Editor Lyndon Keane says if you aren’t prepared to play a part in nailing an outcome for a community event or club, you have no right banging on about what you reckon those who are volunteering their time are doing wrong. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
There’s nothing worse than someone who refuses to get involved, but is more than willing to fire a barrage of criticism and snarky comments behind the defensive lines of those who are lifting the load to ensure our clubs and community events don’t fade into a distant memory.
I found myself unwillingly involved in three such conversations last week after several community know-it-alls bailed me up to vent their spleen about what they believed was wrong with the management of a couple of high-profile western Cape York events and sporting groups.
As they pointed out the 3,944 things they would do better if they were in control, I asked them whether they were on the committee of the club or event and, if not, why not, given they apparently had all the answers.
Well, you can imagine my feigned surprise when it turned out none of the extremely vocal critics who took the time to actively seek me out to whinge about who was doing what wrong had considered actually contributing to the event or club seemingly causing them so much mental anguish.
One told me they “don’t have time for that behind-the-scenes crap”, while another said they refused to be on the committee of one club while current executive members were still on this side of the dirt. The latter articulated their view somewhat more colourfully than that, but you get the idea.
Here’s the problem with refusing to play a role in a part of the world with a limited population base: our volunteering ranks are already spread pretty thin on the ground, and being the target of the critical, behind-the-back rantings of muppets who have all of the answers but none of the execution isn’t likely to bolster the numbers of those willing to have a go.
Who are going to be the first ones to moan and scream from the rooftops when the event or club they were happy to bag but unwilling to contribute to folds due to a lack of volunteers? Because I’m feeling generous, I’ll offer $1.03 it’s the armchair experts as they reach for more mud to sling.
The funny thing – I’m talking sad clown funny – about these critics is how quick they are to profess their love of the club, activity or event they are even faster to shoot down the success of with opinions about what would be better if they had the reins. It’s almost as if some of them want to see [insert random club or event] fail, as it would fuel their twisted belief that a similar fate would have been avoided had they swapped their snipered criticism for getting their hands dirty on a management committee.
If you’ve read this and are wondering if I’m talking about you, chances are I am.
The sideline and armchair critics in our communities do nothing but detract from the value and potential of our local clubs and events when they hurl their self-declared expert opinions in the direction of those who are prepared to roll up their sleeves and ensure the show goes on year after year.
It’s time for those critics to drag their critical, refuse-to-take-an-active-role arse off their chair on the sideline and get some skin in the game.
Put up or shut up.
