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From: George Huxtable (no email)
Date: Tue Apr 04 2006 - 14:29:36 EDT
Now that Nav-l appears to be up-and-running once again, here is a response to Frank Reed's recent invitation to defect to another
list run by him.
This response already been sent to a group of members who were previously addressed by Frank, off-list, with that same invitation.
Apologies to those who see it twice.
=============================Comment from George.
I do not understand what's going on here, but do not much like what I have seen so far, nor the way it appears to have happened.
To what extent is Nav-l actually "broken"? How long is it expected to remain "off the air"? Has Dan Hogan given us any clues about
that? I have emailed him, off-list, to ask.
Is the proposal for a "breakaway" list the result of a consensus, or a bit of one-man opportunism?
Dan has run Nav-l from the sidelines, mostly, not as a major participant, which seems to be the ideal arrangement. Personalities
matter, here, and a bit of plain speaking is called for. Whatever admirable qualities Frank may possess, they do not include the
diplomacy, self-restraint, conciliation that would be called for in whoever acts as mediator for a list such as ours. It would be a
bit like putting John McEnroe in charge of World Tennis.
If our discussion group needs reconfiguring (and it may) then the way to do it is via round-table discussion, which had recently
started to happen..That can occur when the list is working, not when it's just gone out of action. If it's going to come back on
air, that's when we should discuss such changes. If it was down for ever, that would be another matter.
It reminds me of the situation that occurs from time to time in a third-world African republic. The President flies to Zurich for
hospital treatment, and in his absence, his rival calls on the Palace Guard, raising his banner and crying "follow me". Next thing,
the runway is blocked against his return.
With Frank in charge, I fear it would be like playing a game of street football, when the other side owns the ball.
I am going to need more persuading, before venturing into this new lifeboat, until certain that the old familiar vessel is actually
sinking, not just suffering a temporary breakdown.
George.
====================
contact George Huxtable at
or at +44 1865 820222 (from UK, 01865 820222)
or at 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK.
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