||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR |||
It’s just another beautiful day on Orcas Island. The sky is clouded over and we probably, once again, will not see the aurora over our heads tonight. If the cloudiness lasts a couple more days, we will miss the upcoming lunar eclipse. There does seem to be a predictableness about these things in the NW corner of our continent.
Perhaps it’s a combination of these predictable customary events in our lives that bring us to where we are in our world, our country, our island. But the continued cloudiness is not what attracts us to living here. We say, rather, that it is the community which draws us here.
What does “community” actually mean? A group of people typically sharing the same social values? That’s the dictionary definition. We know we don’t all share the same social values, and we don’t each and all agree on what those social values really are. But, by god, we can certainly agree on what those social values are not.
Recent upheaval in the Eastsound Water Users debacle, wherein who knows what the hell is really going on, seems to require personal attacks, lawsuits, and lies. While it may not be clear what is really going on there, some of our islanders have taken to the pages of theOrcasonian to actually attempt to hoodwink our readers with not only false stories, but also made-up names as commenters. As with many liars, facts and details be damned. But, as with many liars, this specific commenter did not know how to fully disguise his identity. A rookie mistake. He has now been banned from commenting.
Another commenter, seemingly with hurt feelings, has dropped their paid subscription to theOrcasonian. Like it’s theOrcasonian’s fault. I don’t really know why this subscription was cancelled. I can only guess, and I don’t feel moved to contact this person to find out the reasoning.
We’ll soon be changing our commenter rules, whatever that means. Should we go to requiring that a commenter pre-register before being allowed to comment? That certainly does not sound pro-democratic, and would require more work on my part to track those folks as approved or not-approved. I have neither the time nor inclination to set that up. For some reason, I seem to hope and believe we are above that.
The clouds are parting as I wrap this up. Perhaps we will see the aurora tonight after all. Can we hold it together long enough to also see the lunar eclipse? Another beautiful day on Orcas Island.
**If it wouldn’t cause you financial distress to take out a modestly-priced, voluntary subscription (HERE), you’d be doing a real service. If it would, then no worries, we’re happy to share with you.**
Thank you for the years of work.
Lin, thank you for your service to our community. I’m sorry to learn that you had this experience. And yes. I do think we can hold it together long enough to view the eclipse. Thanks again.
Thank you, Lin, for all you do in binding this community together.
With a little bit of effort, anyone can look at the evidence and see who is creating false stories. Identity theft should not be tolerated. As Lin acknowledges, she is aware of the person who has been, as Lin puts it, “hoodwinking” the readers. The person whose identity has been stolen still has their name inaccurately shown on the Orcasonian pages. I appreciate that Lin has banned the “liar” from making posts. Personally, I think anytime someone who holds a position of responsibility abuses that trust that they should not just be banned from making posts. This leaves everyone guessing if the innocents are the guilty one.
That said, thank you Lin for addressing the abuse that you and the readers have experienced.
Dear Lin,
As a long-time reader and supporter since Margie’s days, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for the Orcasonian. Whether discussing ESWA, OIFD, Bikes on Orcas, over-tourism, or vacation rentals, this platform has truly become our public square.
Your commitment to fostering open dialogue and providing a space for our diverse opinions is invaluable.
Thank you for your dedication to maintaining this forum.
Warm regards,
I meant ESWU, not ESWA
Lin, thank you for your continuing efforts to bring us an online Commons to be informed and communicating across the Island. We need the Orcasonian.
so how many readers will join me and pay for a second subscription for this year?
“…the continued cloudiness is not what attracts us to living here.” – L. McNulty
Au contraire, my friend; the clouds are a big part of why I am here! Sol’s light both blesses and burns, and my hide is low on melanin! Maybe the clouds that appear (seemingly) every time there is an aurora are actually shielding us from the increased radiation?