And it's goodnight from me

[Keyser Soze]

After 20 years on this board (with a year off a few seasons ago), I've decided to call it a day.

I've loved being able to post random stats of all sorts, not that I've ever regarded myself as any sort of statto. Stats have interested me whether positive, negative, in between etc. Runs of form, goals scored, conceded, winless runs, winning runs, all fascinating. I've had opinions that others have hated!

This has been a home for me. I met the woman who would (regrettably for her I'm sure!) become my wife on here back in 2006. I love those who I've got to know through this board. Mike is a legend and a top bloke and I thank him for not barring me over the wasp joke!!

We have some great contributors to this board, particularly TOBW, whose blog is amazing and his level headedness has been so consistent over the years. If I've ever needed a snapshot of where we are as a club, TOBW has always been my go to. TLG, while we've had ferocious arguments on here at times, is a top bloke who hasn't deserved the vitriol he's had in recent years. This board is so much poorer without him. I might argue with Sludge, but he is a great bloke, funny and I'll never lose my respect for him and I thank him for introducing me to dogging.

What I cannot ignore is that this board feels very alien to me now. I chat to lots of City fans on various platforms. It's always light hearted, even if opinions differ. This board seems anything but that. I think it's telling that none of my close City fans post on here any more. Things are about being right, proving others wrong. I don't care for that level of sneering.

I'm sure there'll be lots telling me to piss off, which would only prove my point. This isn't a decision made on a Sunday after a beer. It's been many weeks in progress. Maybe it's just me getting old.

Nos da.

Ah come on Eric for f-uck’s sake. You need to be in it to win it. If you are gonna put out an opinion out there you are inviting debate, and it will be shot at.

Debate is open disagreement, not an echo chamber. Once you put it out there it is there to be shot at. Nothing personal. Win or Lose, by putting your opinion out there, you are starting debate and provoking thoughts and that itself is value.

Think of barristers, sporting opponents or City traders. I win, you lose. So what? That is the essence and cut and thrust of open conflict - which is war, sport, debate, business, financial markets and law. It is the nature if what we do.

If there is Left then there has to he Right. If there is dark, there has to be light. If there is right, then there has to be wrong. This is the Ying and Yang of life. Accept it. Don’t take it personally.

Even the best traders in the City only get 60-70% of decisions correct. As Barack Obama said, “I take 100 decisions a day. If I get 70 correct that’s a great day. As long as the 30 I get wrong are of small impact then that’s OK.” Or as Tony Blair said, “I can take most people with most of the time, but I will not take everyone with me all the time”. 100% consensus is nigh on impossible. The question is - can you handle the losses? Can you accept the discomfort of conflict and lack of consensus?

I doubt anyone hates people on here unless they are deranged, or cannot accept a difference of opinion. I love debate and happy to push people to the brink, but if I lose the argument I let it go and think “Fair play, they got me there.” I just love the cut and thrust of debate. I’d shake the hand and buy them a pint.

Barristers and sporting enemies are quite often seen drinking with each other after open warfare. They let it slide. It was just the natural exchange of physical and mental strength, to seek the truth. Nothing personal. Equally I would happily have a pint with my debating nemesis as well. It was just an opinion, that’s all.

So the best call you can make today? Admit you got this call wrong. It’s one of your 30% of poor decisions today. No shame admitting it. Laugh it off, come back and joust again. Live to fight another day 😉👍

[Bluebirdman Of Alcathays]

Debate is open disagreement, not an echo chamber. Once you put it out there it is there to be shot at. Nothing personal. Win or Lose, by putting your opinion out there, you are starting debate and provoking thoughts and that itself is value.

I wouldn't call what often goes on on here (or on much of the internet, of course) as debate. Supercilious, dismissive, you're-either-with-us-or-against-us, how-very-dare-you-criticise-Ray-McStay, overemotional rhetoric sometimes but not debate.

It's also kind of ironic that even though there are suggestions not to take it so seriously, many of the posters who have given up or post less were ones who - in the main - didn't take it too seriously. (What happened to Delmbox, for instance?). So, maybe it's not just about taking things too seriously.

And of course, we're mostly middle-aged or old men so heaven forfend we're going about things in the wrong way.

Anyway, all the best to Eric.

[Swiss Peter]

I wouldn't call what often goes on on here (or on much of the internet, of course) as debate. Supercilious, dismissive, you're-either-with-us-or-against-us, how-very-dare-you-criticise-Ray-McStay, overemotional rhetoric sometimes but not debate.

It's also kind of ironic that even though there are suggestions not to take it so seriously, many of the posters who have given up or post less were ones who - in the main - didn't take it too seriously. (What happened to Delmbox, for instance?). So, maybe it's not just about taking things too seriously.

And of course, we're mostly middle-aged or old men so heaven forfend we're going about things in the wrong way.

Anyway, all the best to Eric.

Blimey, yeah, what happened to Delmbox? I can see that if you take this place or yourself too seriously it could be a problem.

[sneggyblubird]

Blimey, yeah, what happened to Delmbox? I can see that if you take this place or yourself too seriously it could be a problem.

Yep, if you give a shit what's said on the internet then it's not the place for you.

[Wales-Bales]

I wouldn't call what often goes on on here (or on much of the internet, of course) as debate. Supercilious, dismissive, you're-either-with-us-or-against-us, how-very-dare-you-criticise-Ray-McStay, overemotional rhetoric sometimes but not debate.

Of course it's not debate. People are 100% invested in their own sources of information, and they disregard any competing narratives.

[Bluebirdman Of Alcathays]

Of course it's not debate. People are 100% invested in their own sources of information, and they disregard any competing narratives.

Then why bother?

[Wales-Bales]

Then why bother?

Because I used to be like that.