Melvyn will be #1 with a bullet next year…

[Anthony Gray]

Anthony,
There were two quotes listed.  Both were commentary on the way the discussion group communicates.  You might have noticed that if you weren't looking for some sort of insult. 

The first quotation "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject" refers to our GCA group propensity to continually argue the same points without any interest at all in changing opinions.  I think it's fair to call Melvyn an anti-cart fanatic, but I didn't specifically do that. One could call a large number of other people on the site fanatics about various issues.  It's this type of fanatacism that leads to some contentious threads continuing for way too long.

The second quotation "Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room" refers to the pointlessness of trying to debate or discuss a topic when someone is not interested in what you have to say.  The use of the term "monkey" in this context does not describe a particular individual.  I'm pretty sure Melvyn understands this.  I'm sorry you do not.

  John,

  Understood. I'm droping it.

  Sorry,

  Anthony

[Kalen Braley]

[Anthony Gray]

  Tell that to Garland buddy.

  AG

[Mark Pearce]

The second quotation "Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room" refers to the pointlessness of trying to debate or discuss a topic when someone is not interested in what you have to say.  The use of the term "monkey" in this context does not describe a particular individual.  I'm pretty sure Melvyn understands this.  I'm sorry you do not.

I beg to differ.  The monkey is the underling, or slave, the organ grinder is the boss.  The phrase means don't talk to the no.2 if the chief is around to talk to.  In Victorian England street entertainers with pipe organs played by winding a handle ("grinding") often had trained monkeys who passed round a hat to collect donations.

[Jud_T]

http://blogs.golf.com/lighterside/2008/10/club-throwing-g.html?cid=137520925

[John Mayhugh]

The second quotation "Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room" refers to the pointlessness of trying to debate or discuss a topic when someone is not interested in what you have to say.  The use of the term "monkey" in this context does not describe a particular individual.  I'm pretty sure Melvyn understands this.  I'm sorry you do not.

I beg to differ.  The monkey is the underling, or slave, the organ grinder is the boss.  The phrase means don't talk to the no.2 if the chief is around to talk to.  In Victorian England street entertainers with pipe organs played by winding a handle ("grinding") often had trained monkeys who passed round a hat to collect donations.

Interesting. If that's the correct interpretation, then that quote is not relevant to the GCA discussion group.  I shouldn't have used it.  Here at home I've heard it used the way that I described it.  I viewed the organ grinder as a distraction, not as a master.

In any case, no insult was intended towards anyone.  That's what I get for quoting a Brit.   

[Kalen Braley]

After looking around on Google it seems this quote has several potential meanings, including the one John stated...so I'm not sure I would jump to conclusions that he had devious intentions by posting it.

It does appear to be a Churchhill quote though:

A Winston Churchill (British politician, 1874 - 1965) quote, "Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room,"

[Will MacEwen]

The second quotation "Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room" refers to the pointlessness of trying to debate or discuss a topic when someone is not interested in what you have to say.  The use of the term "monkey" in this context does not describe a particular individual.  I'm pretty sure Melvyn understands this.  I'm sorry you do not.

I beg to differ.  The monkey is the underling, or slave, the organ grinder is the boss.  The phrase means don't talk to the no.2 if the chief is around to talk to.  In Victorian England street entertainers with pipe organs played by winding a handle ("grinding") often had trained monkeys who passed round a hat to collect donations.

Mark - I would have interpreted it as meaning "don't expect the monkey to speak frankly if the chief is in the room".  I don't know if that is relevant to GCA discussions or not - I felt so good about getting the expression that I didn't move on to application.

Oh well - another earnest B- for me.

[Mark Pearce]

There's another commonly used expression in the UK, when talking to a junior - "I want to talk to the organ grinder, not the monkey".  Fair to say that some insult is intended to the recipient of that expression!

[John Mayhugh]

Kalen,
I appreciate Mark explaining his point of view.  I'm sure no one thought I had evil intentions, though my misuse of the phrase could lead to misinterpretation. Though it's not relevant here, I'm reminded of a former co-worker who got very offended when someone saw him typing and referred to him as a "hunt and pecker." 

The best solution would be for me to spend more time in England and gain a richer understanding of the language.  Until then, probably best that I revert to Goethe:  "Everyone hears only what he understands."  Since this is translated from German, I'll wait and see if Ulrich (or Emil) catches me in another error.   

[Anthony Gray]

  I would like to publically apologize to John for thinking he intended the quote as an insult.

 Anthony

 

[Kalen Braley]

John both you and I on that one.

I've been telling the wife for years as soon as the chicks sprout wings and fly away that its the UK for me.  I've wanted to try it out now for a number of years. 

Anthony,

I want to apologize for thinking internally, though I didn't verbalize it, that you were attacking John, when you had the impression that you thought he had bad intentions towards Melyvn!!     

[Anthony Gray]

John both you and I on that one.

I've been telling the wife for years as soon as the chicks sprout wings and fly away that its the UK for me.  I've wanted to try it out now for a number of years. 

Anthony,

I want to apologize for thinking internally, though I didn't verbalize it, that you were attacking John, when you had the impression that you thought he had bad intentions towards Melyvn!!     

  Kalen,

  I would like to apologize to you for calling you an ass-clown under my breath.

  Anthpny

[Kalen Braley]

John both you and I on that one.

I've been telling the wife for years as soon as the chicks sprout wings and fly away that its the UK for me.  I've wanted to try it out now for a number of years. 

Anthony,

I want to apologize for thinking internally, though I didn't verbalize it, that you were attacking John, when you had the impression that you thought he had bad intentions towards Melyvn!!     

  Kalen,

  I would like to apologize to you for calling you an ass-clown under my breath.

  Anthpny

Lol...hey i'm the only one who gets to use that term around here!!   

[Eric Smith]

time for another bear hug

[Anthony Gray]

John both you and I on that one.

I've been telling the wife for years as soon as the chicks sprout wings and fly away that its the UK for me.  I've wanted to try it out now for a number of years. 

Anthony,

I want to apologize for thinking internally, though I didn't verbalize it, that you were attacking John, when you had the impression that you thought he had bad intentions towards Melyvn!!     

  Kalen,

  I would like to apologize to you for calling you an ass-clown under my breath.

  Anthpny

Lol...hey i'm the only one who gets to use that term around here!!   

  I apologize for lying the first time, the term I mumbled under my breath about Kalen was fat bastard. I will try to stick to the truth from now on.

  Anthony