Thread

OK, I know that most of you guys are happy to ‘just’ develop. But what about the content? Would you design/develop a site regardless of its contens? Do you have any ethical standards, like this is where I draw the line? And I’m not talking codewise here. I’m just curious about where people draw the line for what they can / want to do.

Like everything in life I think you have to have some morals and I for one would definitely not make a site if it went against something I believed in no matter how much the site is worth as it would mean I am cheating myself. I love animals but if someone asked me to make a site for someone who kills / hunts animals then there would be no way I would make this kind of site.

I wouldn’t be hateful or nasty towards the person asking for the site though. My example above is quite a strong one but everyone has differing opinions but I do believe that we need to stick to what we believe in or else we won’t have any beliefs left to hold onto.

Just my own personal thoughts though.

Best wishes,

Mark

I’ve passed on several projects because the content was in some way disagreeable to me.

We have a set of corporate standards/ethics that determine whether or not we do a site or not.

It is certainly a good idea to set some standards as to what you won’t do. There are areas that are difficult though. A previous agency took a job from a charity responding to animal rights activists. Many employees were uncomfortable with it and others just saw it as opinion.

The short answer is it is up to you but but you should retain your integrity and morality.

Thanks guys for your response. I guess most of us draw the line somewhere, but that it’s very personal and perhaps too political to vent in a forum. And it may not make much sense, since we all are very different people with different values.

One of the joys of having your own company or freelancing is that you have the choice to say no. Mark mentioned hunting and that is definitely subject matter I would turn down.

Unfortunately employees don’t have this choice, and as a vegitarian (I’ve since lapsed…) design company employee I once had to work on a site for a ‘meat machine’ company. They made a machine where the cows walk in one end, and after cartoon-like frenzy of chopping and tearing, come out the other end as sausages. I had to design the site, and one morning opened an envelope containing A4 glossy photos of the machine at work ready for scanning. Not nice. No no.

One of the joys of having your own company or freelancing is that you have the choice to say no. Mark mentioned hunting and that is definitely subject matter I would turn down.

Unfortunately employees don’t have this choice, and as a vegitarian (I’ve since lapsed…) design company employee I once had to work on a site for a ‘meat machine’ company. They made a machine where the cows walk in one end, and after cartoon-like frenzy of chopping and tearing, come out the other end as sausages. I had to design the site, and one morning opened an envelope containing A4 glossy photos of the machine at work ready for scanning. Not nice. No no.

I would have thought though that any company worth their salt would notice that something like this could affect certain employees and ask them first and also those images should have had some kind of warning on the packaging. What if they had gone missing and then you have no idea who’s opening them up. Sounds a little inconsiderate to me.

Just my thoughts though.

Best wishes,

Mark

I would have thought though that any company worth their salt would notice that something like this could affect certain employees and ask them first and also those images should have had some kind of warning on the packaging. What if they had gone missing and then you have no idea who’s opening them up. Sounds a little inconsiderate to me.

The design company was actually quite nice, but the management was a bit vague. I think most of us were veggies there at the time, so it was pot luck that I got the job.

I questioned the use of the images on the website as they were very graphic, and it was agreed that they shouldn’t be used.

I think you’re right though - good management would have known this could cause offence to their staff.

I’m not a professional developer or designer, but to echo some sentiments mentioned up-thread:

If you’re an employee, you do what you’re tasked to or find another employer or line of business.

If you run your own show, you are free to accept or reject whatever prospective business comes your way for any reason whatsoever and if you have employees, by all means cater to personal sensibilities where possible.