Divide and Rule

[Mick and Maggie]

I found this on Simons Liveaboard blog. I'm not sure how representative of peoples thoughts or who its aimed at. But is somehow has a certain eerie ring to it!

 

Divide and Rule

The following standard operating procedure came to my attention recently.

1. Find a vocal boater who has indicated some sympathy or personal interest with what you are trying to do and who has time on their hands.
2. If that boater has axes to grind with others (especially if it's with any of the dissenting established representative organisations or individuals cheeky enough to disagree!) so much the better. If not proceed with the following steps anyway.
3. Woo them, invite them to meetings etc, and make them out to be a great froward thinking hero.
4. Most importantly make sure you tell the victim that you believe they are representative of a wider silent majority who agree with your agenda. Being a silent majority of course this can't be proved but don't worry about that, take our word for it... Note: It is particularly important not to let them get wind of any dissenting views at this stage.
5. Flatter and encourage the poor sod some more.
6. If the victim still does not have an axe to grind with others, repeat steps 3-5.
7. Make sure they put themselves about on the forums etc and use them as stalking horse to gather more dissenters.
8. If they are struggling with point 7, feed them the right messages under the pretence of 'helping'. Make sure they get sent things no-one else has seen to make them feel even more confident and important.
9. Flatter and encourage the poor sod some more.
10. Repeat any or all of steps 3 to 9 as required.
11. Use all this this as smoke and mirrors to try to hide the fact that a whole other load of people disagree.

Please note that the tactic becomes even more effective if you can find more than one boater. (Our experience to date suggests there are usually many others prepared to join in.)

 

[alan_fincher]

I'm not sure I really know who Simon Robbins was aiming this at.

I can't say it in any way tallies with my experiences at all.

 

You will only make significant progress with championing a cause if there proves to be a significant core of people agreeing with that cause.

 

Producing one or two disgruntled boaters with a particular axe to grind will not, in my strong view, suddenly produce a caucus of opinion that supports them, unless there are already many people in strong agreement.

 

So I rather think Simon's premise is bo**ocks. If it actually has substance, Nick Brown and Panda Smith would have huge numbers of people rallying around them, rather than generally being viewed as "crankies" very much on the fringes of the boating community by the vast majority of boaters.

[PaddingtonBear]

Well said oh wise one, very bollocks indeed

[Psycloud]

That applies to life in general though. There will always be people who will champion the underdog no matter what the cause - especially if it means they can have an open fight about it. Governments have been doing it for centuries as a reason to have wars.

[Barry]

M and M I'm not sure what you are trying to say with your post.

 

It is obvious that Simon Robbins is mocking someone to make a point of some sort but what point are you making?

 

Are you mocking SR or are you also mocking whoever SR was aiming his stuff at?

[grahame r]

This isn't even clever, unless I'm missing somehing all its suggesting is "If you hold an odd view, find someone better than you at communicating that view and let them promote it" Surely this is what all the people selling the Socialist Worker and those attending National Front meetings have been doing for years, all to no avail. It would be far cleverer to find someone with the oposite view to yours then build them up only to cut them down and expose their view as flawed thus promoting your real view. Of course you would have to have some malevolent intent to do that and I sincerely hope that the politics of the boating world haven't reached that sorry stage. Lets just all say what we really think is right and hope common sense prevails.

[carlt]

Most importantly make sure you tell the victim that you believe they are representative of a wider silent majority who agree with your agenda

 

(Our experience to date suggests there are usually many others prepared to join in.)

Wouldn't this turn a "Silent majority" into a "Vocal minority"?

[matty40s]

Wouldn't this turn a "Silent majority" into a "Vocal minority"?

eyup, trawler not sunk then, welcome back carl.

[madcat]

Trawler? What have I missed. Hi Carl

[carlt]

Trawler? What have I missed. Hi Carl

No trawler (sadly) just an unsinkable wooden Broads river cruiser.

 

welcome back carl.

Thank you...2 weeks on the N. Yorks Moors in my new toy, a 1970s Dandy Folding Camper.

[jenlyn]

Simon was aiming the post at me. He is a large chap, unfortunately, so is his ego. He has joined ranks with 7 other boaters to oppose the RMP, we are still waiting for their reason on opposing it though

So far they just say "we don't like it". A survey in May for the South East, has resulted in most being in favour of RMP.

[mayalld]

Simon was aiming the post at me. He is a large chap, unfortunately, so is his ego. He has joined ranks with 7 other boaters to oppose the RMP, we are still waiting for their reason on opposing it though

So far they just say "we don't like it". A survey in May for the South East, has resulted in most being in favour of RMP.

 

Simon is on NABO Council.

 

"Not invented here" is a major reason for NABO Council to oppose EVERYTHING that other people come up with.

[Sir Nibble]

divide and rule seems to be trotted out by every chancer and piss taker to somehow indicate that because we all have boats we should unite behind their wish to occupy two moorings 1/2 hour apart for 14 days each ad infinitum or else one day the CaRT gestapo will kick our doors in.

[cotswoldsman]

 

Simon is on NABO Council.

 

"Not invented here" is a major reason for NABO Council to oppose EVERYTHING that other people come up with.

Is he on NABO Council? Well any respect I had for NABO will soon go out of the window. His behavior on Facebook has been disgusting and has turned RMP into a personalised war. I would very much like to hear from NABO what they think of what he is doing.

[alan_fincher]

 

Simon is on NABO Council.

 

"Not invented here" is a major reason for NABO Council to oppose EVERYTHING that other people come up with.

 

I had wanted to hope this was the case, (having dithered and eventually joined),but regret I am rather inclined to agree with you.

 

Not good.

 

Is he on NABO Council? Well any respect I had for NABO will soon go out of the window. His behavior on Facebook has been disgusting and has turned RMP into a personalised war. I would very much like to hear from NABO what they think of what he is doing.

 

He was the Vice Chair. Although I don't recall seeing the change, that now seems to be Jane Taylor. Simon Robbins now lists as both "Moorings" and "London Representative".

 

I don't think on current performance I'll be renewing a NABO membership, which is a shame. I badly wanted to find something I felt comfortable being part of.

Edited September 3, 2013 by alan_fincher

[cotswoldsman]

 

I had wanted to hope this was the case, (having dithered and eventually joined),but regret I am rather inclined to agree with you.

 

Not good.

 

 

He was the Vice Chair. Although I don't recall seeing the change, that now seems to be Jane Taylor. Simon Robbins now lists as both "Moorings" and "London Representative".

 

I don't think on current performance I'll be renewing a NABO membership, which is a shame. I badly wanted to find something I felt comfortable being part of.

I can see what you mean if that is the type of person running NABO.

[Starcoaster]

I'll take another ticket for the "bollocks" train, please.

[Ex- Member]

I found this on Simons Liveaboard blog. I'm not sure how representative of peoples thoughts or who its aimed at. But is somehow has a certain eerie ring to it!

 

Divide and Rule

The following standard operating procedure came to my attention recently.

1. Find a vocal boater who has indicated some sympathy or personal interest with what you are trying to do and who has time on their hands.
2. If that boater has axes to grind with others (especially if it's with any of the dissenting established representative organisations or individuals cheeky enough to disagree!) so much the better. If not proceed with the following steps anyway.
3. Woo them, invite them to meetings etc, and make them out to be a great froward thinking hero.
4. Most importantly make sure you tell the victim that you believe they are representative of a wider silent majority who agree with your agenda. Being a silent majority of course this can't be proved but don't worry about that, take our word for it... Note: It is particularly important not to let them get wind of any dissenting views at this stage.
5. Flatter and encourage the poor sod some more.
6. If the victim still does not have an axe to grind with others, repeat steps 3-5.
7. Make sure they put themselves about on the forums etc and use them as stalking horse to gather more dissenters.
8. If they are struggling with point 7, feed them the right messages under the pretence of 'helping'. Make sure they get sent things no-one else has seen to make them feel even more confident and important.
9. Flatter and encourage the poor sod some more.
10. Repeat any or all of steps 3 to 9 as required.
11. Use all this this as smoke and mirrors to try to hide the fact that a whole other load of people disagree.

Please note that the tactic becomes even more effective if you can find more than one boater. (Our experience to date suggests there are usually many others prepared to join in.)

 

 

 

That's pretty much how our politicians are selected by the powers that be.

[Sir Nibble]

I presume I'm not the only one who sees the elephant in the room?

I mean who is being referred to here.

[Starcoaster]

You probably are the only one, as Jenlyn's post earlier on states that the person that pile of twatwaffle is referring to is him.

Edited September 3, 2013 by Starcoaster

[Sir Nibble]

Oh yes, so he does. I thought I was being ever so clever to spot it.

[mayalld]

Is he on NABO Council? Well any respect I had for NABO will soon go out of the window. His behavior on Facebook has been disgusting and has turned RMP into a personalised war. I would very much like to hear from NABO what they think of what he is doing.

Simon robbins is London Secretary and has for many years been their rep on "mooring matters"

[jenlyn]

I've had constant grief from working on these RMP'S, along with threats to my boat and person. This has mainly come from 7 home mooring boat owners. (some on here have witnessed the carp I've had on fb).

Simon Robins has been mumbling here and there but has now decided to blubber some rubbish to further their cause. NBTA have also had their say by spreading silly rumours.

It's all been interesting to say the least. However, one thing has become predominantly clear, none of them have come up with a reason for fighting against the RMP, or a better option. Not one snippet. The best NABO and the NBTA could come up with was it's legality, which seem to be yet again, just words. No legal challenge has been made.

I myself don't actually support the RMP, but I do see it as another option for the area it will work in. The area can manage the RMP, there is plenty of space. It's an option, no one has to take it up, but for those that wish to, I will support it. It's a start, if nothing else. Most of all, those taking it up are making an effort. Perhaps the Simon Robbins, Nick Brown's and panda smiths should take a leaf out of that book and stop talking Shiite.

[alan_fincher]

However, one thing has become predominantly clear, none of them have come up with a reason for fighting against the RMP, or a better option. Not one snippet. The best NABO and the NBTA could come up with was it's legality, which seem to be yet again, just words. No legal challenge has been made.

 

This is what frustrates me so much about the situation.

 

A small minority seem intent on rubbishing it, and trying to get it killed off, but none of them can propose any better option for those who are prepared to take one up, and abide by the agreed conditions.

 

How can it possibly be worse to have a group of boaters in an area, recognised by CRT, and who are then contributing significantly more to CRT coffers than they currently do, whilst actually placing no additional burden on CRT resources.

The particularly daft thing is that in some cases it is almost certainly those who have complained about "freeloaders" and "something for nothing", that are now unhappy with the concept of these people starting to contribute a lot more. You really couldn't make it up!

 

If the opponents can't successfully explain why they are opposing it, or (more importantly), propose an alternative that has any chance of ever happening, then IMO they should shut up.

[sueb]

Why do people fix on half truths and misinformation to suggest leaving an organisation but never look for the good that person has done. Simon has virtually singlehandedly sorted out houseboat licences. Many don't think roving mooring permits are legal including me and no I haven't come up with an acceptable alternative because I don't believe there is one with Carts powers as they are.

The only way of solving the problem is to be able to restrict the number of ccers.