Special offer

I agree

By
Industry Observer with ARFCO Media

Last weekend I got to be “Mr. Domestic” as I like to put it. Everyday the week before was about major events. Network meetings, conference calls, a sales meeting, the Northwest Video Summit, RE Barcamp, and we ended the week with Mike Mueller doing a couple of great Facebook Business Page workshops...

I did a little work on Saturday, but realistically that distinction blurs more and more. “What is working and when am I not working?” Anyway, the weekend was at my pace. Laundry, house cleaning, grocery shopping, a little leisurely home cooking. Having some down time was exactly what I needed.

During the events I was introduced to a bunch of new websites and apps and I just had to go check them all out. For each, of course, I had to go through the obligatory create your free account routine. Which got me to thinking...

René Fabre, Really... I wasn't kidding.
René Fabre "Really, I wasn't kidding!"

"When was it that I stopped reading the 1000+ words of legalese?"

I surmised my conditioning began back in the 80's with furniture imports from Asia. Remember those exploded view pictures with cryptic English directions that would take 2 NCIS decoder specialists with a super computer days to dis-cipher? I was never capable of putting any of that furniture together without having to disassemble it at least twice.

I'm thinking the real shift in the "just click and move forward" way of life began with Microsoft. They pioneered it. I've never had to agree to more stuff that I couldn't read nor understand just to use something I purchased with the exception of real estate.

Today, in our 21st Century mindset of most everything is FREE online, those agreement preambles have been taken to new heights never before imagined. Truly the art of numbing our minds with unintelligible boilerplate blandness to trigger our psychological surrender has been mastered. Your eyes scan over the words, paragraph after paragraph, and find no place to land. There's nothing in bold nor bullets to grab our attention.

Yet at the end of it all... that little empty box just sits there all by itself, waiting for your click. It's the only thing standing between you and a divine moment fulfilled.

"You want it?" Of course I do. "Then just check the box and it's yours."

Okay...

I agree

Posted by

René Fabre

"Where there's conversation, there's opportunity."

Please Note - The views expressed herein reflect only the individual’s personal views and are not the views of the author’s employer.

The Blackberry Chronicles, a blog by Rene Fabre and his travels around the Greater Pacific Northwest and beyond. Connect w/ Rene Fabre on Google+. Rene Fabre on Twitter. Rene Fabre writes reviews on Yelp. Rene Fabre on Linkedin.com The Audiorium YouTube Channel by Rene Fabre. Facebook.com/renefabre Rene Fabre loves digital photography and here are his shares on Flickr. Rene Fabre is a musician and composer and shares some of his orginal music and recordings on Soundcloud. Rene Fabre shares his interests on Pinterest.
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Points to ponder, indeed!!  And with each 1000+ that we don't read, and just click and agree, I'm sure there's wording buried that allows them to attach cookies, keystroke encoders, obtain your Facebook accounts, and pretty much 1984 everything we will ever do on our computer.  Oh well . . . click and agree.

Mar 12, 2011 11:13 AM
Rene Fabre
ARFCO Media - Renton, WA
Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts

But I want it! ;o)

Mar 12, 2011 12:03 PM
Charles Edwards Bentonville
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette 479-253-3796 - Bentonville, AR
AR REALTOR, Bentonville Real Estate Agent and Broker

Rene, Nice post. It feels like a Blackberry Chronicle.

I do not like to think about what might be 'wrapped' in all the fine print. On many occasions over the years I have hit cancel over  all that mumbo jumbo.

Mar 13, 2011 01:45 AM