A number of annoying popup messages online have left me thinking about consent and what it means.

The other day, when I was on one website, I was asked if I wanted to subscribe to notifications and updates. I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 say no. Another website offered me a 20 per cent discount on a paid subscription. Again, I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 say no. And on an app I use, I was asked to sign up for a rewards program. Once again, I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 say no.

The reason I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 say no was that there was no way for me to do this. The choices included 香蕉视频直播淣ot Now香蕉视频直播� or 香蕉视频直播淢aybe Later.香蕉视频直播� A simple 香蕉视频直播淣o香蕉视频直播� wasn香蕉视频直播檛 included.

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If I click one of those choices, I can continue on to the site or app. But then, in a couple of days or possibly the next time I open the app or visit the site, the same message will pop up again. Once again, I香蕉视频直播檓 left with the same two options if I don香蕉视频直播檛 want to subscribe or sign up for notifications.

Until recently, I hadn香蕉视频直播檛 given much thought to the wording of these popups. I could click one of the options and continue on my way. It was nothing more than a minor annoyance. This time, however, something about the message caught my attention.

香蕉视频直播淣ot Now香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淢aybe Later香蕉视频直播� don香蕉视频直播檛 express what I want. Put simply, I need to be able to state if I香蕉视频直播檓 not interested in getting my name on a mailing list, upgrading from the light version to the full version of a subscription or unlocking the full features of an app.

The wording allowed me to give consent if I wanted the additional features, but not to refuse consent. The best I could do was to delay.

This sends an uncomfortable message. The right to agree to an offer should also include the right to refuse the offer.

The word 香蕉视频直播淣o香蕉视频直播� is one of the most important words in the English language. 香蕉视频直播淣o香蕉视频直播� is a way one refuses something unwanted, unneeded or uncomfortable. There is something permanent about this simple word.

Selecting 香蕉视频直播淣ot Now香蕉视频直播� or 香蕉视频直播淢aybe Later香蕉视频直播� meant I was open to seeing the offer again香蕉视频直播� and again香蕉视频直播� and again.

If I didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to see the repetitive messages, the only choices open to me are to subscribe or to abandon the site or service entirely.

There香蕉视频直播檚 nothing new about disregarding the word 香蕉视频直播淣o.香蕉视频直播�

Not too long ago, it was said that in one country, when a woman said 香蕉视频直播淣o香蕉视频直播� to a man香蕉视频直播檚 advances, she meant 香蕉视频直播淢aybe,香蕉视频直播� and when she said 香蕉视频直播淢aybe,香蕉视频直播� she meant 香蕉视频直播淵es,香蕉视频直播� which is ridiculous. With this premise, how was it possible for a woman to make it clear that she was refusing unwanted advances?

This stereotype should have been considered in bad taste from the beginning.

Since at least the 1980s, there have been 香蕉视频直播淣o Means No香蕉视频直播� campaigns, emphasizing the importance of consent.

One of these campaigns asked the question, 香蕉视频直播淲hat part of No don香蕉视频直播檛 you understand?香蕉视频直播�

I haven香蕉视频直播檛 heard the 香蕉视频直播淣o, Maybe and Yes香蕉视频直播� line in a long time, and I hope this means things are changing for the better.

Still, the wording of popup ads has left me wondering if messages about consent have had any real impact.

If a company is asking me to accept an offer, then I need the choice to say 香蕉视频直播淣o香蕉视频直播� to the offer as well. 香蕉视频直播淢aybe Later香蕉视频直播� isn香蕉视频直播檛 good enough.

John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review.

To report a typo, email:
news@summerlandreview.com.

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