I'm referring to all the people who view the contents of Lisburn Exiles Forum and never think of commenting. They must be interested enough in what's being said or they wouldn't look in. I myself cannot understand this. Why bother with something if you have no input or no opinion. It beats me.!!!!

Ann

As the old saying goes these people are "A wee bit odd ah" or plain nosey, but secretive, all talking done behind closed & locked doors.

Pity them don't let them annoy you. Pat

Ann,Pat, Does this silence from the unknown lookers on not reflect the reserved attitude of the Northern Irish people in general. I remember one time flying from London to Belfast and trying to start up a conversation with the guy sitting next to me, he looked at me in astonishment and never did respond to my efforts to be friendly. I know there are exceptions especially with those who have travelled outside of Northern Ireland for any length of time. "Well you are from Northern Ireland you say". Yes but I fit into the category of those who have left Northern Ireland at an early age and have lived and travelled all over the world and have not lived in NI full time since.. I fully realize that there are people in Northern Ireland who today travel outside the country more than ever before but they return and fall back into the old attitude of only speak when spoken to sort of thing. Would love to hear a response from some of the lookers on to these comments.???. Mauri

Mauri, you're only getting a response from me. I'll tell you what I think about the attitude of "lurkers". They are afraid of what their friends will say if it is known that they are posting on Lisburn Exiles. A girl one time told me to watch what I was saying on the Forum because "you would be surprised at who looks in". Personally, I couldn't care less who looks in to read my input. However, if these people take the time to "nosey in" as Pat says, they must be interested in what goes on. Making the effort to reply is beyond their small, inward-looking capabilities. I never was afraid to voice my opinion on anything and I never worried about what others thought either, sometimes to my detriment. However, better that than slinking behind anonymity.

"anonymity"

I see you have learnt/learned to use the spell checker!!!

What happened to Willie the pigeon man?

Well Said Ann, If everybody was like you what a different world for the better it would be.
Joe Reid, you are not by any chance the Joe Reid who used to live in Sandymeade Terrace by any chance???. Mauri

OOPs, I didn't mean to put by any chance in twice, dopey me.????? Mauri

i have always wondered at the number of viewers to a posting and its very disappointing to whoever opened the post in the first place with little replies or none at all a few in particular with hundreds of viewers an very few responces

Mauri,


I never found Norniron people shy of talking to anyone, the opposite in fact on trains, buses even in shops they join in with comments.

Here in the South it is as you say, only speak when spoken to & even then with reluctance. Of course in the Tourist trade things are different but without the warmth of the North or the naturalness.

If you ask the way in N.I they not only tell you but escort you it. I remember my brother Leonard remarking after coming home from a long absence abroad, "I knew I was home when on the bus everyone started talking to everyone else."

Pat

Mauri, back at the beginning of 2008, as you were joining and I was 'threatening' to leave the forum, even then, it was hard to get a straight answer. Willie Reid, my cousin , is notorious in Lisburn, was in the paper for getting an ASBO, yet nobody can tell me if he's living or dead. Puts you off a bit. As for my name, it's splashed all over the Stories and Poems section of this site. Keep her burnin'.

Ann, Pat etc
Is it possible that a little of the norniron friendliness can be due to nosiness ? In Hilden some, not all of the neighbours called in not only to see how you were keeping but to have a look around.
donald

In reply to everyone, first of all Dabbler. Dabbler, the last I heard of Willie, the pigeon man, was that he was in a nursing home. I haven't heard anything since. I used to see him on the Pond Park Road walking into town. Last time I saw him he was sporting a white beard.

Low Roader, thanks for the compliment. I can honestly say that I never, ever use the spellcheck. How was your holiday, you old lurker?

Donald, you are partly right when you say about people being nosey as well as friendly. However, I think the inquisitiveness (no spell check LR) is not to be condemned. Better being interested in people than like the Londoners, who apparently would walk over you if you were lying dead on the street.

Mauri, I will have to check back on your query as my small brain can only remember a few things at a time. However, I blame the fact that my eldest son has just come in for lunch. I'll get back to you later.

Pat, Upon reflection to a certain extent I think you are right, I recall when I was on the Australian Navy aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney,we anchored in Bangor for one day before proceeding up to Sydenham to the Short & Harland wharf to load some thirty new aircraft. I had five days leave which I spent in Lisburn but upon rejoining the ship in Glascow a couple of Australians were telling me about how they had asked directions from a man in Belfast and then another man joined in and appartently the two nearly had a fight as to who would direct and accompany the Australians to wherever they wanted to go.though maybe they were after a big tip???. This was way back in August 1950 when money was still tight in Northern Ireland though I guess most contributors to the Forum wouldn't remember those days. Mauri

SEAN THE LURKER LISBURNS COUNCIL MOTTO TOWN FOR EVERYONE HA HA LISBURN EXILES SITE SEEMS TO BE FOR FEW HA HA ALSO THE BIRDMAN HAS BEEN DEAD FOR 2YRS OR MORE THERE NO CALL FOR ANOTHER STATUE IN LISBURN THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR HIM

Sean, Lisburn Exiles site is for ANYONE. However, only a few people take the time to join in. Inferiority complex - that's what the problem is. No confidence could be added as well. Self consciousness and worry about others is in there too. Is Willie, the pigeon man really dead? Sorry to hear that if it's true. I imagine a nursing home wasn't for him.

Mauri, all I can say is "Oh dear" to your comments. I would think if all the world was like me there would be wars and rumours of wars. A part of me is fine but I tend to see things in black or white, very few grey areas. Thank you for the compliment anyhow.

Welcome Sean,

You lead the way for a few more new members, the "few" try to keep it going, just imagine if there were no Forum due to lack of posters.

Looking forward to hearing more from you. It wasn't too bad was it.?

Pat