No, that headline is not the latest 1881 anthem for Hornets fans to try out for size.

These are words from the writer Mark Twain. His quote actually goes: "If God intended us to talk more than listen, he would have given us two mouths and one ear.”

He couldn’t have said truer words.

Sadly, we are at a point in our world where volume and vitriol appear to have more value than the art of listening. 

How easy is it to be destructive rather than constructive? I often imagine what went through the head of the person who sent me a bullet in the post for getting an England cap. Even today I still wonder who could have had such thoughts to actually put them into action.

The effort they put into thinking they were doing something clever and influential, right down to buying a stamp and posting it. Were they forever proud of their intentions, or did they one day wish they had not taken that action?

Today, there is no doubt we are living in a time when there are those who simply no longer want to sit and wait for answers, they don’t really want to talk, certainly not listen. They just want to impose their own reply.

I only have to cast my mind back to the debate about 'taking the knee’ which started from one single true gesture but led to an endless uneducated action and the demand that we all wear a badge on our Watford shirt, without everyone actually knowing exactly what they were signing up to.

That, or me being told by the media that myself and John Barnes would want Watford road names changed to ours. Told, not asked! When we replied “absolutely not” the proposer was shocked.  Riding roughshod over something does not change history. Nor does it create an educated future.

This week I was at Wembley for the England game. I opened the programme to see myself featured as the first black man to score for England - and a hat trick at that.

It was for Black History Month. But to me that record is there every day, I personally do not require an annual celebration to be observed by all, I prefer instead we celebrate progress and the opportunities that has created for others to fulfil their greater potential. I only had to look down at the pitch to see outstanding examples.

Only if we listen rather than shout do we learn. It really is that simple. 

Back in 2015 Graham Taylor reminded us of that when he spoke on the Jeremy Vine show.

“First and foremost it is having the willingness and ability to listen to other people’s points of view,” he said.

“That doesn’t mean you have to agree with them but a recognition that they’ve got as much right to express an opinion goes a long way to establishing that we all exist on the same planet.

“We are all individuals with differing views so kindness is essential when it comes to sorting out the problems that are bound to take place.”

Words that are so very apt right now.

Graham went on to talk about the abuse he suffered after his England tenure. He pointed out the hurt his experience created and the way that people felt they could say and do what they liked without accountability, passing it off as just a bit of a laugh.

“One journalist said I should never manage again . . . as if he has ever managed himself.”

Today we are surrounded by endless ‘opinion’.  As Graham would say, opinions are not facts. I agree, and with social media in particular it can be so very hard to hear the truth above all the noise. But it is there if you really listen.

And if you want to listen to Graham's interview with Jeremy Vine, you can find it here.

When you read comments in articles or online that are not accurate, how do you feel?  

Luther: It can be hurtful as Graham said and that lasts, especially when nobody corrects the inaccuracies. They just move onto the next item on the agenda.

That is especially true in the world of social media and keyboard warriors, many of whom shout over anything and anyone they choose. Does that mean they must be right? 

But if people are annoyed can’t they show that, for example over Ben Manga’s departure or Bayat’s involvement?

Luther: You can be annoyed, but you have to have the facts before you can impose your annoyance on others.

That is one reason I decided to try and do more at the Club as Ambassador - to get answers all round and try to keep the spirit strong. It doesn’t mean that I agree with everything, but it means I can  have a balanced voice and make sure that all Hornets are heard.

You also have to accept that those in charge can take the actions they see fit.

You referred to some fans being ‘entitled’ in a recent column, and received some angry feedback. Can you explain and elaborate more on what you meant?

Luther: Let’s get this straight. I did not say fans. I said WE and that means me and anybody who considers themselves part of our Club.

Anyone who worked for Graham knows the from the staff to the stands, nobody was exempt from following what was expected of you.

Yes, modern facilities are marvellous but consider the blood (literally) and sweat that went into every single brick and blade of grass. Players that follow on must earn the right to walk in shoes and understand why.

To wear a shirt professionally is a privilege. To work for our club is an honour. Equally, to enjoy all these facilities you have to recognise the expectations on you as a fan. It is not about how long you have been a supporter it is about how you conduct yourself as one.

Even though you’ve addressed it previously, there are still many fans who feel the club have ‘bought’ your silence on key issues or that you’re a ‘yes man’ now you have the Club Ambassador role. What would you say to that?  

Luther: LOL! I didn’t become a footballer for the money. Nothing has changed for me. We didn’t have all these ‘Instagram likes’, paid clicks and product placements back then to pay the bills. When you retired, that was it.

But I was still there volunteering for years for the Club and the fans. Because that was what I was brought up doing. Becoming Ambassador has been a few years in the negotiating – and not about wages I may add.

It’s back to that thing Graham said about people thinking they can say and do anything, so people like to make a noise about money and intentions. It is really simple.

If money came into it I would have become one of the Ambassadors appointed. When I discovered they were being paid to sign up I declined. I don’t like hearing a Hornet tell people they became and Ambassador for two free tickets, not even in jest. Our fans deserve better.

If it was about me, why am I not wandering around as Honorary Vice President, the same as Sir Elton, enjoying my status and its benefits. Why? Because that is the way I am.

I felt I could not accept a title that I had not earned. I had never even been in the boardroom.

Whatever anyone says it is credit to Scott Duxbury that he came to me last year and agreed the Club has got it wrong. I was asked what were the values and objectives I felt important and once I was satisfied I could have a voice that reflected our legacy, then I agreed to be Club Ambassador.

I had an existing contract and I had a small increase in my fee. The main thing was that I wanted a pathway that would enable me to ensure that I was heard and changes could be made. At my age I would hardly do that if I wanted an easy life!

What exactly does the Ambassador role entail? What have you done so far? What will we see next?

Luther: Well firstly I am learning all aspects of how things are being done. But primarily I am now bringing to attention at the top everything that fans have told me over time they have struggled with, and at least being able to find why these things have happened and try to resolve them.

Many things I have voiced before, but never had the authority to get them implemented. I was just ‘another voice’. Now, I have been able to meet with Dan and stop players ‘taking the knee’ and educate them on our Club’s black heritage.

I have been able to actually reward some fans and people in the community as my guests. And in November I will be announcing how our Club will be supporting Veterans and the Armed Forces in a big way.

That all may not sound like huge achievement BUT they are things that mean something to supporters and I am the voice of reason on their behalf.

Everyone is entitled to be listened to - I may not have all the answers, but if I get some things changed and communicated better then I will be pleased and proud of that achievement.

Has the reaction of fans to Ben Manga’s departure and other recent news surprised you?

Luther: To be honest, as an onlooker I was surprised at the initial appointment as I wondered what his role would be, perhaps like many fans.

But I also heard Gino say in June that he doesn’t always get it right and when he sees something is not a fit for what they want to create they deal with it decisively.  That, as owner, is his prerogative really.

What I hope is that I can help communicate things more quickly and clearly when they affect fans. Otherwise we see a bit too much conjecture and opinion overriding any positive message that might be there.

About those fan meetings, what was your purpose in all that?

Luther: Simply to hear what issues were being raised on both sides.

I had agreed in principle for months to become Club Ambassador, but with the changes of manager I decided to wait before accepting officially. I wanted to see how the new Club dynamic would be and whether I could fit in.

Then I decided to wait further until after the Club arranged that event for Gino to talk to fans, something the EFL had raised as a topic back in April. I told Scott I wanted to have a really clear picture of where things stood and I was prepared to wait . . . a year.

We have seen some supporters dominating the conversations about what goes on at the Club.  Do you have a view on this?

Luther: I do actually. And this is perhaps a way to clarify ‘entitlement’.

Every fan has a right to expect a certain experience, but football is not the theatre: it is unpredictable to the extreme.

What they are entitled to is regular communication, we all like to know where we stand. As Graham said on BBC Radio, it is the way we ask, the way we act that is important. Disagreement doesn’t have to be at the expense of others.

When I hear abuse and disrespect I agree with Graham - it is not funny and cannot be dismissed as such.

Fans are all representatives of our Club, they all should conduct themselves in the right spirit -  listening to social media posts packed with abuse and swearing is not something I feel our club crest should be associated with.

On one hand I hear the ‘Taylor Way’ mentioned and in the same breath a mouthful of disrespect.

But didn’t Graham also say that it was in the end about goals - and not wanting a 0-0 draw?

Luther: Yes he did. But he also had clear views on how you handled the results you got.

Let’s look at this season for example and match that to fan expectation. At that meeting I heard the podcast hosting it state that fans needed to see change and improvement. They consigned the Pozzo achievements to the past saying a great stadium, Premier League status and FA Cup were one thing but now fans wanted to see three points in the first game and a fightback when we went behind.

Well, based on that, the Club has delivered on those words. 

It feels to me that the goalposts were moved and are continually, with misinformation and opinion over fact.

I think most fans want to just enjoy going to football. They need to ask themselves, does the owner spoil their experience or is it the team result (which is really football isn’t it)?

Or is it the atmosphere around the pitch and online that does it. Sometimes I know the feeling, you can answer with the facts, but when you are attacked, why bother.

Well, if we all give up, if we are divided by a few excessive opinions, then quite simply the only thing we may score is an own goal.