Let me just level with you, here: I’ve been stressing the hell out about the renaming contest and the process in general. Instead of trying to dodge around explaining why or just not being open about it, I decided to share with you the series of missteps I’ve made and where I am right now (which is, seriously, missing sleep and having arguments with myself).

Mistake #1: The Contest

I get really excited about getting my readers involved. For one thing, it gets interaction going and it also helps me understand what you cats want to see. It makes the site a community and that also feels like a warm, cozy blanket to an editor.

So I decided to change the name of the site – and who better to help me along in that process than the very people who read the site! So the contest was made.

What I expected: fun, goofy, and a few great suggestions for names.

What I got: fun, goofy, and a few great suggestions for names.

What I did: moved forward.

Mistake #2: The Polo Elders and Over Action

So I had a list of possible new names for the site, and I was on top of the world. As is normally my mode of operation, I removed some of the ones I just didn’t like, and then took the remainder to a few friends to help me cut out what wouldn’t work. That brought the list down to 3 or so, which is exactly what I wanted.

It was here that I knew I was in a bit of trouble, at least as far as keeping my word goes.

You see, everyone I talked to about bringing the possible names down to 3 really liked one particular name: 5hole. It was short, it featured a term used in bike polo, and it would make some excellent graphic/sticker/layout opportunities. Unfortunately the name was taken, but we identified the fellow who had the name and he turned out to be pretty awesome about working out an agreement to transfer that domain to us.

So, in my little jackass mind, I thought “well, 5hole is really the winner out of this selection. I’ll get the name from that guy, put up the contest (thought I’m sure, har har, that 5hole will win outright), and I’ll be all lined up for a new renaming celebration in short order.

What I Expected: Reducing to 3 possible names

What I got: Three possible names, but 1 “clear” winner

What I did: Started pursuing 5hole before the voting, like any good, dumb politician.

Mistake #3: The Facebook Poll 

With excitement like a boy discovering lighters for the first time, I set up the poll. I made a few errors here that proved out to be my downfall: 1. I didn’t limit the “add another option” feature, resulting in some interesting albeit harmless horseplay, 2. I added “don’t change the name, you dummy.”

Don’t change the name, you dummy.

Don’t change the name, you dummy.

Don’t change the name? You dummy?!

What I expected: A clean sweep of 5hole as the winner, a few people choosing the “don’t change the name” option out of nostalgia.

What I got: people not seeing that option as a throwaway joke, and choosing it in force.

What I did: panicked.

Basically, I screwed myself in only a way that I am possible of doing, and now I’m living in that fresh new hell. The way I see it, I’ve got actions I can take and associated consequences:

Don’t Change the Name: Side with all the folks who have voted and then reached out to me to ask me not to change the name.

• Possible Bad Result: Upset the folks working behind the scenes for me, still purchase the domain 5hole for some later use and to keep my agreement, still live with some of the problems I’ve had with the name

Change the Name to 5hole: Ignore the voting process (after all, “don’t change the name” really isn’t an option – it’s a naming contest, not a “not-naming” contest, right?).

• Possible Bad Result: Frustrate and lose the trust of readership, be mocked at every single tournament, be mocked in every single post by Robocop

Act like this never happened: Delete every reference I ever had to this contest, wait a while, and then just do whatever I want.

• Possible Bad Result: death by suffocation. As I understand it, it’s hard to breath with your head in the sand.

Something I do realize now (after kvetching and lamenting about my situation to a few very important people in my life) is how close the blog is to me. It’s so close, in fact, that I’m more than likely blowing this entire thing out of proportion. As much as I care about you, dear reader, I know that you aren’t exactly living and breathing this site: that’s my job to do. But I’m also someone who really likes keeping my word, and that makes this whole thing something more than just a stupid blog.

It doesn’t really – but I keep thinking it does.

So there it is – there’s where I am. I don’t exactly feel better getting this off my chest, but I do feel better in having the entire situation written out for me to kvetch over for the rest of the day. I don’t really know what kind of reaction to expect to this, so however you decide to, just know that I have a bottle of mylanta next to me and haven’t slept well (partially stress, partially because of amorous neighbors).

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