Mike Godwin mgodwin@wikimedia.org wrote:
As to whether users will read it from beginning to end -- well, I assume most won't.
I think that is a problem. The policy should clearly and concisely lay out the policy and be accessible to most readers (not a small minority), not lengthily explain the philosophy and reasoning behind the policy. That information should be separate from the policy content.
After your original draft I proposed such a separation at http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Draft_Privacy_Policy_June_2008#Rewrite, a complete policy-only version linking to a second editable "explanatory material" page. I think this is the ideal solution: we have a binding easy-to-read privacy policy, as well as the lengthy explanatory material properly separated from binding policy and editable by the community.