Maybe I am overreacting... and maybe everyone has already experienced this. Then again, maybe you're perpetually logged into your Steemit account, so you might not see this, when you try to log in:
OK, that's new. Surprising. But fine, I'll "please review"
I was just minding my business and logged out of my @reddragonfly business account and back into my @denmarkguy personal account.
When the above popped up on my screen.
OK, fair enough... even though I thought we were all about privacy and non-intervention here. But I also recognize this was probably some legal extension of the the new EU privacy rules. So FINE.
Let's have a look at just what these "terms of service" ARE, shall we:
Screen shot of the terms of service. This is up for almost NO TIME before the next...
Except... that was up on the screen for exactly one second before being blacked out. WTF, mate?
Screen shot of the "blacked out" terms of service. You can kind of still see it underneath...
It took me three tries to actually get a screen shot in the split second between the page load and the blackout. I'm sorry, I don't read that fast!
Shall we have a look at the "Privacy Policy" then? Here we go:
Screen shot of Steemit's Privacy Policy. I had about 1/2 second to read this...
Of course, that instantaneously blacked out, as well.
So what you are REALLY saying here is that in order for me to "continue" so I can actually read the Terms and Privacy statements, I have to AGREE to them, first?
When I check the boxes, I can actually "Continue..."
If I check the boxes, I can go forth! But then I've already agreed, before reading the statements!
That's some seriously bogus stuff, right there. And I'm not even a paranoid freedom privacy they-are-out-to-get-us conspiracy nut.
Is anybody out there? Where are the developers? Is this just a LITTLE weird? Or was something implemented with absolutely ZERO testing?
Please SHARE this, till someone actually SEES this and DOES something! Or Comments!
What do YOU think? Comments? Feedback? Thoughts? Complaints? Concerns? Have you had this happen to you? Did you realize you were "trapped," or did you just "blindly" agree? Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- be part of the conversation!
Animated banner created by @zord189
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Created at 180612 14:31 PDT
The same thing happened to me and I copied the text of both. This is upsetting because none of the other decentralized chains have had me agreeing to things and holding my money hostage.
Well, Bittrex did hold my entire account hostage for identification. Once Identified, I pulled out every last ten thousandth of every coin on there.
My gut says I should do the same here before Steemit does the same.
We really need a line of delineation as to how much of this platform is or is not centralized.
Is the ToS website specific though? Couldn't you just get around it by using Busy.org instead?
You made a post, like I made a post, that we were coerced to accept the new terms, I stated on my post that the new terms were coerced and that I am operating under the old terms since those are the only ones I got to full ready and accept, I know it will make no difference, but it does to me.
"Coercion," is about right. And, of course, most people would have to claim they "have no choice." Of course, in the greater scheme of things, a case could potentially be made for "theft," inasmuch as our Steem wallets were (in essence) held hostage behind agreeing to those terms.
Which opens a whole nasty potential can of worms (worst case scenario) in which you HAVE to agree to these terms to get to your account, and one of those "terms" is that your entire SP balance now belongs to STINC.
You can always just switch to Busy. There are plenty of other ways to get wallet access too, including interacting with the chain directly in a worst-case scenario. Steemit.com has no rights to your Steem wallet and can't impose T&Cs on it.
Workarounds notwithstanding, it's still a bit sketchy to have a page you can't clar unless you "agree" to something you can't read.
Absolutely. Just pointing out that if you want to you could leave Steemit because of that without also leaving Steem. (There's a reasonable argument that Busy is a better front end anyway.)
@tcpolymath, Busy is starting to sound really like a better deal.
Does busy take a percentage of your posts?
Yep, busy indeed take some percentage from our post rewards.
Good point!
Yep. This is some major BS. Two years and the platform still full of elementary level bugs. And this one, quite a serious one. Resteemed. @ned, what's going on with all this stuff? What are the coders/programmers doing?
Please let us know!
I'm even willing to consider that we are looking at one of the "weaknesses" of decentralization: There's no central or consolidated "quality control system" to make sure bugs like this don't go out the front door without notice. That's a super simple piece of code that was omitted: "Open TOS or Privacy in new tab with an exception." Structured programming 101.
Well, I mean, the platform itself--steemit.com--is centralized and as such I think it's nuts that little things like this just remain without a fix.
Well said and your other comments too KA
For those who haven't been able to read the TOS, here a screenshot I could take with Firefox's function, takes the entire page instead of only the visible on screen.
The main question I have now...
Are the SBD, STEEM, SP mine or not?
Because if this TOS means someone else can block my access to those, then STEEMIT is no longer descentralized and free...
I wonder what exactly we can backup? @melooo182 where is the data regarding ownership of Steem and SBD?
As far as I know the only thing you can backup is your keys, with which you should be able to access the blockchain...but still need a client that doesn't really on steemit 100%
Okay, I have all I can back-up, backed up, thank you @melooo82
I signed up to Busy.org, I like the UI a lot better @melooo182
yeah busy is quite decent, call me a miser xD but I keep using steemit because it doesn't charge any % of the earnings for using it.
Great post!!
I had no idea theat the RDF acct was yours, I see a comment etc everyone once in awhile from them and like them too, like I enjoy you.
Well, my vote is worth nothing now, as I continued to sell off my stake, and seeing this news, and what this has turned into, makes me OK with my decisions.
I am going to RS this for you, to spread awareness and I rarely do that.
I stopped investing all my time here last August after the repeated bullying, flagging, nobody standing up for me or what is right.
I really loved this place and put everything I had into it.
web site designers are idiots.
it's probably harmless but it makes me feel much better about powering down.
That got a genuine snort of laughter...
You may end up laughing at everyone who didn't power down!
If you don't mind my asking, is that SP you're leasing turning out to be worthwhile?
yup...the leased SP has paid for it self several times over.
my reasoning is...if my account get's hacked I don't loose much.
the hacker won't gain much either.
I can email BlockTrades to shut the delegation down
Can't fault that logic, and good on you for making it work.
And thumbs up to BlockTrades for leasing out SP to human beings, rather than just creating another stupid bidbot.
I'm very favorably impressed with Blocktrades.
I am a paranoid freedom privacy they-are-out-to-get-us conspiracy nut and I'm not surprised at all - that is a standard tactic - for some reason most Steemians seem to believe Steemit is the exception. I love Steemit to bits but ultimately, at it's foundation, it's unlikely to be different to the rest of internet itself. Set up for a purpose.
Fact.
Nobody does anything out of the goodness of their hearts.
Most people do things so they can have "lots of money." Even people who hate money want lots of money so they can build a fortified bunker deep in the woods where "they" can never reach...
I just try to Zen with the whole idea that everything I believe is true in this moment could completely change five minutes from now, and I have ZERO control over that.
Yeah - it's all we can do really - I've long since given up any idea of privacy because I've left 20 years of tracks all over the internet, and done posts on every taboo subject under the sun.
Truth is I think the internet was originally all set up for social programming and that includes Steemit.
But letting the cat out of the bag can do all sorts of things.
Careful letting the cat out of the bag like that.... there's more than one way to skin a cat...
One could even think of Steemit as a "self sorting" mechanism of sorts, designed to congregate alleged "freedom seekers" and offgridders under a single umbrella.
There are a bunch of Steemit accounts I'd like to discuss at some length, but I don't so much as whisper their names because now I'm paid to be on my best behavior - safe to say that is not my usual online behavior, but in the past I've even been black listed by goosle and that was expensive, so I've learned caution...
too true i feel the same
The internet is full of people doing things out of the kindness of their hearts; as is the “real world”. How much free shit is on the internet? And though tons are put there for ulterior motives, plenty is there because people like to share cool stuff.
I'm pretty sure it is a bug in the terms vs. how they wanted it to perform. It will likely be fixed shortly.
Why would you assume that and who is "they"?
Ah yes, "they." Truthfully, I have never met "them." And I doubt I ever will. Besides, "they" say that "they" never show themselves, so seeing "them" is probably impossible...
Well, because there is a Github issue on it.
Github...
LOL
'Git' is usually used as an insult, more severe than twit but less severe than a true profanity like wanker or arsehole, and may often be used affectionately between friends.
'Git' is frequently used in conjunction with another word to achieve a more specific meaning. For instance a "smarmy git" refers to a person of a slimy, ingratiating disposition; the phrase "grumpy old git", denoting a cantankerous old man, is used with particular frequency.
I guess this is all a coincidence too... Geeks don't know this stuff.
Although, now that microscum have bought it, the name github is perfect
I'm hopeful it will be fixed... otherwise it would definitely be a candidate for "Hypocrisy of the Year!"
For the moment, we watch. In time, this post can hopefully be filed under "Ooops Humor."
Thank you for writing about this! I was on a few hours ago and saw that pop up but exed out of the page as I was completely caught off guard and NOT in a space to read anything. Really odd way to “jump” this on all of us. Hope to get some clarity, too... oh and by the way, after I didn’t click anything but just exed the page- now I’m on and that little window didn’t pop up again! Guess I avoided it for now.
It does seem to have more or less blown over by itself... probably just some coding issue. Still a little disturbing, considering the general philosophies of so many on this site.
That kept happening to me over, and over, and over again. I'd read for a few seconds, and then have to open a new tab.... over and over and over again...
Whereas it probably was "just a mistake" (usually happens when someone is trying to push an update out the door), it's still pretty sloppy... and in a community of libertarians, freethinkers and homesteaders, pretty bad "dropping of the ball."
Functionally speaking, it probably doesn't mean much... but it leaves a bad taste.
I just logged in and out on my iPad and I didn’t get a pop up ....I’ll check on my iMac and see what happens.
I appreciate you participating-- let us know what happens!
I didn't get the pop-up on my iMac, how curious.
I'm going to go ask my wife to log into her account and see what happens...
Here is Steemits privacy policy from May 25th...
https://steemit.com/privacy.html
Looks like the same one I got a screen capture on... I'm guessing this is just a bug related to them feeling forced to comply with new EU regulations on what web sites must tell users.
My wife's in a client call, so further experimentation will have to wait.
I agree @denmarkguy, Steem Inc reserve the right to Change their Privacy Policy any time they wish and suggest we check this page regularly.
I wonder if it has anything to do with the HF20...
https://steemit.com/bandwidth/@steemitblog/blockchain-update-2-hf20-progress-and-bandwidth-changes
There could be a connection of sorts.
It also occurred to me that they might use it to somehow "log" active accounts where there's an actual HUMAN who can check a box.
This happened to me today too! I need more than a half second to read and understand legalise! I am a homesteader, not a lawyer! What the heck??
I don't have a problem with them having "terms and conditions" but to not be able to READ them? On a site filled with freedom freaks? That's not going to play well...
No, it is not!
Same problem here. Didn't even get the time to read it.
This is important stuff......resteemed.........
Give that Steemit is probably one of the very few venues where people would actually READ this stuff, it's pretty important.
I found this because of your RS @hashcash
Glad to be of service my man :-)
Checking back in on this.
I am glad I did RS this, I noticed last night and today a bunch more votes and such and a few more $$ on the post meaning we all raised awareness on this.
And, today I was hit with this sign in window myself, this is the truth.
Take care @hashcash
Got hit by the same window again today. I took a screenshot:
It again came out of the blue and it happened while I was logged in
Me too --- mine happened as soon as my laptop came on today and my set-to-launch- tabs opened to start my day.
As I said in the comments --- many reasons why the last 10 months I have cashed out.
You need to get yourself some EOS like I said, and get ready for Steem 2.0 man, with your talents on here.
ONO launching shortly too on EOS
It did happen to me almost an hour ago, I couldn’t read the terms and also open my account, I needed to read before accepting the terms. I closed the browser many tomes because I managed to log in normally. I guess this update was carelessly done.
Seems to me there must have been some sloppy implementation there... some "non testing" before the code was made live.
Checking back in on this.
I am glad I did RS this, I noticed last night and today a bunch more votes and such and a few more $$ on the post meaning we all raised awareness on this.
And, today I was hit with this sign in window myself, this is the truth.
Take care @alignment
Thanks buddy. That is disconcerting. That is kind of the antithesis of having a free, decentralized platform here. I hope the powers to be get whiff of this and rectify it or give some kind of rational explanation for it.
Well, it seems to have more or less blown over by itself. But it's still pretty sloppy to set a piece of buggy code free on the site...
This same thing happened to me last night I was also just minding my own business and there it was BOOM tick and submit or no access (basically)!
I probably wouldn't have flipped if I could have actually READ the TOS and Privacy statements... the lockout was rather annoying, though...
I wonder why I never got these. I am in my third week of steemit now, so maybe that has something to do with it.
It's a great thing that you managed these screenshots, they will be a great help for someone, I am sure.
I don't know; but it might be that you already agreed to these terms when you signed up, a few weeks back. My accounts that were affected were both a year (or more) old.
Sounds like that must be the reason, it makes sense.
I am sure that I read someone else post about this as well, so you definitively aren't alone with this.
I experienced the exact same thing. I was forced to agree to the term and services before reading... Who drew up the terms of services?
I'm going to guess Steemit, Inc. and some crew of lawyers who needed to satisfy new EU privacy regulations.
Aye! Perplexing and a bit counterintuitive considering the platform.
Just seemed a little crazy to me. As you suggest... counterintuitive given the venue.
Hahaha yeah! ZERO testing is my guess. Obviously, I also came across this not welcome suspicious experience. And since I am not a mind reader nor a split second fast reader either. I had to put on my head my 'multicolored' techy hat to hack my way to actually read what the hell they didn't allow us to read before checking the boxes and blindly AGREE with whatever they naively thought that I would agree without first putting forward some creative resistance. }:)
So, as I am a very curious beast, I could not help but try reading beforehand what they apparently did not want me to read to be able to go ahead. Therefore, I had to recur to the darkest/blackest side of my 'multicolored' techy hat to circumvent the barriers. And I will share with you here right now my shadowy outlaw little tricks.
I just launched a second browser in my workstation. (Yeah, one of those rare & unusual web browser that I have well spiced for these special tasks) but in fact, certainly any other additional web browser that you have installed in your own PC also will work out just fine. (Whether that be Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera or whatevah)
The thing here is, once you are running that second web browser go ahead and click here and read the whole 'THANG' including the links within without interruptions. Or even better, Save the entire blessed page to your HD to read it later offline when you feel willing to swallow a good big spoon of purgative syrup.
And... ¡That's it! This way, also in about a split of a second you will have joined the prestigious club of the very well remembered Kevin Mitnick. }:)
Cheers!!
Doesn't surprise me, the whole sites screwed up, plagued with problems. I highly doubt it will survive. If it wasn't for a story I wrote that made fifty bucks in a contest I'd been wiped out of all the other pennies I made twice since joining. Last time I think it dropped to thirty two dollars before it started going back up. Just when I get near making that first hundred bucks it drops, and the last two days it's been dropping rather fast. If it keeps up at this paste I will have lost every penny made here within the next three days. The guy who talked me into coming over here ....but at least you earn something for the time you spend blogging, lol, hard to come but easy to go. As a blogger this site is the most boring piece of crap site, all the crap people post I wouldn't even read half this stuff if it was listed on the front of a popular magazine. Outside of a handful of people I've run across who can write intelligently half this stuff is a bunch of bozo's who don't even research stuff before they write it, there's no instant fast action debate, it just plain sucks as a site. I am oh so glad I was smart enough not to sit for hours writing original content for what is turning out to be nothing because for all the hours I've spent on here it's definitely not been worth it. Just must be that a few people got lucky and got their foot in the door at the beginning that enabled them to get the attention needed to make anything off it.
Sure, it's all we can do genuinely - I've long considering given up any concept of privateness due to the fact I've left two decades of tracks everywhere in the internet, and executed posts on each taboo challenge under the solar.truth is I suppose the internet was at the start all set up for social programming and that consists of Steemit.
Interesting, I don't know if I had to do that or not. I guess they just assume that no one ever reads that shit. That said there does not seem to be anything untoward or unexpected in those terms of service. Seems like you get to retain your first born.
I've been struggling to log on these last two days. Might be a bug in the system somewhere.
Excellent point, we agree in full. God bless you .. Great thinking @denmarkguy.
Seems to be a weakness of Steemit that whenever someone raises something like this it just has to hang in the air rather getting addressed by those in a position to do something about. Nothing unusual, in the unaccountable world of the internet, but a pity a better way can't be found on a platform that has been so well (and so benignly) thought out in so many ways.
That communication between the developers behind steem and us have disappeared and now we have shit like this happening. It seems the longer this goes on more people will be dissatisfied with steem.
resteemed......agreed, this was not cool to happen, the devs need to make an apology statement and speak clear to everyone or this could turn ugly
SO much for decentralized platforms... if they can be coerced, forced or think it necessary to comply with onerous rules of centralized governments, what worth are they and what use should they garner...yeas a long run-on sentence that reads like a terms and policy note.
Checking back in on this.
I am glad I did RS this, I noticed last night and today a bunch more votes and such and a few more $$ on the post meaning we all raised awareness on this.
And, today I was hit with this sign in window myself, this is the truth.
Take care my friend, you are a beauty @denmarkguy.
I just got the same message, I didn't accept it
I'm on busy now only
Hi @denmarkguy! I just noticed this post now, but did of course notice when that popped up on my screen. I've read through the comments and see that @melooo182 left you the full version to read.
I'm just curious...three days after you made this post, what are your thoughts?
Thanks :)