GERRY Hassan raises interesting questions about the relationship of the Edinburgh festival to the city itself and wider Scotland (It's Festival City time again ... but whose interests does it serve?, Aug 9).
More than 40 years ago, while working in Edinburgh, I got into a conversation with two American girls enthusing about the festival, who queried why I lacked their enthusiasm.
I pointed out that a lot of the things finished too late and were no good if you came from outside Edinburgh and were dependent on public transport to get home.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon reveals what it was like to work with Boris Johnson
I also raised that it was not meant for people in working-class occupations as they had early starts each morning. This drew frowned expressions from them.
To emphasise the point, I explained that (at that time) most factories took the local trades holidays, which in the Central Belt were mostly in July while the festival was in August. The frowns deepened as the point was made and the conversation changed abruptly.
Not much has changed.
Drew Reid
Falkirk
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel