An Apology to Auschwitz Memorial @AuschwitzMuseum

An Apology to Auschwitz Memorial @AuschwitzMuseum

8:53 AM, 16th January 2018, About 6 years ago 17

Text Size

On 29th December 2017 I published an article about how UK landlords could be criminalised and even face prison sentences as a result of their tenants failing to use the correct recycling dustbins, and other matters. Here is a link to that article, which has been the cause of outrage for many more reasons than it was intended.

When looking for a featured image to add to the article I searched for the keyword Prison on the Pexels stock images website. I had no idea that the image I selected was one of Auschwitz and I certainly didn’t intend to offend the memorial or indeed anybody else. The image I used is the same one as used in this article.

I sincerely apologise for any offense caused and have now changed the image on the article that caused offense.

I have also made a donation to the Auschwitz Memorial

Apparently, the matter went viral on Twitter but I don’t use Twitter myself, hence I was blissfully unaware. The Property118 Twitter feed is only used for automated broadcasting of new articles and is rarely monitored.

Mark Alexander, who is the founder of Property118 was also tweeted, but only became aware of the matter today. He has been traveling since 21st December and has been seriously ill in hospital in Russia (his second home) more recently. He only discovered the Tweets this morning and reported them to me. I also had a message from the Metro Newspaper on my answerphone this morning and now see they have published THIS ARTICLE.

The matter had been reported to Twitter and we also received emails from them this morning to advise us that the matter had been reported several times but they were taking no action on the basis that we had not breached their T&C’s or any copyright or other laws.

I have today searched the keyword “Prison” on the Pexels website and noticed that the picture I had used did not come up. I suspect they too may have realised that unintentional use of that particular image can lead to undue stress to many people.

Once again, I apologise to anybody I have unintentionally offended.


Share This Article


Comments

Paul Kaye

12:36 PM, 16th January 2018, About 6 years ago

I think all Landlords should sell up and let the government house everyone!
I am now thinking that I have had enough providing good homes and being treated like a criminal in doing so ! I mean enough is enough!

Old Mrs Landlord

12:48 PM, 16th January 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 16/01/2018 - 11:57I think you are right there, Luke. Far too many tortuous links have been made to read into Neil's post something which was certainly not there. It seems social media and other message boards and comment facilities these days have been taken over by 'professional' offence takers and/or landlord haters deliberately fomenting hatred, frequently based on ignorance or wilful disregard of the facts. When the two groups combine the result is the sort of abuse Neil has suffered. I suppose it could have been worse though, imagine if he had mentioned a landlord having "slaved away" to bring a derelict property back into habitable condition! The lynch mobs would not have been far away. (Last remarks made tongue-in-cheek of course)

13:26 PM, 16th January 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Larry Sweeney at 16/01/2018 - 12:23do we really have to make this any more irrational and convoluted by linking it to a political party???

Appalled Landlord

13:31 PM, 16th January 2018, About 6 years ago

Hi Neil

The mistake was made by Pexels, not by you. I saw the photo when the original article was published - a pair of two-storey brick buildings with lots of windows, each protected by a single wire fence. It did not suggest concentration camp to me, let alone death camp.

You have dealt with the situation very well since Pexels’s mistake was brought to your attention.

Jason McClean - The Home Insurer

13:39 PM, 16th January 2018, About 6 years ago

Hi Neil

We all make mistakes and this was an easy one to make when using stock photo suppliers.

Well handled and keep up the good work on behalf of all landlords!

Jason

Neil Patterson

13:48 PM, 16th January 2018, About 6 years ago

Thank you again for eveyone's kind words and understanding.

Martin Roberts

15:25 PM, 16th January 2018, About 6 years ago

Genuine and sincere appology for an honest mistake.

None of us knows the origin of every picture ever taken so I do dispare at the professional offence takers.

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now