artyfax

Poor Mans Blogging...

I take quite a lot of interest in my hometown of Margate. Needless to say as I too am a blogger I spend some of my time reading other peoples blogs on their opinions and activities around Margate. One in particular recently has hit quite a nerve. Known as The Isle of Thanet Gazunder its main reputation I would say is that it is known as a "comedic" look at the Isle of Thanet (where Margate is).

Unfortunately I feel that this blog falls far too short of its desire. It’s not clever or hard to put Margate or any other part of Thanet down for its imperfections, which it has an abundance of. For all its problems, there are people doing their very best to make the area a better place to live, and with the right levels of dedication over time this will be achieved. Blogs like The Isle of Thanet Gazunder only cloud hard work done by such people by not acknowledging them, which is sad as I am sure that the blog is one quite widely read.

I for one would much rather read about all the good things happening in Thanet (a reason why I enjoy reading Arts and Elbows so much). As an ‘outsider’ to Planet Thanet I can pass on knowledge that the more negative subjects people read about the area the less likely they are to want to visit, thus creating a vicious circle of non happenings in the area.

Returning as recently as I have, and going back as soon as I am, I’m glad to report that Thanet and Margate are going in the right direction. The Turner Contemporary may not have the most popular or glittering past, but finally the project is heading in the right direction with the right architects. There is no reason to belittle the project just because the council has not done a good job of it thus far. As much as I dislike the council as well I am willing to accept that taking on a project on an unprecedented level such as the Turner Contemporary comes with mistakes and a degree of learning curve.

Also old town Margate continues to thrive even though the main high street seems to have left them behind and moved to Westwood Cross. Cafes such as impressions look to be doing great business, whereas pubs such as Barnacles maintain their local but warm charm.

There is room for blogs that continue to give the rough with the smooth as news, but blogs which only choose to show a bad side to Thanet and Margate must realise that how they portray the area can do no good for its current residents.

posted by onelosthousemate @ 1:46 PM