Voting on the proposed SLA name change has now opened (and closed, and re-opened again due a problem with the e-ballot), and will be open until 9 December. I know some people have voted already, and no doubt other will be following them with alacrity.
While I don’t want to encourage anyone to miss out on their chance to vote, I’m going to suggest that you take a little time before you vote, to really think about not only how you are voting, but why. This applies equally to those who are undecided and those who are convinced about their choice. Why? Well, I don’t think anyone would deny that this is an important decision, and important decisions deserve thought. contemplation. reasoning. Even if you have, as you may well have done, given the issue a lot of thought, take the time before you vote to revisit and consolidate those thoughts.
Imagine that the voting page has, as well as ‘yes/no’ options, a text-box, with the simple question ‘why?’. Can you answer it? To your own satisfaction? In 500 words or less? If the answer is no, then I don’t think you’re ready to vote. Take some more time to explore the issues, and try to be sure of your own reasons before you hit that ‘vote’ button.
And, by that token, I don’t think I’m ready to vote yet. I’ve said before that I’m planning to vote ‘yes’, but I think I need to spend some time being sure that I have considered all angles. After all, my vote is my vote, but it doesn’t just affect me. We’re all voting for the good of all, and I think that requires rising above personal likes or dislikes.
When I’m ready to vote, I’ll try to write those 500 words, and post them here. I’d also be really pleased to hear others’ thoughts on this. And I’ll make sure I have plenty of calendar reminders about the deadline!
5 comments
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November 18, 2009 at 2:32 pm
woodsiegirl
With you on that – I’ve been changing my mind on this several times a day since the name was announced, so I don’t think it’d be a good idea for me to vote on it just yet! Writing 500 words on why you’re voting yes/no sounds like a great idea, I may give that a go myself…
November 25, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Maydayfoono
I highly enjoyed reading this article, keep on writing such interesting articles!
December 7, 2009 at 11:49 pm
SLA vote – yea or nay? « Organising Chaos
[…] completely reversed direction on this almost daily since the proposed new name was announced. As Bethan noted recently, for a decision like this it’s not enough to know which way you’re voting; you need to […]
December 8, 2009 at 12:25 am
Neil Infield
Bethan,
Only two days to go on the voting and you haven’t spilled the beans…
Neil
December 8, 2009 at 12:59 pm
ASKP, here I come. « Bethan's information professional blog
[…] Well, having left it very late, and prompted by woodsiegirl’s great post, and Neil’s rather pointed comment, here’s my decision on the proposed SLA name […]