugged look required by all seilachans

[sleepy]

Spidey, you may know this tartan by its other name 'Red Erse Skin.'

I've since been told there is a district tartan for Easdale Island known as

'The Black and White Panda tartan' - this may, however be a battle tartan.

[Eric the Viking]

Scotland's best loved and most talismanic tartan is the Black Watch?

Not by some Spidey

Lest we forget the 'Am Freiceadan Dubh' or anglified Black Watch was the name officially adopted in the 1800's which stems from the regiment, loyal to the English king, put together in 1729 to assist in the ethnic cleanising of the Highlands.

There are many, myself included, that see this as a 'traitor's tartan'

[NickB]

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I didn't know that Eric, but it seems you are correct.

From the Black Watch website:

The Black Watch was raised in an unique way. In the wake of the 1715 Jacobite rebellion companies of trustworthy Highlanders were raised from loyal clans, Campbells, Grants, Frasers, Munros.
Six companies were formed from 1725 and stationed in small detachments across the Highlands to prevent fighting between the clans, deter raiding and assist in enforcing the laws against the carrying of weapons.

In 1739 King George II authorised the raising of four additional companies and these all to be formed into a Regiment of the Line of the regular army with the Earl of Crawford as the Colonel. The men were to be “natives of that country and none other to be taken".

From Wikipedia:

After the 1715 Jacobite Rising the British government did not have the resources or manpower to keep a standing army in the Scottish highlands, as a result, they recruited men from local Highland clans that had been loyal to the Whigs to keep order. This proved to be unsuccessful in deterring crime, especially cattle rustling, so independent companies (of what would be known as the Black Watch) were raised as a militia in 1725 by George Wade to keep "watch" for crime. The militia was recruited from local clans, with one company coming from Clan Munro, one from Clan Fraser, one from Clan Grant and three from Clan Campbell. These companies were commonly known as the Am Freiceadan Dubh, or Black Watch, taking their name from their task and from the dark green government tartan they were issued

So if that is true then the Black Watch tartan is indeed a 'traitor's tartan' - which makes me very glad that I dug my heels in the last time I hired a kilt in Oban and made them get something more suitable up from the Edinburgh shop.

[Pentlandpirate]

So if that is true then the Black Watch tartan is indeed a 'traitor's tartan'

But the Black Watch were traitors to whom? This was after the Act of Union. They protected the State and were tasked with keeping the peace. Presumably the clans might still be cattle rustling and thieving if they had not done their job. The Black Watch tartan has a proud place in this nation's history not least through the thousands of Scotsmen who gave their lives in service of this country.

Has all that happened to Scotland since Culloden been so bad? What sort of country would it have been if left to its own devices since that time? Would it have been the sort of place in the 18th and 19th century that would have spawned so many great scientists, inventors and explorers? Or would it have lagged behind as a poor, lawless, backward country in the same way that Afghanistan is now? The Black Watch were part of building this nation into what it is now, not traitors.

[NickB]

Has all that happened to Scotland since Culloden been so bad?

Of course not. But a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, and a new tartan for Seil seems like a good idea rather than adopting an old one with all sorts of historical baggage.

Anyone fancy trying their hand at designing one?

[spiderman]

Eric, Having had a grandad who fought in WW1 trenches wearing his Black Watch kilt proudly, I kind of resent your suggestion that it is a traitor's tartan. If you could drag your opinions forward in time a little, you might have a more healthy and objective view of this in particular and maybe of life in general. Incidentally, I never suggested that we should adopt the BW tartan for Seil, I just used it as an example of a well-known and generally accepted non-brightly-coloured tartan. I agree with Nick, though, that it would be nice to have our own. Maybe a variant of the Lorne tartan would be a starting point (http://www.lochcarron.com/tartanstrome/ ... odern.html) - why not use it as a base and put some bright red stripes on it to please PP?

[longshanks]

the regiment, loyal to the English king, put together in 1729 to assist in the ethnic cleanising of the Highlands.
There are many, myself included, that see this as a 'traitor's tartan'

You are spouting braveheart rubbish and insulting our ancesters.
What English King? The king was British.
Ethnic cleansing; grow up! the Highlands were cleared by the landowners who were Scottish (the clan chiefs owned the land not the English, the Crown or anyone else). It was us who moved the tenants.
How dare you call brave members of The Black Watch traiters !!!! Traiters to whom?
What narrowminded rubbish you sometimes spout.
...
And, Nick MacB, I will not comment on your strange habit of, firstly, needing to hire a kilt and secondly, of then selecting whatever tartan you think is prettiest.
However, a Scot only ever wears one of two tartans: that of the Clan he belongs to by birth or that of the Regiment he serves.
If Derek the Pie King cannot retract (let alone explain) his accusation of traiters made against one of the most glorious regiments ever to serve our nation then perhaps you might as you reiterated the same accusation.
........
And MacB, feel free to disclose my unique isp and how many votes have been cast by it. I think you'll find that its none!

Black Shanks (nancy boy by choice)