Ethics stem from personal morals. People don’t always share the same moral stand point.

Just a couple of nights ago I was discussing online gambling with someone who said they didn’t have an issue with it at all. I was really quite surprised because I feel so strongly against it. I should have asked if there was any business they wouldn’t work for…

I’m wondering though on what basis we might make decisions about our work when the ethics and sustainability issues are not quite so clear cut. How do we as practitioners assess the ethical merits of working for a property developer, a bank, a media outlet, a mining company or for a government (as Miss Usability points out). What sort of questions should we ask in those cases?

Never really had a job since – mostly working for myself. Never looked back. so I thank them really for making me take the road less travelled.

Yes I saw Donna’s presentation at Oz IA too. I really enjoyed her talk on Ethical Issues in Information Architecture and it was really refreshing to hear her mention accessibility within that context.

You know, I really feel for you having had that experience working on the site for IR reform. But as you say, you learnt a lot about your self as a result and that’s a big thing. So good for you ;)

I’ve been thinking more about ethics in the user-centred work I do lately (especially since listening to Donna M’s chit-chat at OZ-IA07). A while back I was invovled with some work needed to support the introduction of the government’s IR reforms. I was and still am fiercly opposed to the reforms (and will be making that clear with my vote on Nov 24). I now wish I had have refused to be involved. It taught me a valuable lesson and I’m now much more confident saying “No” when or if necessary.

John, I completely agree with you. We each need to have the integrity to say “No, I don’t agree with that, I will not be a part of it”. In saying nothing, we implicitly condone the behaviour of others.

Sometimes I wonder about the value of my work and question what I’m actually contributing to society by working in user experience. Is it as worthwhile as being a doctor with Médecins Sans Frontières? No. Granted, I don’t have those skills. Am I working to protect the environment. No. Am I living on a meagre salary helping to rebuild communities in need? No.

This plagues me with guilt at times.

What is the value of what we do? Are we simply web developers? No.

I hope that in some small way I am contributing to more equitable access to information for more people. I hope that I am helping to make the web an easier place for people to educate themselves and connect with others. And I hope that the choices I make will not harm others or diminish their ability to access information and education.

Working with ethics and integrity is actually very empowering and not a constraint at all.

I really applaud your position, and being very upfront about it too. I happen to share your position on gambling, but even if it were something I didn’t agree with you on, I’d still support your position.

I actually think one of the key problems with the world is that the smart folks, who build weapons systems, train Burmese security forces in Australia, and on and on, actually do it. Smart folks always have alternatives, they can always find employment, they can always, as Mark Pesce put it “put food on the table”.

It’s about time we who actually make bad ideas a reality simply said – “nup, I don’t agree with that – you can find someone else to do it.”

john

There are numerous industries that we support that some would find morally questionable. I think it’s hard to decide what’s appropriate for each us and I don’t want to judge others, but I think it’s important that everybody actively thinks about their position on these kind of subjects and decides where they stand. Thanks for bringing it to the fore!