(A.K.A. Non-Original Rants)

–Co-opting good stuff from all over the ‘Net and maybe some original thoughts—ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE

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Reading is fundamental

 A professor in Tennessee put the information to find a $50 in his syllabus at the beginning of this term.  At the end of the term, the money is unclaimed.  Anecdotally, everyone knows that no one reads a syllabus, although at many colleges it’s also considered to be the ‘contract’ for the student and the instructor for class purposes (grading methods, assignments, other requirements).

Administrators always want to cram more policy stuff into syllabi without truly understanding that students don’t read them.

As the prof mentioned, it’s kind of like the software agreements that pretty much everyone just clicks ‘agree’ on because they want the functionality of the software.

It brought to mind a little software company that put an ‘immortal soul’ clause in their software user agreement.

“By placing an order via this Web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamesation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions.”

It was an April Fool’s gag and everyone was given a click box to opt out, but their data showed that about 88% of the people didn’t read it. 

The devil is in the fine print.

ht:  B at Middle of the Right



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