Speaking your mind

Sunday, September 18th, 2009

I cannot say that I always do this but I suppose I do it more than most: it's in my genes or upbringing - probably both. One of my bosses repeatedly called me a cynic to which my response was something like, 'Yeah but never forget that a cynic is often a realist who speaks his mind.'

It's not just about mouthing opinions, it can be about facts. At the age of 12, a teacher at school that an Egyptian pharoah, Amenophis (or Amenhotep if you wish) III changed his name to Akhenaten, the heretic king. So I put my hand up and told him that it was Amenophis IV for I'd been reading the Egyptology books in the school library. He graciously said thank you and carried on. Glad I didn't get smacked.

Not so when I got to 6th form where the headmaster taught us about English Literature. We read one of C S Forester's swashbuckling books on the adventures of Horatio Hornblower, a fictional British sailor who rose to be Admiral of the Fleet in the early 19th century. Our Head was a snob, intellectually and socially, and after we had read the book, he asked us to comment on its literary merit. A fellow pupil condemned it as superficial and flimsy and the head agreed. So I put my hand up and said that you couldn't judge it like that; it was an adventure yarn and that is how it should be judged. I got a very stern look and it was plain that he thought I was an idiot.

Many years later, I sat in a country mansion with those 12 feet tall windows and a gloriously beautiful view over the Mendip Hills of Somerset. I had gone there with a mate and his girlfriend; her father owned the house. Well her father was yattering on about his socialist ideals and I was politely arguing some points. Finally, I had had enough of his blather so I said something like 'Socialism is fine for those who have plenty of money and those who have none. It's the folks in the middle who get worried about it.' I never got invited back but what I said is true to this day. I was just ungracious.

Many years later, at work, we used to have those Team briefing meetings at which our Marketing Director would brief us on the state of the business and at which we would ask questions about toilet paper, worn carpets and the canteen food. Nice man though he was, he, one day, said he could see no point to these meetings if we all just talked about trivialities. Silence until I pointed out to him that his department, i.e. us, was well aware of the state of the company but we felt that insufficient attention was being paid to the issues of our daily working lives. I cannot remember his reaction but he never complained again, not that anything was ever done about our grieveances. But then Donald Anderson had never heard of Herzburg's hygeine-needs.

At some other such meeting, one guy asked why the women had super soft toilet paper but guys had to put up with the 'Bronco' brand which is like sandpaper. I just turned and said, 'Well, if you don't know, I ain't gonna tell you.'

And then of course, maybe the one that caused most offence, at least to my partner at the time. I think it was the day after 9/11 when I said, 'Well maybe that will make the buggers think about their contributions to NORAID.' I was condemned for being insensitive but it came to pass.

I could go on and on but I won't. You cannot always speak out for you might get killed or certainly abused. But, at least, you should try.