A kind lady from the OIPC suggested some FB sites that I should follow to find a house. All the groups I applied to granted me ‘membership’ and I’ve been following them. Interesting historical posts, funny commentary, beautiful photos.
I finally decided to post a question about rental accommodation. Everyone was very kind and tried to be helpful, altho several did warn that places to let are ‘rarer than hen’s teeth’. I got a few leads and started following up. Then one person posted how unpleasant and unwelcoming Orkney was and she would rather be in Canada (I assumed she was joking around). A few people pushed back but I was sure it was a joke, until she doubled down: saying how unwelcoming to strangers, you can’t fit in here, etc . . . Then people really started piling on and my innocent little rental query turned into a vitriolic stream. Ah well.