Posts filed under ‘Technology Lessons (other than Web 2.0)’
Netiquette
The Core Rules of Netiquette author, Virginia Shea writes “What is Netiquette? Simply stated, it’s network etiquette — that is, the etiquette of cyberspace. And “etiquette” means “the forms required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be required in social or official life.” In other words, Netiquette is a set of rules for behaving properly online. “
I am sure we have all had misunderstandings through emails or the tone of an email because it is so hard to read somebody’s tone. Cyberspace is its own culture and as we do when we travel, we try to study the culture we are visiting so we will behave properly. Your visit to cyberspace is no different.
There are many books on netiquette, you can read, but here are some hard and fast rules to follow. (For more details visit http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html)
- Remember the receiver of your email is human. Read your email message more than once to make sure that your correspondence is written the same way as you would say it to the person’s face. Also, remember that emails are electronic and can be stored, saved and forwarded. Make sure what you write is what you want to be permanent.
- Do in cyberspace as you would do in the real world, be ethical,
- Lurk before you leap, know where you are in cyberspace, if you are participating in a discussion board, sit back and see how people are acting, make sure you know the rules of the board before you post.
- Respect other people’s time and bandwith.
- First impressions are everything, make yourself look good online. You might now know it, but if you are active in a discussion group, googling your name might come up with some of your posts. Make sure what you write online is what you want the world to see of you. You will be judged by the quality of your writing, capitalize, check your spelling, grammar and facts before you post or send an email.
- Respect other people’s privacy, don’t forward messages that are private. Use common sense.
- Don’t abuse your power, if you have access to others email accounts, don’t read them.
- Be forgiving of other peoples mistakes, if someone mistyped, don’t correct them. Think twice about reacting to something that isn’t worth it. They probably didn’t have time to read these rules.
Another website lists these as the 10 Golden Rules of Netiquette
Make sure the subject line (e-mail) or title (web page) reflects your content
If you have a question on whether or not you are too emotional,
don’t send the message, save it, and review it “later”
Remember: no one can guess your mood, see your facial expressions, etc.
All they have are your words, and your words can express the opposite of what you feel
Don’t use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS–it’s equal to shouting or screaming
If your message is short, people will be more likely to read it
Refer to the Guide on “Writing for the Internet“
Your words and content represent you; review/edit your words and images before sending
you put in an e-mail or on a web site:
Information on the Internet is very public, and can seen by anyone in the world including criminals, future employers, and governments
only with permission of the sender
What you write in an e-mail and web site can be traced back to you
If you are upset by what you read or see on the Internet, forgive bad spelling or stupidity;
If you think it violates the law, forward it to the FBI or your state’s Attorney General
Don’t use others’ images, content, etc. without permission
Don’t forward e-mail, or use web site content without permission
Visit the Library of Congress’ Guide on “Copyright Basics“
Refer to the Guide on “Citation“
and with permission
SPAM is posting or e-mailing unsolicited e-mail, often advertising messages, to a wide audience
(another way of thinking of it is electronic junk mail)
If you receive one, notify your web master
Contact your web master for action and referral
