Because I didn't intend to get this kind of reaction at all.
I mean, I want to talk about how awesome my weekend was, but I guess I have to be the bigger man and set things straight...
So, this weekend was freaking insane... Let's not talk about epèe, it really isn't my weapon, I just do it for fun :P although my ranking did improve by like 1 place. Sabre was absolutely ridiculous, I managed to lose a very close final against Wikus Koen, 15-14... But I lost 2 freaking points for starting too early!!!! ARGH!! It's still burning me up now! And I was ranked 4th after poules for senior, which I was super super stoked about... I managed to lose to Günther Schroder in the quarters, so I just missed out on a medal. But now I have an insane senior ranking, which is cool :)
Foil was the most controversial. I should have beaten Pasha in the quarters of cadets, but I got two really dodgy calls losing 15-14, the last of which was so blatant the literally everyone watching said it was my point.... :(
I stayed in this crazy guest house which the McGregors had found, all the way with British culture. I am going to blanche when my mum gets the bill though :D whoops! At least we didn't get high on glue fixing weapons this time...
At least I fulfilled my medal quota, so it's all cool. And as soon as I get to Canada, I am finding that fencing coach and getting some hectic training done.
So, down to business...
Okay, let's make this perfectly clear. In my previous controversial blog post, I did not intend to insult anyone personally, above all Nick Koster or the Bishops 1st Team. Because they've worked bloody hard for their achievements. It was not my aim to be personally defamatory; it was intended to be a criticism of the school and the system, which I am perfectly justified in making. Just because you don't like what I have to say does not mean I am not allowed to say it, and it is my arguments that should be criticized, not me as a person.
And you really should pay attention when I say that I don't hate rugby and that I'm not saying fencing is the best/the only sport. I appreciate the fact that some of you have taken the time to provide well-structured comments, but you still show a complete disregard for my opinions which I have already expressed. If you do that, there is no way we can have a coherent argument.
You guys say I have no pride in the school? What if an OD came across the comments you have written on my post? What would he think of the school and the kind of boys it raises? How it educates them to not be able to spell and have a vocabulary not extending past expletives? And how it teaches them to be proud of their own honour enough to not stick their names on their criticism? I criticize the system, but at least I have the guts to do it in a legitimate manner and put my name to it.
Besides, why is everyone making such a big thing out of it? We won, didn't we?
1 week until I leave on exchange!!!! I have to still:
Buy trinkets
Pack
Re-pack
Give back science apparatus
Send off a few emails
Pack a third time
Remind the teachers to send me work :(
Say goodbye to my friends/enemies/girlfriend
Pack one final time
LEAVE!
wow. quelle horreur
it's ok to feel someway about something, wolski, but when it turns into a blatant, personal attack it becomes offensive.
ReplyDeleteyou are entitled to an opinion. aren't we all? you went about expressing it the wrong way. to publicly attack Nick Koster, the 1st team rugby and Bishops as an institution is just not ok. that's not how you deal with anything.
you have said that you did not intend to criticise Koster or the 1st team? "So we got some okes to come speak in chapel, one who was apparently the headboy or something four years ago, very afrikaans accent, very very traditional "yah okes rugby is sick" speech... o.O No wonder people go out of this school not knowing how to speak, and what to speak about." - what is that? don't try to defend your intentions.
you criticise people about not putting together cohesive arguments but, wolski, you are a hypocrite. you have not responded to the main points raised in your previous, offensive post. you have merely sidestepped them and attacked more people.
you are a Bishops boy. show some pride in this school and, if you can't do that, have some tolerance.
wolski, stop trying to justify yourself. you are in the wrong. you have said some naive and ignorant things and i sincerely suggest that you eat some humble pie and apologise to the school.
take this advice.
from someone who has "participated in a debate."
So why is it 'a blatant, personal attack' which 'becomes offensive' when one says that someone speaks with 'very afrikaans accent'? Or that his speech is 'very very traditional 'yah okes rugby is sick' type of speech? The rugby players, or we all, speak like that, and rugby is a sick game for many, can I risk: for all at Bishops? And aren't you defending 'tradition' all along? Why feel insulted? I am confused.
ReplyDeleteThe caption in the blog reads: 'No wonder people go out of this school not knowing how to speak, and what to speak about. Because if you haven't been to a Public Speaking Society meeting, or gone to Nationals, or even watched a freaking debate (as you should because you go to a prestigious private school which offers an ALL-ROUND education), you'd know a little bit about what a good speech is'. What do you mean by 'what is that?'? It is a statement: 'no wonder that something. BECAUSE something'(in this case 'because' being a conjunction after a comma - grammatically correct). In your comment you conveniently dropped everything from 'because' onwards and thus lost the sense completely. I know, long sentences, easy to lose track - also not my best side. But I think I got it right in the end! so to make it clear for you my guess: people don't know how to speak BECAUSE they don't go to society meetings. Simple. But I still can not see how it criticizes 1st team or Mr Koster.
Try as I might I don't see what he is supposed to apologize for (unless it's the 'afrikaans' or 'traditional'), if he wants to take your advice, that is, or why is he in the wrong? or where is he trying to justify himself and for what? Confusing again.
But I have to admit I haven't 'participated in a debate' so it can be the reason I don't understand. And my English isn't best so I guess that must be it....
Walter
Not a Bishops Boy (luckily!)
ps
Maybe as a 'Bishops boy' he is not allowed to say the speech was not a good one? or that he was not impressed by it? Just my wild guess. As 'not a Bishops boy' I wouldn't know that.
2, but one doesn't count, comments relating to Langa post (poverty, poverty, poverty) and 32 relating to one paragraph about rugby (bishops rugby team). you guys who comment surly have your priorities set right! you must have it all sorted out already for the future of the townships in your hometown. your firstteam rugby will play the township team and you will win! all sorted.
ReplyDeletei want to stay in the league so i'm anonymous too!
'Walter', you just waffle on about rubbish to detract from the good points that the first anonymous commentor wrote. You seem to be one of those academically clever people that lack all common sense and logic and you're just arguing a point for the sake of arguing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything the first comment included. Well spoken!
First Commenter, Quite frankly your points are redundant. You think you are so slick coming here with your 'cohesive arguments', but if you actually look at it (As you should, as you claim to have participated in a debate) HE DID NOT attack anyone else. He just put his opinion forward. Perception is one of the controversial arguments in this because he sees things differently, so instead of imposing your narrow-minded, KFC finger-licking, appalling views, try to be empathetic.
ReplyDeleterespect man it takes balls to apologize for what u did . and that is what a true bishops boy does
ReplyDeleteI'm so chuffed! I was called 'academically clever' person by a Bishops boy! Not convinced about 'lack of common sense and logic' and 'waffle about rubbish to detract from good points' but what the hell - I'll take it too!
ReplyDeleteShame you didn't give me any answers to my questions, but I understand: it's hard work to find something where THERE IS NOTHING. No hard feelings ....sorry, I didn't get your name?
I have a confession to make and with that I almost regret putting my name on the comment. Now everyone will know: 'Walter made a mistake'. It would be so much easier if I was 'anonymous'. Still there are many Walters around just like there are many Johns so maybe I'm safe? At least no one can say 'B... you are wrong'- this would give me away. And what if I have to change fronts later on? or be called to take the responsibility for what I said? It wouldn't matter that I have 800+ strong men behind me (they wouldn't really be behind me all the time, you know). I am big and strong but 'one-on-one' is a no-go for me. Safety in numbers is my policy. No, better to be anonymous. Let others be courageous: put their names to statements they believe in or express their views (even the unpopular ones) or try to show different perspective.
Maybe no-one will mind if I don't give my name, but say I'm defending my school's pride. And maybe I will get 'Well spoken' comment too? Silly me not to think about it earlier.
My confession: in my previous post I couldn't decide if I should put '...conjunction after a comma or a full stop - both grammatically correct' or just '...conjunction after a full stop - grammatically correct'. For some reason it ended up with only 'a comma'(which is correct but in this case it should be 'a full stop'). So it's:'Because' being a conjunction after a full stop - grammatically correct'. Uff!
Now it's off my chest. With my name to it too (against my better judgement and many examples from wise Bishops boys).
I humbly await Bishops boys verdict on me.
To add insult to injury:
Walter
@ walter: well spoken indeed...
ReplyDeleteI agree with some of the things you said but some of the things were just said in an extremely condescending manner. I admit, Koster's speech wasn't wonderful but it was sincere and from the heart. "very afrikaans accent, very very traditional "yah okes rugby is sick" speech..." Of course he's going to have an afrikaans accent. HE'S AFRIKAANS! It was an assembly centered around rugby, why would you not have a speech about rugby?
ReplyDeleteWhy are you at Bishops if you aren't proud to go to such a fine institution? You should feel honored every time you wear the Bishops mitre.
But I digress, I do agree with some things. Like, the fact that people should be involved in more societies (debating, public speaking etc..) because these are valuable life lesson for every Bishops boy.
A proud Bishops boy
birds can fly quite high
ReplyDeleteSam you should please attempt this
find a nice bridge soon
@proud Bishops Boy: I know Sam and I know he is extremely proud to be at Bishops and he is honored to wear the school's mitre. Do you know him to give such a statement?
ReplyDelete