“Island of Discussion”: how the Scots reconciled disputants, turning them into “Robinsons” (3 photos)

In Scotland there is Lake Leven, famous for the small island of Eilean a’ Chombraidh, however, better known as the “Island of Debate”. It is believed that he received his nickname because of the local tradition of sending debaters here.





Lake Leven

It is said that for hundreds of years, quarreling members of the MacDonald clan were sent to the island by the chief of the clan if they had an "unresolvable dispute." It is unlikely that such sayings as “there are no insoluble disputes” and “we’d better agree on the shore” came from Scotland, but in this case this would not be surprising.

The joke is that the two disputants had to stay on a small island until they agreed on something.

But the very method of forcing two rivals to find a solution that suits both is now often cited as an example in all sorts of psychological trainings, team building classes, etc.

To help the warring parties reach a quick and peaceful agreement, they were left with a supply of cheese, oatcakes and Scotch whiskey. Psychologists say that they had to divide this food like dividing the solution into two to solve a problem.



Eilean a’ Chombraidh, they say, on the far left

At the same time, it is emphasized that this had to be done one on one, where ostentatious courage is not fueled by any outside emotions.

Maybe, of course, the resentment on someone’s part was very strong and the matter could have led to irreparable consequences - but nothing is known about this, somehow everyone calmed down, apparently.

It became clear that you would be forced to spend a night or several nights with this person - and you would have to make a fire together, look for firewood, still have some kind of conversation... And, in general, there was no time for anger and other negative emotions .

The main thing is that all this leads to the understanding that people are united by the need to solve the problem that has arisen, both literal, that is, survival on the island, and the one that forced their fellow tribesmen to send them to this “Island of Discussion”.



Eilean a’ Chombraidh on the map

In general, they say that when a boat was sent for the disputants in the morning, they had already found a solution to the dispute. After which they were taken to a neighboring island a couple of kilometers away - there they had to formalize the agreement. Apparently, in the presence of witnesses and by signing some papers.

This island, by the way, received the natural nickname “Island of Concord” or “Island of the Covenant”.

Is it worth writing as a conclusion that this tradition is wonderful and would be very appropriate in our time of “Internet battles”, when few people can discuss all the claims face to face like this? And the point is not only in the fear of “responsible for words” and getting punched in the face, but also in the fact that most disputes have no solution, because they have no real reasons.