When Will McLay launched his website, BermudaSucks.com, last month, all he wanted to do was create a forum for discussion and a place for expatriates to vent their frustrations without fear of retribution.

But retribution was exactly what Mr. McLay got when his website was mentioned on another well-known site, limeyinbermuda.com.

The story and link to BermudaSucks.com has since been removed.

More than 100 comments were posted on the site in a matter of days in response to BermudaSucks.com and Mr. McLay?s name, address, email and even phone number were posted online by those who thought he should be ?outed? ? while they of course remained anonymous.

Mr. McLay, who is originally from British Columbia and has been in Bermuda for nine years, said that while there were many sites that advertised Bermuda?s charms, anyone eavesdropping on Friday night conversations in local pubs would know that living in Bermuda comes with its own frustrations.

?The site started as a humorous look at these frustrations and I had hoped to use it to tell stories and provide a different perspective,? he said, adding that he would be pleased if it provokes truly open discussion and debate in the future.

As for the retribution, Mr. McLay said the posts on the site and on limeyinbermuda show that this subject is something people feel very strongly about.

?While, inevitably with such an emotive issue, not everybody is in agreement, emails and calls have unanimously supported tackling the topic with some humour,? he said.

Mr. McLay added that to ?balance things out? he had registered another site, BermudaRocks.com and hoped to come up with a constructive and interesting way to make use of both websites.

In BermudaSucks.com, Mr. McLay wrote about his experiences in Bermuda and his baptism by fire after spending two hours in immigration and then learning that a taxi strike was going on.

Once he arrived at his ?cottage? he found he had two roommates and still had to pay an ?exorbitant? rent.

In response to his site on limeyinbermuda.com, Internet surfers wrote: ?The entire site consists of a few pages of negativity. To be honest, it has shocked a few people in my place and a few others, kinda ticked me off. Bermuda is my home, and as such I take pride in it. Sure it has its faults, but it is still and always will be my home. I take offence when someone comes here ... only to bash our culture as a whole by electronically shouting ?Bermuda Sucks, Don?t Come Here!??

Do most expatriates feel that Bermuda is not the paradise they were promised?

Mr. McLay said he had heard many positive stories and many that are more ?nightmarish about the expat experience?.

?A good, ethical employer can be make or break, and I count myself as fortunate in this regard. Many expats are unwilling to jeopardise their situation here by speaking openly about the issues they face. It is impossible for me to know how well-founded their fears are, but with this perception being commonly held, open debate is not going to happen,? he said.

Adding that it was not uncommon to see letters in blaming the expats for Bermuda?s problems, he said: ?It should be remembered that it is a democratically elected government that determines policy on guest workers and international business.

Mr. McLay said he liked living in Bermuda and has had plenty of positive experiences.

?Highlights for me include professional and financial opportunities, rum and the chance to wear shorts to work nine months of the year,? he said.

?I?m glad to have formed lasting friendships with people from Bermuda and around the world,? he said, inviting the public to post positive ideas on his websites, or just ?vent? their frustrations ? as was the original idea.