I was a failed Blood Brother: Inside the Swans Inner Circle

[Margie]

Yawn. This odious thread again.

It might go away in 2011, but then again, maybe not.

[stellation]

Starting work on the Roosy chapter.

[Doctor J.]

Starting work on the Roosy chapter.

Should be a good read Stella.

[Dosser]

You love this thread, don't you Stella?

[stellation]

You love this thread, don't you Stella?

I sure do!

I mean, I appreciate every club would have skeletons in the closet- from memory I started it purely because for a little while there, all those years ago, we were a tad cultish and pious (in my humble opinion).

[Xie Shan]

I sure do!

I mean, I appreciate every club would have skeletons in the closet- from memory I started it purely because for a little while there, all those years ago, we were a tad cultish and pious (in my humble opinion).

Ah but Stella, all successful organisations are a bit cult-like - in part, it's the ability to stick to their core values that makes them great, and often the message needs to be simple in order for it to 'stick'!

Did you read 'Rise of the Swans'? I thought Martin Blake did a pretty good job at saying what the Bloods culture is and what it isn't. I love this quote from Ted Richards about the regular peer reviews / feedback sessions they do:

'...everyone knows it's done to make the individual better, and make the team better... we gave Sam Reid a good peer assessment last year [2011]. It was all about not trying to feel like you need to do everything. We just said, "You're doing well, we're happy. Keep going." Look, they're serious, sit down things, but then at night we might have a team dinner at Paddington, and it's karaoke!'

But I totally agree, Bloods culture certainly isn't for everyone. When everyone buys in and approaches it sensibly, it can work really well (see 2005 and 2012).

- - - Updated - - -

Starting work on the Roosy chapter.

Co-authored by ROK Lobster I presume

[ShockOfHair]

Starting work on the Roosy chapter.

Correct terminology. Roos calls himself Roosy.