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This “solution” is a non-starter. People like to imagine that we have a marketplace with degrees of freedom in all directions, but we don’t. We have to make cho

This “solution” is a non-starter. People like to imagine that we have a marketplace with degrees of freedom in all directions, but we don’t. We have to make choices, and often that just means choosing the least bad option. But it is interesting to note how we got here. https://www.npr.org/2023/07/13/1187543648/terms-and-conditions-of-service-contracts-clickwrap https://www.npr.org/2023/07/13/1187543648/terms-and-conditio... To summarize the podcast episode, contracts used to be individually tailored, but businesses found that too onerous and just wrote boilerplate contracts for all customers to sign. Then they decided the signing part became too onerous for businesses so courts decided that using the product was enough to agree to terms. So now we’re at a point where not using the product is legitimately the only way not to agree to whatever terms the company decides.

uptie 3y ago
Non starter is a term often overused
- cal85 3y ago
  If your point is that its use is invalid here, then say why.
  - spacecadet 3y ago
    Because this is not a non-starter as suggested. I leave services because of their terms... I have rebuilt services because of their terms... You start what need to.
Buttons840 3y ago
I want a political cartoon: Panel #1 shows "The Free Market Ideal" with people bustling about, negotiating with the owners of wooden carts filled with produce and goods, lots of people and energy. Panel #2 show "The Free Market Reality" with a bunch of tired people waiting in line for one of two computer terminals, one of which is showing an error screen and it appears may have broken (the other is showing a ToS).
- pas 3y ago
  and simply call it oranges to apples! after all, you can argue/haggle/negotiate with a myriad of software developer firms (who are happy to build and operate a bespoke service for you). you can also do the same with many service providers, all you need is a big enough order and they are eager to give discounts. big enough check and you can pick and choose T&C too. free market or not, market forces, mostly supply-and-demand and barriers to entry and costs lead to very few choices. however, it's likely that the accumulation of software technology and decreasing costs will make a lot more features available in service form.
Zetice 3y ago
Wait, are tou seriously suggesting you do have an inherent right to use the services of a private company?

uptie 3y ago

Non starter is a term often overused

cal85 3y ago
If your point is that its use is invalid here, then say why.
- spacecadet 3y ago
  Because this is not a non-starter as suggested. I leave services because of their terms... I have rebuilt services because of their terms... You start what need to.

Buttons840 3y ago

I want a political cartoon: Panel #1 shows "The Free Market Ideal" with people bustling about, negotiating with the owners of wooden carts filled with produce and goods, lots of people and energy. Panel #2 show "The Free Market Reality" with a bunch of tired people waiting in line for one of two computer terminals, one of which is showing an error screen and it appears may have broken (the other is showing a ToS).

pas 3y ago
and simply call it oranges to apples! after all, you can argue/haggle/negotiate with a myriad of software developer firms (who are happy to build and operate a bespoke service for you). you can also do the same with many service providers, all you need is a big enough order and they are eager to give discounts. big enough check and you can pick and choose T&C too. free market or not, market forces, mostly supply-and-demand and barriers to entry and costs lead to very few choices. however, it's likely that the accumulation of software technology and decreasing costs will make a lot more features available in service form.

Zetice 3y ago

Wait, are tou seriously suggesting you do have an inherent right to use the services of a private company?