I ignore legalese placed at the end until I reply or forward the message. Then I treat it as fine print - skim it quickly for anything out of the ordinary that might want to make me reconsider what I'm doing with the message.

When I find the legalese above the signature, I treat it completely differently. I read it carefully, and if there is anything in the least bit inappropriate for the type of discussion, I cut off all electronic communication with the person and do with the message as I please. (e.g. If I'm discussing details of a business agreement, I give a large degree of latitude to what's appropriate. If I'm in an informal discussion, I give almost no latitude at all.)

Posted by: Ron Zeno on July 15, 2003 12:34 AM

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I agree. But please remember that my agreement is solely my opinion and may not be the opinion of Immedient Corporation, its subsidiaries, partners, vendors, janitors, and customers, and you are not allowed to actually believe anything in this response, or quote anything in it, or even allude to its existence, because if you do, Immedient or its agents or cronies might decide to sue you if they want, although they don't have to, and don't you be saying otherwise. Oh, and you better not even think about duplicating this message, or forwarding it on to anyone, or even downloading it to your brain, under pain of fines and prison and sexual enslavement and removal of the aforementioned words from your brain in very very painful ways.

We Appreciate Your Business(R).

Posted by: Antoine Valot on July 15, 2003 10:49 AM

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