I hate Mike Ashley

[HughieG]

and I'm certain I'll be able to hate the new owner just as much.

If the results improve in the meantime, that's just a big bonus

[Zippity]

The issue here is, Hughie, that it's about degrees of separation. There's no doubt that the things our new owner has been involved in are way, way worse than not spending on ther team, shit managerial appointments, etc-that's not up for argument.

But...Ashley was doing those things directly to us, it was adversely affecting something we love, adversely affecting us so we felt antagonism towards him more keenly than we might someone on another continent who is the figurehead of a regime behaving in terrible ways towards other people.

Like it or not, rightly or wrongly, the greater the distance between us and something bad that's happened or is happening, the less it impacts us and the smaller the impact on us, the less we feel inclined to do anything about it (e.g. protest, boycott, etc). For example-when you see those horrendous pictures of famine in Africa, you think 'oh, that is awful, we must do something about it' as you continue to eat your tea and then hoy the leftovers out...then you might donate to a charity or share a Facebook appeal but, unless you join a charity which sends you to go and work with the famine victims directly, then because it's happening to someone else and so far away, it doesn't have a huge impact on your daily life. If, say, that famine was happening in your own country, it wouldn't be more or less terrible in itself but its impact on you would be huge even if the area you were in was ok.

As I said a bit back, we operate on different levels because we have to and I think this is one of those cases.

[HughieG]

I agree with you, Zip. Especially regarding your point about degrees of separation. For instance, it would be absurd to suggest that once the Prince takes over, we should stop supporting our club. Not only would that be impossible, it would a crime against humanity in of itself, ironically.

Just because Bin Salman will own a part of our club, it is unlikely that they will start executing journalists in Newcastle. It is important not to mix things up here. But in a way it's hard not to.

I guess my point is that the takeover is not without complexity and nuances. Obviously I'm excited about the takeover but simultaneously I feel that generally in football something's gone badly wrong with money and the people that are allowed to own football clubs (I include Ashley in that by the way).

For me, football cannot be an excuse to ignore human rights (I'm sure most of us feel this way) and I need to remain critical of people like Bin Salman, as that is my nature. So I'll hate him albeit in a different way that I hate Ashley. Even if I happen to support the club he owns.

[toonfalifekevbrown]

I hate him as well
But as fans we didn't do enough to force him out

[toptoon]

it is unlikely that they will start executing journalists in Newcastle.

Now there’s an interesting idea. Time for a clear out at the Chronic?

[ex_pat_magpie]

Now there’s an interesting idea. Time for a clear out at the Chronic?

Now there's an interesting point.

T'would be a good thing to make a fresh start.

[HughieG]

Now there’s an interesting idea. Time for a clear out at the Chronic?

Haha! I was gonna write "no executions (although Lee Ryder needs sorting)" but I thought maybe that was over the top...