# Nope

733 words
ORIGINAL: https://brennan.day/nope/

Things I won't do. Boundaries I keep.

Saying no is as important as saying yes. This is my public list of boundaries for clients, collaborators, and myself.

## Work I Won't Take

### Development

• Projects requiring user tracking/surveillance
  No dark patterns. No manipulative metrics. No invasive analytics.

• Sites designed to manipulate or deceive
  If your business model depends on tricking people, find another developer.

• Work that conflicts with my values
  Accessibility, privacy, sustainability aren't negotiable. If you want to skip them, I'm not your person.

• Rush jobs that compromise quality
  "Can you build this by Friday?" is not a plan. It will only lead to bad work.

• Unpaid "exposure" work
  Pro bono is intentional and values-driven. "Exposure" is exploitation with better PR.

### Writing

• Clickbait
  I won't write "You Won't Believe What Happened Next" headlines. Life's too short.

• SEO-optimized garbage
  Writing for robots instead of humans. Keyword-stuffing. Engagement hacking. Nope.

• Content that exploits trauma for engagement
  Trauma as commodity is gross. Not interested.

• Work that appropriates or misrepresents Indigenous experiences
  I can write about my own experience as an urban Métis. I won't generalize or tokenize.

• Ghostwriting without credit
  If I write it, my name goes on it.

## Tech I Won't Use (Unless Absolutely Necessary)

### Tools

• Unnecessary JavaScript frameworks
  If vanilla JS or a static site solves it, that's what I'll use.

• Invasive analytics
  Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, anything that tracks users creepily. Use Plausible or similar.

• Dark patterns in UI/UX
  Fake urgency ("Only 2 left!"). Hard-to-find unsubscribe buttons. Manipulative design.

• Proprietary platforms when open alternatives exist
  If there's an open-source option that works, I'll choose that first.

• AI-generated content presented as human writing
  AI can assist sparingly. It shouldn't replace human creativity. And it definitely shouldn't pretend to be human.

• Any generative AI tools whatsoever
  LLMs and chatbots erode our humanity. Data centers poison water supplies and consume excessive energy for unnecessary computation.

## General Boundaries

### Communication

• I don't check social media compulsively
  If it's urgent, email me. DMs might sit for days.

• I don't allow my phone in bed with me
  Active boundary established 2025. Digital boundaries matter for mental health.

### Standards

• I don't compromise on accessibility
  A11y is non-negotiable. If you want a keyboard-inaccessible site, hire someone else.

• I don't participate in pitch competitions or spec work
  My work has value before you decide if you like it.

### Ethics

• I don't work with organizations whose values conflict with mine
  Fossil fuel companies, the meat industry, predatory lenders, anything on the BDS, and anti-LGBTQ+ organizations are all hard pass.

• I don't contribute to surveillance capitalism
  Building tools that extract data and sell attention isn't work I'm proud of.

• I don't work with those who enable or are complicit in genocide or ethnic cleansing
  No complicity in violence against Palestinians, Congolese, Rohingyans, Uyghurs, or any targeted group.

• I don't support anti-trans or anti-Queer legislation or organizations
  Trans rights are human rights. Gender-affirming care is healthcare. No exceptions.

• I don't participate in animal exploitation
  No work for factory farming, animal testing, or industries that treat sentient beings as commodities.

• I don't enable pandemic denial or anti-science movements
  Long COVID is real. Medical gaslighting is real. Community care includes ongoing protection.

## Why These Boundaries Exist

Some of this comes from disability accommodations (dysgraphia, PSVT, anxiety). Asynchronous communication, scheduled calls, and written documentation help me work better. These aren't preferences--they're necessities.

Some comes from ethics. I can't build things I think make the world worse. Berry House has a dual mission because I refuse to choose between making money and doing good.

Some comes from experience. I've taken the wrong projects before. I learned. Rush jobs compromise quality. "Exposure" work is exploitation. Vague pitches waste everyone's time.

### Exceptions

These boundaries aren't infinite. Context matters.

Sometimes client work requires compromise. I'm pragmatic. But I'm transparent about what I won't do and why. If you're asking me to violate these boundaries, you need a very good reason and we need to talk about it honestly.

## Related

• /hills -- Strong opinions that inform these boundaries
• /why -- Values that underpin this work
• /contact -- How to reach me if you respect these boundaries
• /disability -- Why some boundaries are accommodations