Etiquette for Cyberspace
Many people have their own idea as to what describes proper etiquette for the web. A few general ideas permeate the writings on etiquette and are summarized as the following:
| 1. | Do unto others as you would have done unto you. Keep this in mind as you surf the web. You are interacting with other people although you may not actually see them. Remember that courtesy and manners should transcend into cyberspace. |
| 2. | You are who you are. Have the same standards on the net as you would in person. Don't make yourself look bad or develop an alter ego just because you can hide behind a computer screen. |
| 3. | Don't invade other people's privacy. Despite the enormity of the web, it is possible to cross the lines of privacy. Be sensitive to what you view. Don't probe into things that aren't meant for you to see. |
| 4. | Avoid flaming. Typing in ALL CAPS indicates to the reader that you are yelling. Heated discussions often arise just because a user accidently left the caps lock on. Remember that emotions and attitudes are still communicable over cyberspace although we may not be able to see or actually speak to the person on the other end. Be sure to know some of the jargon associated with email so that you are not confused when you communicate via the web. |
| 5. | When sending email or posting to the web, make sure that what you are
presenting is user-friendly. Not everyone has the state-of-the-art equipment that you may have. Keep in mind that you want your mail or your pages to be opened with ease. Don't assume that everyone else is as up-to-date as you are. |
For more tips on "netiquette" visit some of the following websites:
Email Etiquette |
http://exodus.oucs.ox.ac.uk:8123/salamander/rules3.html |
Etiquette for Public Email Systems |
http://www.iwillfollow.com/email.htm |
Netiquette |
http://www.albion.com/netiquette/ |