Mitchell Kimbrough: We have the power
Mitchell wrote up a summary of his EECI 2011 talk in a blog post at Solspace. He correctly observes the important position of web designers and developer: we are an important part of the process and critical to it. We hold some power.
How is it that we hold the power? An example helps to explain and convince. In our past, Solspace has served political consultants. The vast majority of projects that we did with these political professionals were consistent with our own politics and ethics. However, one or two slipped through. I realized too late, a couple of times, that we had enabled the wrong message. We had supported the wrong side of an election. We had allowed the power and the money to put down legislation that would have helped The People. We had the power to walk away from the job. And if all web developers had also walked away, the message would not have made it into the world. The People would have been better off. This is the power we hold. We’re the gatekeepers now.
Mitchell is one of the oldest (not in terms of his age) members of the community so he certainly has experience doing great work and important projects to share with us. But regardless of whether Mitchell is part of the EE community or any other community, he is the source of wisdom for people in our profession.
I have two favorite episodes of the EE Podcast when I was co-hosting: the interview with Rick Ellis and the interview with Mitchell Kimbrough. Give it a listen.
Posted on Oct 24, 2011 by Ryan Irelan
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Bj — 04:30 on 10.26.2011
Don’t know if I misunderstood the whole point but isn’t democracy about enabling all kinds of messages - even those you do not agree with?
Steven Grant — 23:56 on 10.26.2011
I think Mitchell was getting at the role we play in such things as designers/developers. With our skills we can influence real change for good or for worse.
Personally I couldn’t enable a message that I didn’t agree with ethically. You either believe something or you don’t. I know some will say their money is the same colour and while that’s is true, the question would be if you can live by your convictions.
moonbeetle — 09:18 on 10.27.2011
The role isn’t restricted to designers/developers but also politicians, bankers or just about anyone who cares about ethics. So we’re all gatekeepers but some have a bigger gate to keep.
In the course of my self-employment I only once received a proposal for working on a website with very obvious questionable ethics, which I politely turned down. I’m sure the client almost immediately found someone else to enable his message.
Shotwell Company — 18:44 on 10.27.2011
This is something very near and dear to our hears here at Shotwell. We make every effort to wear our values on our sleeves. Occassionnally a client gets past our ethical gates, but almost inevitably those projects end up on the cutting room floor, to be picked up by some other unfortunate soul(s).
-Tyler