Quote Originally Posted by harpo88 View Post
I have a big problem with this 'I don't want anyone else influencing me' that I've come across a lot. Why on earth not? If no one shared ideas and influenced each other we wouldn't improve or develop would we? You don't have to accept everything just because someone else says it, but in my mind we all have a moral duty to consider how we're behaving and at least pay attention to those who have experience - and it's charities that use football clubs as vehicles to get the messages out, not the clubs coming up with it all themselves - it's just an efficient way to reach lots of people. You also have a responsibility to influence others if you're an expert in something or if they're behaving badly. That's how we'll improve things as a society, not by burying our heads in the sand either to our own or other people's behaviour.
he doesn't say influencing him he says no one else telling him how to live his life, there is a huge difference between influencing and dictating. I have no issue with sport being used as arsenal did yesterday, and politics in sport and all forms of entertainment has always been there and always will, unfortunately. The issue for me is it isn't a balanced projection of views, it is mostly driven by money and propoganda so a particular position is put out there. I don't think the anti-knive crime campaign falls into that area but many other ones do. I think looking at it on a case by case basis and using critical thinking to question something, is the best approach for any individual.