I must disagree with the nuetral stance. I was there on Friday and although I was not a part of any small groups that bartman was, in the general discussion I did not hear him ask one tough question. Actually, I'm not even sure he asked any questions as my memory seems to be of him simply spouting anti-Denis quotes and generally making supportive statements of 3P.
I don't recall myself saying anything out loud to the whole group actually HJ? I was there to listen, happy enough to take in the answers to questions that were being asked, and knowing I have an outlet on here with which to interact with members of 3P and Ovo about issues as they come to pass.
I don't recall making any anti-Denis quotes either? I have said on here often that thee focus on Denis as an individual is a negative for achieving change for our club, it will backfire as a tactic if used in the media or by candidates.
I don't think I said anything supportive of 3P on the night either? Col might be able to verify if he remembers me saying anything in that regard. I did remember having a dig at you for having voted Liberal/Howard, but I think you were too busy talking to hear. And I passed comment about the fashion-worthiness of organge ruffle skirts as well, but that was about it.
Now this is all well and good, and I certainly do not expect him to be nuetral if he does not want to be (and I could even be very wrong), but I just wanted to point out why I do not believe he is holding a nuetral stance nor asking tough questions as you have claimed, Col.
I have asked tough questions and put tough statements to Col in here, prior to the FC elections (in which I understand HJ you can't/don't vote). I'm happy to say in here or in person that my votes for the FC were mixed - I voted for Kenny, Price, Grothe, Gare, Ovo, Hilditch and Gerard. Since 7 is an odd number, I guess technically it's harder to be any neutral than that?
My issue is purely that Fishy was asking pertinent questions (for the first time during any election ever!) and subsequently stating that he was not satisfied with the answers.
This is his right and actually a very positive thing during an election. We should seek more of it. However, every time he tried to ask a question, seek further clarification or state that he was not satisfied with the response given, bart would be all over him, talking down to him as he questioned why fishy wasn't just accepting what had been given as satisfactory.
I must have missed the part of the forum guidelines or indded common practice where one person is allowed to put their views and statements on something but it not be questioned and discussed... And I must have missed it again when you decide that it's Ok for you to question and discuss my views and statements, but it's not Ok for me to question and discuss anyone elses...
How dare fishy not fall into line!
It's as if this is what is happening:
I personally don't give a f**k who Fishy ends up voting for, and I don't expect anyone to "fall into line" with how I end up voting either.
Because I respect Fishy's views on various other non-football matters, I wanted to probe to understand where he was coming from underneath. Since his words have been mistaken by several people (including people that know him in real life, not just Mr Leabeater) for support for Denis/the current LC Board, I guess the point could be made that his real questions/concerns weren't originally being expressed perhaps as clearly as they might have been.
I can now say that I understand where Fishy is coming from much better as a result of our discussion, which you felt the urge to comment on after it was all over. I am satisfied, even though Fishy and I currently hold different views on this matter, because I feel I can now understand why, wehreas before it was not clear.
In the same way I feel (from reading years of posts) that I can understand why you specifically were a Howard/Liberal voter (despite some very un-conservative comments on culture in this thread, for which you've been commended), even if I would never bring myself to vote in the same way. The difference itself doesn't matter so much, and I couldn't care about people falling into line with me - it's the understanding of difference that is more important to me.
Since the rest of your post goes onto quote and reference others, I'll leave any replies on those points up to them if they choose.