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 couldn91裸聊视频檛 say no. Another website offered me a 20 per cent discount on a paid subscription. Again, I couldn91裸聊视频檛 say no. And on an app I use, I was asked to sign up for a rewards program. Once again, I couldn91裸聊视频檛 say no.

The reason I couldn91裸聊视频檛 say no was that there was no way for me to do this. The choices included 91裸聊视频淣ot Now91裸聊视频� or 91裸聊视频淢aybe Later.91裸聊视频� A simple 91裸聊视频淣o91裸聊视频� wasn91裸聊视频檛 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, I91裸聊视频檓 left with the same two options if I don91裸聊视频檛 want to subscribe or sign up for notifications.

Until recently, I hadn91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淣ot Now91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淢aybe Later91裸聊视频� don91裸聊视频檛 express what I want. Put simply, I need to be able to state if I91裸聊视频檓 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 91裸聊视频淣o91裸聊视频� is one of the most important words in the English language. 91裸聊视频淣o91裸聊视频� is a way one refuses something unwanted, unneeded or uncomfortable. There is something permanent about this simple word.

Selecting 91裸聊视频淣ot Now91裸聊视频� or 91裸聊视频淢aybe Later91裸聊视频� meant I was open to seeing the offer again91裸聊视频� and again91裸聊视频� and again.

If I didn91裸聊视频檛 want to see the repetitive messages, the only choices open to me are to subscribe or to abandon the site or service entirely.

There91裸聊视频檚 nothing new about disregarding the word 91裸聊视频淣o.91裸聊视频�

Not too long ago, it was said that in one country, when a woman said 91裸聊视频淣o91裸聊视频� to a man91裸聊视频檚 advances, she meant 91裸聊视频淢aybe,91裸聊视频� and when she said 91裸聊视频淢aybe,91裸聊视频� she meant 91裸聊视频淵es,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频淣o Means No91裸聊视频� campaigns, emphasizing the importance of consent.

One of these campaigns asked the question, 91裸聊视频淲hat part of No don91裸聊视频檛 you understand?91裸聊视频�

I haven91裸聊视频檛 heard the 91裸聊视频淣o, Maybe and Yes91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频淣o91裸聊视频� to the offer as well. 91裸聊视频淢aybe Later91裸聊视频� isn91裸聊视频檛 good enough.

John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review.

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

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