| > But have YOU read all the fine print when opening an account with your bank? Yes. Paraphrased: Bank agent: “You'll also have to sign this.” (Hands over a sheet of paper.) Me: “Let's see here… […] ‘comply with the Deposit Agreement and Disclosure’. I need to see a copy of the Deposit Agreement and Disclosure, please.” Agent: “Of course.” (Hands over a booklet.) Me: “All right. Well, you may have to wait a bit…” (Starts leafing through the booklet. Cut to analog clock, then to clock fifteen minutes later.) It was the same thing with signing up for public storage. “… ‘agrees to the Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference’. I don't seem to have a copy of the Privacy Policy here.” “Here you go,” and another sheaf of paper appears. Note that in these cases I'm still basing my interpretation on a lot of contextual and cultural information, because while the alternative of trying to get them to lock down all the definitions separately would be amusing, it would fail. In many cases, every one of the relevant providers is in a position to drop me, whereas I'm reliant on at least one of them accepting me, so the power balance is tipped heavily in their favor. |