A Dilemma: Artists Using NFT's & Vetting

[Art Waring]

So I am in the trenches making an rpg, and this year we have hired an excellent freelance artist at the rates they asked for, and the artist was absolutely our top pick. However, having found an artist, I like to be careful, so I went looking around for a backup artist and found some disturbing trends a few months back.

----> Some freelance artists, including artists that work on RPG's, are minting NFT's. [Note: I have absolutely no problem with artists earning a living, I myself am a freelance artist]. I am posing a question, not any definitive statement about artists making a living or their individual choices.`

Linked at the bottom is the most informative video on why NFT's are destructive, both for the environment and for society, the video has a complete rundown on NFT's if you have not seen it yet.

EDIT: Ok, it seems like I have mistakingly posed my original my question in a way that was interpreted as a statement, which it absolutely was not intended to be. I apologize for any misunderstanding.

The question was: am I, an indie creator, responsible for what artists produce beyond what I have hired them for?

Should I have to be accountable for an artist that I hire, and ensure that they aren't involved in NFT's?

I know it's a sensitive subject, but if we could please have a polite conversation on the subject it is very much appreciated.

Line Goes Up

 

[Yora]

Ultimately you have two options: Commission the art or do not commission the art.
If you go with the later, you could send the artists a message that you would have commissioned art from them if they weren't dealing in NFTs, but that's really about it.

 

[Davies]

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[Art Waring]

Ultimately you have two options: Commission the art or do not commission the art.
If you go with the later, you could send the artists a message that you would have commissioned art from them if they weren't dealing in NFTs, but that's really about it.

While I agree with you, I still think it is adding more work for people who hire freelance artists, forcing them to thoroughly vet an individual, not just on social media, but now also on NFT sites, because artists don't always pair the two together.

 

[Umbran]

We cannot police everyone we work with for every small misdeed. You are going to have to pick your battles, and I'm not sure issuing a few NFTs of their own work is a hill to die on.

 

[billd91]

We cannot police everyone we work with for every small misdeed. You are going to have to pick your battles, and I'm not sure issuing a few NFTs of their own work is a hill to die on.

But, to the OP, it's your hill and you are free to pick the battles you want to and have the time/effort to fight. I do think nobody here is going to judge you harshly if that particular issue isn't one you feel you can reliably pursue, no matter how grifty NFTs are.

 

[Umbran]

But, to the OP, it's your hill and you are free to pick the battles you want to and have the time/effort to fight.

Yep. If you are a tiny publisher, but feel you want to do the research on each individual artist, knock yourself out.

But, before we note how grifty NFTs are, we need to recognize the level we are dealing with - we aren't considering a larger company, whose due diligence on a project to issue NFTs should reveal the griftiness. When talking about engaging a freelance artist, we should not count on the same level of understanding of the technology and economics involved, nor hold the artist accountable for it.

 

[Art Waring]

When talking about engaging a freelance artist, we should not count on the same level of understanding of the technology and economics involved, nor hold the artist accountable for it.

That's absolutely why I think this is an important issue.

It's not that I think this is the a battle to be fought, it's just a possible growing concern in the future.

I am concerned that this could impact small indie creators who may not understand the implications of the subject. Large companies also seem to get less scrutiny than smaller ones in many regards, and to me sometimes it feels like the social pressure is heavier on the smaller companies.

I guess an important question would be:

Should I have to be accountable for an artist that I hire, and ensure that they aren't involved in NFT's?

 

[Umbran]

I am concerned that this could impact small indie creators who may not understand the implications of the subject. Large companies also seem to get less scrutiny than smaller ones in many regards, and to me sometimes it feels like the social pressure is heavier on the smaller companies.

When Kickstarter started talking about blockchain, there was quite a discussion about it, apparently enough for them to walk it back to silence. What other "large companies" in the gaming sphere do you feel haven't been scrutinized?

 

[Mezuka]

Are we going to need an App for 'Ethical Purity Level' (ePure?) to check on every people we deal with. Reminds me of a Black Mirror episode..

If the freelance artist wants to make side money with his creations that is up to them. Why should he starve?

If you ask me I would not answer such questions. BTW did you hire a Sensitivity Editor for your game? You might be promoting hurtful things without knowing it. It goes both ways. I could ask that of you as a freelance artist. What's your ePure level? Should he dig into the past of your social accounts and forum post?