Leaderboard

Who said it's everywhere? I have yet to see you back up your claims with ANYTHING even close to evidence. If you are taking what I said to mean it's everywhere you are misinterpreting what I said. Effectively I said it MAY be more visible. Not that it is everywhere. 'Parents are even supplying the drink'. Uhuh. Another unsubstantiated comment which you yourself admit is hearsay. Just WHAT are you hoping to achieve with this thread?

hello, I would like to learn this language. if there are a few who are fluent and some as myself with only the basics or any others who would like to learn could we have a meeting,if so please get in touch

Shetland making the national news for the wrong reason. What? The islands may have been drenched by drizzle while the rest of Scotland basked in glorious sunshine yesterday. But when it comes to a contest for the quality of life, there is no better spot in the country than Shetland, according to a new survey.For drizzle read hailstones, otherwise "spot on" My name is John.

Yay, and I'm one of 'em! Oh the crime, I got divorced.

^ Offering it is fine *if* there's any demand for it, as long as the powers that be in Edinburry don't insist every secondary school has a language teacher on staff qualified it teach it "just in case" anyone wants it, and/or something else more valuable, or relevant to a greater number of pupils isn't being squeezed to let their Gaelic in. Given the near dearth of relevance or prevalence of anything to do with Gaelic locally, the whole idea rather reeks of yet more pointless paperwork, box ticking and wasted Admin time which in the current climate of ever deeper education cuts, is unjustifiable.

Wotsit, can i ask if you are new to Shetland? There is a long tradition of drinking here, which is probably more lenient and perhaps visible because of a culture of social gatherings. It's not perceived to be a problem by the majority. If teenagers are going to drink, which they inevitabley will, IMO it's best in a controlled and visible environment than ruling with an iron fist and denying them the right to socialise at all.

Well aren't we a little ray of sunshine? I had my first bottle of wine on Christmas Day (which, I hasten to add, I didn't drink the entire bottle on that day) after working for two months with only three days off (meaning I didn't take off Saturdays and Sundays). Prior to that, I hadn't had any alcohol in around six months. Oh, and when I have had the odd brandy or two, it's been to combat pain because the painkillers don't work and I seldom take them. Have you stopped to think about the people addicted to painkillers? Is that okay then, simply because they are from the NHS? Have you stopped to think why people drink and smoke? As a teenager I got regularly off my face. Incidentally, it is NOT illegal for someone under 18 to drink all types of alcohol in all situations. Unless the law has changed, a 14 year old can drink wine with a meal. A 16 year old can drink cider with a meal. And given that you're such an expert, exactly how are parents meant to control their offspring? It's illegal to lock them in a bedroom. It's illegal to hit them. You shout at a child, they can scream abuse. The Police have probably realised that underage drinking is just what others have pointed out, it's part of growing up. You are totally exaggerating and provide no proof as to how you reach your conclusions. You are making sweeping generalisations based on a handful of people who you have assumed to be underage drinking at the cross out of a population of how many? Care to share if you have ever drank alcohol?

^^ It is a parental issue, that much I will agree, but why the whole population should be responsible for raising someone else's kids is the bit I'm struggling with. If parents don't see a problem with letting their offspring get rat-arsed, that's their perogative, and no-one elses business until and unless said kid(s) while rat-arsed do something that infringes upon the rights and rights and liberties of someone else, then you get them arrested for it, if you're that way inclined. Responsibility for, or the welfare of someone else's kids is not something I, as a member of the Shetland population either want, or am willing to accept. The Police have the right, at their discretion to arrest anyone who in their opinion is in breach of a statute, how local plod puts that in to practice, only they can explain and justify. If they decide to haul in under 18's for being intoxicated and/or charge their parents/guardians with whatever they feel is appropriate that's their perogative, and I'll not be losing any sleep over whether they do or don't. I really don't see some blootered 14 year old slithering along walls at the Cross is any of my concern one way or the other. I'm not going to say underage drinking isn't ingrained and accepted/tolerated in some spheres of Shetland society, but I think you're making a dangerous sweeping generlisation to state it is so across the whole of Shetland society. There's still a goodish portion within Shetland society who fervently oppose "the demon drink" wherever it may appear, and, I suspect, a considerably larger portion of society, who like me, who are simply disinterested/indifferent. They gave birth to them, let them bring them up or f**k them up as they see fit, and as long as they don't bother me, I'll not bother them, is the maxim of the majority of folk I choose to mix with. Meanwhile, in Manchester.....http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-new-years-eve-pictures-10673770

So you're advocating teaching an obscure minority language to an Island population that has virtually no historical or cultural Gaelic links?

Shetland is one of those places that you either love or hate when you first move there - it rarely changes from that first impression. If you like it, it will only get better, the longer you stay. You'll get to know amazing people, see amazing things and get more and more embedded into the community the longr you stay. Welcome to Shetland and enjoy your time here - there's a very good chance that you may never leave...

Unless it is a vanity project in Lerwick then its the polar opposite, "get this done whatever the cost!".

I am probably wrong but get the impression that there is an automatic "how can I stop this" response to planning requests, rather than a positive helpful reaction. It seems to be a council thing, emphasising the negative, can't do instead of can do.