Again, a consideration may be unreal because it is so vague in its terms as to be practically incapable of enforcement. In such case it may be classed with impossible considerations. Where, for instance, in an action on a note given by a son to his father the son pleaded a promise made by his father to discharge him from liability on the note in consideration of his ceasing to make certain complaints, which he had been in the habit of making, to the effect that he had not enjoyed as many advantages as the other children, it was said that the son's promise was no more than a promise "not to bore his father," and it was held too vague to constitute a consideration for the father's promise. "A man," said the court, "might complain that another person used the highway more than he ought to do, and that other might say, 'Do not complain, and I will give you £5.' It is ridiculous to suppose that such promises could be binding."57 So a contract by which a person promised to erect "a permanent and first-class hotel for the accommodation of the traveling public, and maintain the same in a first class manner," in consideration of the promise of a railroad company that it, "by the patronage of its road, would support and maintain the same," has been held void, because the stipulations were too vague and indefinite.58

We have already sufficiently discussed the question of vagueness and uncertainty in agreements.59