I spent some time reading the whole explanation (question) and then I read through all the answers. The comments were fun to read and added some flavouring to the issue.

I then started writing an answer with options for each combination of being a StackExchange user with/without the arbitration clause, and what effect it would have on StackExchange for me and the community in the case of a class action lawsuit or a simple case in court. It was taking too much time, so I opted for the short write which I present here.

Summary

What it all boils down to for me as an individual:

• Case with Arbitration Clause = win or lose
• Case without Arbitration Clause = win or lose
• Class action lawsuit with Arbitration Clause = lose
• Class action lawsuit with no Arbitration = win or lose

So there is only one situation in which I definitely lose and that is when there is a class action lawsuit brought against StackExchnage and I am unable to participate (be a plaintiff), because I didn't opt out of the Arbitration clause.

The possibility of me suing StackExchnage or StackExchnage suing me is currently near 0%. (As of the 11th May 2018)

Should I Stay or Should I Go? (The Clash)

The Future

Now somewhere in the near future StackExchange might decide to change things. They might want to expand or sell to the highest bidder. Then a big NO-NO happens and the proverbial body-ejected-mass hits the fan.

What changes for me as a StackExchange user? Nothing.

Should that big NO-NO happen, then StackExchange as whole would possibly just cease to exist. I lose as a community member and have a slight chance of winning a small monetary compensation for work that I voluntarily submitted to the community, based on a decision I may have made in the next couple of days.

I don't think that is such a big deal.

Arbitration Clause Button

Here is a possible solution to the Arbitration Clause opt-in/opt-out situation. Add a three-way button to each user profile. Set the button in the middle (0) position. The user has thirty (30) days to either opt-out (-1) or opt-in (1) to the arbitration clause.

• If a user doesn't decide to either opt-in (1) or opt-out (-1) of the arbitration clause after thirty days, then the switch is set to opt-in (1) and locked (greyed out).

• If a user opts-in (1) then the switch is locked in the opt-in mode (greyed out).

• If a user opts-out (-1) then the switch is locked in the opt-out mode (greyed out).

Any future change in ToS / ownership / ... allows the user to reset the Arbitration Clause Opt-In / Opt-Out button. The button is unlocked and is allowed to be set in another position for a certain period of time.

Could look a bit like this:

Code is a combination of Toggle Switch (w3schools.com) and 3 State CSS Toggle Switch (stackoverflow.com)

I spent some time reading the whole explanation (question) and then I read through all the answers. The comments were fun to read and added some flavouring to the issue.

I then started writing an answer with options for each combination of being a Stack Exchange user with/without the arbitration clause, and what effect it would have on Stack Exchange for me and the community in the case of a class action lawsuit or a simple case in court. It was taking too much time, so I opted for the short write which I present here.

Summary

What it all boils down to for me as an individual:

• Case with Arbitration Clause = win or lose
• Case without Arbitration Clause = win or lose
• Class action lawsuit with Arbitration Clause = lose
• Class action lawsuit with no Arbitration = win or lose

So there is only one situation in which I definitely lose and that is when there is a class action lawsuit brought against Stack Exchange and I am unable to participate (be a plaintiff), because I didn't opt out of the Arbitration clause.

The possibility of me suing Stack Exchange or Stack Exchange suing me is currently near 0%. (As of the 11th May 2018)

Should I Stay or Should I Go? (The Clash)

The Future

Now somewhere in the near future Stack Exchange might decide to change things. They might want to expand or sell to the highest bidder. Then a big NO-NO happens and the proverbial body-ejected-mass hits the fan.

What changes for me as a Stack Exchange user? Nothing.

Should that big no-no happen, then Stack Exchange as whole would possibly just cease to exist. I lose as a community member and have a slight chance of winning a small monetary compensation for work that I voluntarily submitted to the community, based on a decision I may have made in the next couple of days.

I don't think that is such a big deal.

Arbitration Clause Button

Here is a possible solution to the Arbitration Clause opt-in/opt-out situation. Add a three-way button to each user profile. Set the button in the middle (0) position. The user has thirty (30) days to either opt-out (-1) or opt-in (1) to the arbitration clause.

• If a user doesn't decide to either opt-in (1) or opt-out (-1) of the arbitration clause after thirty days, then the switch is set to opt-in (1) and locked (greyed out).

• If a user opts-in (1) then the switch is locked in the opt-in mode (greyed out).

• If a user opts-out (-1) then the switch is locked in the opt-out mode (greyed out).

Any future change in ToS / ownership / ... allows the user to reset the Arbitration Clause Opt-In / Opt-Out button. The button is unlocked and is allowed to be set in another position for a certain period of time.

It could look a bit like this:

Code is a combination of Toggle Switch (w3schools.com) and 3 State CSS Toggle Switch (stackoverflow.com)

I spent some time reading the whole explanation (question) and then I read through all the answers. The comments were fun to read and added some flavouring to the issue.

I then started writing an answer with options for each combination of being a StackExchange user with/without the arbitration clause, and what effect it would have on StackExchange for me and the community in the case of a class action lawsuit or a simple case in court. It was taking too much time, so I opted for the short write which I present here.

Summary

What it all boils down to for me as an individual:

• Case with Arbitration Clause = win or lose
• Case without Arbitration Clause = win or lose
• Class action lawsuit with Arbitration Clause = lose
• Class action lawsuit with no Arbitration = win or lose

So there is only one situation in which I definitely lose and that is when there is a class action lawsuit brought against StackExchnage and I am unable to participate (be a plaintiff), because I didn't opt out of the Arbitration clause.

The possibility of me suing StackExchnage or StackExchnage suing me is currently near 0%. (As of the 11th May 2018)

Should I Stay or Should I Go? (The Clash)

The Future

Now somewhere in the near future StackExchange might decide to change things. They might want to expand or sell to the highest bidder. Then a big NO-NO happens and the proverbial body-ejected-mass hits the fan.

What changes for me as a StackExchange user? Nothing.

Should that big NO-NO happen, then StackExchange as whole would possibly just cease to exist. I lose as a community member and have a slight chance of winning a small monetary compensation for work that I voluntarily submitted to the community, based on a decision I may have made in the next couple of days.

I don't think that is such a big deal.

Arbitration Clause Button

Here is a possible solution to the Arbitration Clause opt-in/opt-out situation. Add a three-way button to each user profile. Set the button in the middle (0) position. The user has thirty (30) days to either opt-out (-1) or opt-in (1) to the arbitration clause.

• If a user doesn't decide to either opt-in (1) or opt-out (-1) of the arbitration clause after thirty days, then the switch is set to opt-in (1) and locked (greyed out).

• If a user opts-in (1) then the switch is locked in the opt-in mode (greyed out).

• If a user opts-out (-1) then the switch is locked in the opt-out mode (greyed out).

Any future change in ToS / ownership / ... allows the user to reset the Arbitration Clause Opt-In / Opt-Out button. The button is unlocked and is allowed to be set in another position for a certain period of time.

I spent some time reading the whole explanation (question) and then I read through all the answers. The comments were fun to read and added some flavouring to the issue.

I then started writing an answer with options for each combination of being a StackExchange user with/without the arbitration clause, and what effect it would have on StackExchange for me and the community in the case of a class action lawsuit or a simple case in court. It was taking too much time, so I opted for the short write which I present here.

Summary

What it all boils down to for me as an individual:

• Case with Arbitration Clause = win or lose
• Case without Arbitration Clause = win or lose
• Class action lawsuit with Arbitration Clause = lose
• Class action lawsuit with no Arbitration = win or lose

So there is only one situation in which I definitely lose and that is when there is a class action lawsuit brought against StackExchnage and I am unable to participate (be a plaintiff), because I didn't opt out of the Arbitration clause.

The possibility of me suing StackExchnage or StackExchnage suing me is currently near 0%. (As of the 11th May 2018)

Should I Stay or Should I Go? (The Clash)

The Future

Now somewhere in the near future StackExchange might decide to change things. They might want to expand or sell to the highest bidder. Then a big NO-NO happens and the proverbial body-ejected-mass hits the fan.

What changes for me as a StackExchange user? Nothing.

Should that big NO-NO happen, then StackExchange as whole would possibly just cease to exist. I lose as a community member and have a slight chance of winning a small monetary compensation for work that I voluntarily submitted to the community, based on a decision I may have made in the next couple of days.

I don't think that is such a big deal.

Arbitration Clause Button

Here is a possible solution to the Arbitration Clause opt-in/opt-out situation. Add a three-way button to each user profile. Set the button in the middle (0) position. The user has thirty (30) days to either opt-out (-1) or opt-in (1) to the arbitration clause.

• If a user doesn't decide to either opt-in (1) or opt-out (-1) of the arbitration clause after thirty days, then the switch is set to opt-in (1) and locked (greyed out).

• If a user opts-in (1) then the switch is locked in the opt-in mode (greyed out).

• If a user opts-out (-1) then the switch is locked in the opt-out mode (greyed out).

Any future change in ToS / ownership / ... allows the user to reset the Arbitration Clause Opt-In / Opt-Out button. The button is unlocked and is allowed to be set in another position for a certain period of time.

Could look a bit like this:

Code is a combination of Toggle Switch (w3schools.com) and 3 State CSS Toggle Switch (stackoverflow.com)