EBSQart is an artists' community that supports and encourages self-representing artists working in any and all media. Part of that support and encouragement includes the hosting and sponsorship of regular, community supported art events.
One of the shows that is currently running is a Trashion Show that features various forms of wearable art, created from at least 75% recycled materials. There is a small purse (currently at $94.00), donated by the community and its supporters. The entire prize will go to the first place winner and that winner will be decided by popular vote of community members. Voting is open from May 1, 2008 - May 8, 2008.
I was personally invited/encouraged by a member and sponsor to enter up to 5 of my recycled tee shirt skirt designs. I followed through and entered at the 11th hour.
The question is:
"As a member of the community, should I vote for myself, vote for someone else or abstain from voting entirely?"
I asked my husband this very question and his response was, "Yes. By all means - Vote for yourself. If you don't support your own work, who will. Then ask yourself if you think Hilary Clinton voted for Obama. That should make your decision for you." Know that I hold his professional integrity in the highest regard and, in his profession, that means a lot. He is always my lamp light when I have questions of this nature but, in this case, I feel that he may be a bit biased.
So what do you all think?
Lom Bok
I think you should vote for yourself. All the hard work and time you put into your designs obligates you to do it. Aint no shame, lady do your thang!
1Thanks Margs. You see the stickiness in it the way I am thinking about it. I admit that Don has a good point and you do as well. I will follow through. I promise to support myself and show belief in my own work.
2yes, vote for yourself
3Vote for yourself because you know that's what other people would do.
4Very cool idea. Vote for yourself!
5I seem to be the only person who said, “do not vote.”
Voting for yourself gives you an unfair “free vote,” which you only earned by virtue of being yourself, and therefore being in favour of yourself.
If you vote for someone else, then where is your confidence in yourself, and why are you giving the other guy a push?
Therefore, I would rule, no participants may vote. You refer to yourself as a member of the community, but you have entered, so you are not actually an impartial community voter any more.
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6_copyright_
Thanks for the feedback everyone! I do sincerely appreciate it.
Astro - You and I are on the same page of the thought process. Still, I know what everyone else is saying is, more than likely, the real world ethic at work. So I suppose I am am being led by the majority and not my own thoughts on the issue because I did put in a vote for myself.
7It could be a different vote at different times.... depending on how you are moved.
8Oh, well that depends on what the competition rules said: if I were running the competition I would have said no participants to vote, but since some “real world” person was running it, that changes things.
Basically, if every other participant is voting, then you would have been putting yourself at a disadvantage by not voting for yourself, because none of those other participants are going to vote for you. I still think it is unethical, but in this case it is unethical of the organisers, not you: you were just doing what you had to!
That said, I also think it is kind of stupid to let the entrants vote, because think about it: everyone only gets one extra vote, and they are still going to win or lose by the same ratio. If Steve and Ned do not get to vote, Steve may have won with 8 votes to 3. If they do get to vote, he wins with 9 votes to 4. Same difference!!
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9_copyright_
Thank you for the input, Beachwalker.
Astro: Yes. I agree with you. The point of why I voted for myself is exactly as you stated, "I would be putting myself at a disadvantage if I did not". That's how it plays out.
As far as my reference to the real world - what I really meant was the community as a whole.
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