Post by flashblade on May 2, 2016 12:29:02 GMT
What's this obsession with the IC?? I support Sussex, and have done through thick and thin for 27 years. But seemingly there's this black and white, all or nothing scenario whereby if you come on here and don't slag off the club, the team, the committee and the former coach, then I get typecast as an imposter from the Inner Circle forum, where apparently, they're all just a load of line-towing boot-lickers. What a sad, cyber judgemental world we live in.
I admire your loyalty, but not if it's made you suspend your critical judgement. Because of the state the club is in, there has been a lot of criticism on this board, because many of us are dissatisfied, and believe that it's important to make our views felt. If we weren't Sussex supporters, we wouldn't bother to waste our time and energies on the MB. Are you an IC member? I don't know, but if you are, you'll surely understand why many 'outsiders' find its closed shop mentality an unusual policy for a messageboard. I've never used the phrase "line-towing boot-lickers", but there is a common perception on this board that new members are not welcome in the IC board in case they have the temerity to criticise the club. I'm not aware of any other MB that won't allow prospective members to even read the board before deciding whether they want to join! It is therefore seen as secretive and unwelcoming.
If you guys are such rebels and revolutionaries, willing to challenge the club at every opportunity and not just go along with everything...then why did none of you put yourself forward for election on to th committee this year, or last, if things are so bad? That's how this club got sorted back in 1997, action by the membership and the nomination and election of people willing to do something about it. These days though, it's more about whingeing behind blogs and message boards, but not actually doing anything about it.
I take your point that one way of trying to change things is to put oneself forward for election. Unfortunately, even if successful, one new member cannot change the management culture on their own. It would be an uphill battle, and I suspect most of us are not into banging our heads against a brick wall. The reason the revolution succeeded in 1997 was that Robin Marler organised a coup, which allowed a completely new committee to be installed.
I was discussing with someone at the match yesterday about when the last time was that there was actually an election for the committee, it's been years. People can moan about the running of the club and nothing changing all they like, but there's plenty that the membership can do about it.
There is normally a vacancy for a new board member at each AGM, but even this opportunity has been stifled in recent years by the decision to gradually reduce the number of board members year by year. So what would you like the membership to do about it? Speaking personally, I'm a cricket lover; I want to watch cricket, not work on a committee - I can't think of anything more tedious and frustrating - and that sentiment is borne out by remarks I've heard first hand from ex board members long since gone. I can only hope that an awareness of the opinions expressed on this board will give board members something to think about - and that's democratic and healthy, IMO.
