Poll: Be Honest, Do you read terms and conditions?

[Professor James]

I was in a programming class today and the teacher asked us "how many of you read terms of service?" I was the only one who raised my hand and even I wasn't being entirely truthful. I generally read the headers and all caps portions of terms and conditions and privacy policies, but I don't read everything.

 

[Fappy]

I'll read paperwork I have to sign. You know, insurance and other life important stuff.

A software ToS/EULA? BAHAHAHAHA!

Fuck no.

 

[Caiphus]

I vary between skimming through the stuff that looks important and scrolling to the bottom as fast as my hot little hands will take me.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I read portions of it, usually the parts having to do with privacy and the company's responsibility to their customers.

A few years back when Origin was first coming out I read through the terms of service and found some pretty big issues with the Origin end user license agreement which basically stated that the origin software could scan your computer for information and then sell that information to third parties.

I posted about that here on the escapist and that got picked up by a few different gaming sites and EA changed the Origin EULA because of it.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.308724-EAs-Origin-is-creepy-and-watches-you-sleep

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.308968-Internet-Explodes-Over-Origins-Invasion-of-Privacy?page=1

 

[Albino Boo]

Entirely depends. If its for business then I always read the Tos/EULA. If its for my use I don't really bother.

 

[Asita]

Too long, didn't read, clicked I accept 'somewhat' and 'vote now'.

Jokes aside, most of the stuff is general and I've quite literally seen EULAs ripped wholesale from other sources (read: the people who copied the EULA didn't even change the company or product name to reflect the new owner). I'll skim them to make sure that nothing seems out of the ordinary, but I don't really do an in depth reading unless they've somehow made me suspicious.

 

[Queen Michael]

Nope. I've read the entire Journey to the West. I've read all of In Search of Lost Time. But EULAs are just too long for me.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I never read the stuff that shows up before installing a game, no.

 

[Evonisia]

As a member of the HUMANCENTiPAD, I say no.

What I tend to do is very briefly skim over them so I can pretend like I actually bothered, but I never remember a single word.

 

[Roxas1359]

I'll read paperwork I have to sign. You know, insurance and other life important stuff.

A software ToS/EULA? BAHAHAHAHA!

Fuck no.

Can we just /thread with this?

I'm pretty much the same as Fappy in this case. If it's contractual stuff regarding things like my job, insurance, school programs, etc. But when it comes to digital EULA, I usually just click okay, unless it's freeware because you've always gotta make sure you don't install other freeware. :3

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

No, I don't really read any of it at all. Most of it just comes down to common sense anyway. But as the Fap master said, if it's something a lot more important then I'll take the time to at least browse through it more thoroughly. But installing a video game or joining a forum? Ain't nobody got time for dat.

 

[DoPo]

A lot of times I skim through them because also a lot of times they are a tad too long because of the legal language. But also because they aren't hugely different - read three or four and the rest would be repeating over 90% of those.

That's for software, though, for services it varies - mostly, I tend to give them a brief look at some point but not often on signup.

However, if we're talking forums, then I definitely read them. They aren't that long, honestly (compared to other ToS, at least) and there is a lot of overlap between most of them (e.g, don't spam, don't start flame wars) but occasionally there is a difference somewhere - it might be in acceptable/unacceptable topics, or choice of language or something. If the administration has went through the trouble of pointing something out, I feel it's only fair, I give them some of my time for it.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

Things where I have to sign my name, I read, but not a ToS. I could be selling my first born child and I wouldn't know if they through it in the EULA. Just let me play the game! "Accept! Accept!"

 

[MysticSlayer]

I sometimes read parts of it. Privacy is the primary part that I read if I read anything.

Reading through the whole thing, though? Never. Well, I actually did do it once, just to see what it was like. I am never doing that again.

 

[Summerstorm]

While installing software and stuff? Nope. I do read contracts i have to sign VERY carefully - but even there i can expect them to adhere to common law - but there is that stupid clause "If something in this contract is total crap - the rest of the contract maintains its validity" - so still reason to be careful. Damn you, Salvator (Whoever you are)

 

[Ieyke]

EULA's don't even mean anything. Why would I read them?

 

[Queen Michael]

I sometimes read parts of it. Privacy is the primary part that I read if I read anything.

Reading through the whole thing, though? Never. Well, I actually did do it once, just to see what it was like. I am never doing that again.

I like to read this post and imagine that you're talking about the Bible.

 

[Scarim Coral]

When it come to gaming or film related, I skipped it (I ain't no pirate)!

Other than that I "skim" it most of the time depending how long it is.

 

[L. Declis]

If it's important, I read it. Life insurance, etc.

If it's a software one? I don't bother. Most of them are written for the U.S., and as an E.U. citizen in the E.U. when I need to be, my laws trump theirs in our courts. At least, British Laws tend to be "If the company be taking the piss, we'll side with the consumer".