Statement of Ethics and Principles
Everything I do as a professional creator and creative services provider stems from, and reflects, who I am. Like many creators, I am my brand; my personal and business reputation are one in the same.
If you’re thinking of buying any of my creative works, or deciding to hire my services, you’re also considering entering into a relationship with me.
That’s something I take seriously. I put a lot of value in the fact that you’re interested in me and my work, and that you’re taking the time to do your research.
To help you in that regard, I offer this statement of ethics and principles (in no particular order) as both a brief introduction to my personal and professional standards and morals, and as a method of accountability.
- My ethics and principles stem from my creed, which is adapted from the works of Garth Ennis:
- Judge a person by their deeds, not how they look
- Don’t suffer fools
- Do the right thing
- A corollary, from the works of Aaron Sorkin: “I want to be a comfort to my friends in tragedy. And I want to be able to celebrate with them in triumph. And for all the times in between, I just want to be able to look them in the eye.”
- Similarly, quoting Mike Watt: “…you get a kink in your neck looking up at people or looking down at people, but if you look right across your shoulder, you know, right at your peers… there’re no kinks.”
- The Matthew Wayne Selznick encountered online is the same Matthew Wayne Selznick met in person. I don’t have an “online persona,” and you’ll never read, hear, or see something online from me that I wouldn’t also say to your face.
- Because subtlety is easy to miss in online communication, I strive for direct and forthright written content, especially on social networks. What I say is what I mean; nothing more or less.
- It’s best to not “read into” my words or actions. If my intentions and motivations aren’t clear to you, please ask rather than assume.
- I operate with transparency in as many areas as is practical and possible. If there’s something related to my creative endeavors or creative services you’d like to know and I haven’t already discussed it publicly… ask me.
- When I recommend a person, it’s because I know them, like them, and trust them. Similarly, I only recommend products and services I’ve personally used and like.
- Regarding the use of Large Language Model and Generative Artificial Intelligence, including tools, services, and software that employ such technologies as a service:
- To the best of my knowledge, I do not publish or otherwise distribute, or attribute to myself, any work created in whole or in part by any AI tool or service trained using copyrighted materials accessed without the express permission of the copyright holders.
- In the creation of my own work or works for hire / in the service of others:
- I never knowingly use such a tool, service, or software application trained using copyrighted materials accessed without the expressed permission of the copyright holders.
- To the best of my knowledge, I restrict my use of LLM / generative AI tools and services to self-hosted, locally installed tools and services trained either on public domain assets or assets in which I own the copyright or possess an applicable license to use. For brevity’s sake and in this context, I refer to this as “Ethical AI.”
- I clearly and plainly disclose the use of Ethical AI tools and services when they are used to aid in the creation of my own publicly distributed and or published works.
- I treat others with respect until the moment they show they’re undeserving.
- I consider consumers of my creative works to be my peers.
- I’m a secular humanist whose political views skew far left.
- If you disagree with any of the following, we simply shouldn’t work together.
- Denounce white supremacy.
- Women who become pregnant have the sole and inviolate right to make their own informed, private decisions regarding their bodies, health, and future.
- Love is love.
- LGBTQIA2S+ lives matter.
- Black lives matter.
This is not an exhaustive list; I’ll no doubt add to it and refine it from time to time.
I expect others to abide by these same ethics and principles, favor those who do, and may discard those who behave contrary (be it toward me, or those I love) to a similar standard.