Sure, screw me over
14 January 2003
I am frustrated by those instruments of evil known as "terms of service" or "usage agreements", especially when they render themselves meaningless in an attempt to grant the organizations they represent liscense to do virtually anything they want. Example:
"WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THESE TERMS AT ANY TIME. YOUR CONTINUED USE OF OUR SERVICE CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF SUCH CHANGES. ACCORDINGLY, YOU SHOULD REVIEW THESE TERMS FROM TIME TO TIME FOR SUCH CHANGES."
How can agreeing to something that could change any minute really be considered an agreement? It can't, unless the agreement is, essentially, "sure, go ahead and screw me over whenever you're ready."
I don't get it. Can't we do better than this?