I got a new e-commerce project recently. As I was finalizing the terms with the client a few days ago, I mentioned to him in an email that I'm willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement if he feels that it's necessary.

Of course, I didn't really want to sign an NDA--I'm allergic to paper and pens. I only said what I said as a kind of insincere professional courtesy that I extend to most of my clients. Their responses would usually be something like, "Nah, we trust you." I love clients who trust me. They make me feel good about myself. Other clients who may not be so trusting would at least say, "Nah, no need for the extra paperwork." I love lazy clients too, although not as much as the trusting ones.

Well, this new client turned out to be neither trusting nor lazy. Yesterday, I got an email from him containing an NDA, along with instructions to send him two sign copies via snail mail. Snail mail! Noooooooo! So now, instead of getting to take a long afternoon nap, I'll have to go to the post office. Yay.

And I'm now not allowed to disclose the extremely sensitive confidential stuff that I'll come across in this project, such as... um, I don't know, the available products and their prices? Ha! No one shall ever learn of these dark secrets! Unless... unless... unless people visit the finished online shop. Damn those crafty customers!

But, as pointless as I find the NDA for this project to be, I can't really blame the client. After all, he doesn't know me. Plus I did stupidly offer to sign an NDA, so it's mostly my fault. I guess I should be happy that this NDA is fair and reasonable, unlike the ones employees in this country are routinely forced to sign. Seriously, some of those are more like slave contracts.

"From now on, every bit of thought that pops out of your head and every piece of poop that pops out of your ass are belong to us! Yay! Now sign on the dotted line."

UPDATE: I've decided to take a nap anyway. I'll go to the post office tomorrow.

ANOTHER UPDATE: I finally hauled my lazy ass to the post office yesterday afternoon, two full days after I printed and signed the NDA. I couldn't believe that the post office doesn't sell envelopes. I mean, they sell stamps, so why the hell can't they sell envelopes too? Good thing there's a bookstore nearby. I had to buy a full pack of envelopes though, and now I don't know what to do with them.