I seem to have cross posted with a couple of people here, and seem to have been taken completely out of context.

I have not accused anbody of character assassination. My referencences to character assassination were purely in relation to my own criticisms of the man, no-one elses. Where I feel the man is wrong I will criticise, where I feel (some little) credit is due I will give it. There were no insinuations made on my part. If I wished to attack anybody I would do it directly, not by insinuation.

I have never suggested that IA's views were highminded, in fact, I have consistently said it is just 'more of the same'. There is nothing highminded about that. Neither have I suggested that an attack on young people, musicians or otherwise is fair. All I said was he aims these attacks at everybody. Again, I think I have made it consistently clear, his views and mine are totally at odds.

What was meant by:-

If it is balance you are seeking, why not admit we need both youth AND maturity, enthusiasm and experience, in equal measure, rather than valuing the one (which happens to be the one you possess) over the other? Where is the balance in that?

I do admit it. I did not suggest that youth was less important than maturity, or that enthusiasm was less important than experience. Again, that is your interpretation not mine. I do welcome them all, and have never said otherwise. I do believe healthy music needs both, and have never accused the young of lacking creativity, passion or anything other than years.

Hopefully a young musician of any standard will grow into a better musician. However, I do believe that maturity and experience offer opportunities beyond youth and enthusiasm. That is not a criticism of youth, it is a future and a reason to keep playing.

Please do not look for an attack where none was intended. I do not condemn young people for being young, but I do expect them to grow out of it. ;-)

Other than in the degree to which we slate IA, I feel the only way in which we fundimentally disagree in my intention in my postings and your interpretation of them.

Brian