Jul 29 2007
Choices
If you belonged to a rather tight-knit organization for which you felt there was a safety concern that could effect the well being of many others, would you:
1/ Say nothing so you don’t get anyone upset.
2/ Speak up loud and clear and subsequently get many people upset.
3/ Quietly and discretely speak to some members and try to perhaps steer them away from potentially placing themselves in the problem situation.
(Edit: Added choice #3, which is the option I took…but ended up morphing into option 2….)
Does the fact you posted mean you’ve already decided to say something?
If it were me, and the danger were not pressing (i.e. there’s not a high probability that someone will die or be seriously injured very soon), I’d talk privately to my immediate superior first and give him/her a chance to do the right thing. If that person didn’t act in a reasonable amount of time, then I’d gradually start getting louder.
I was in that position once, and I kept my mouth shut for a very long time, until it got really, really bad. Then I complained, loudly, until it was fixed.
I most likely would pick option 3. I usually try to avoid conflict, but if it is a situation that involves safety of others, you have to say something.
I most likely would pick option 3. I usually try to avoid conflict, but if it is a situation that involves safety of others, you have to say something to someone.
[...] a few months back I made a bit of a cryptic post here asking the following question: If you belonged to a rather tight-knit organization for which [...]