Posted on November - 05 - 2009
Netiquette – Why Bother?
Don’t get redfaced by committing cyber social blunders. Keep in mind proper manners and develop correct internet manners, netiquette.
Netiquette – What is it?
With the advent of the internet there are some common ‘rules’ that have to adhered to. Just as Miss Manners taught millions of people how to act properly while in public Netiquette helps prevent making social cyber blunders that cause embarrassment.
Basic Internet Rules
Most everyone now has heard of capital letters mean SHOUTING but what about the other rules.
One of the most irritating things is people not reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions FAQ section. Rather than asking a question it is best to investigate the site to review the FAQs for the answer. It is poor Netiquette to ask a question that has already been answered in the FAQs. Kind of like asking your boss what happened at the meeting before reading the minutes of the meeting. Avoid embarrassment and alienating someone-review the FAQs page before asking directly.
Email Etiquette
It is good netiquette to keep emails short and sweet. Reserve the manuscripts and manifestos for other sites. Post your lengthy articles and manuscript on a third party site and forward the address via email to friends and family. This way it offers them the decision to ‘opt-in’ and go and read it.
People who receive a lot of emails appreciate a descriptive subject line. It is good netiquette to include an identifier in the subject line. A sample of a good subject line is ‘meeting Sunday at 4pm’. This is better than ‘meeting tomorrow’ or even worse ‘misc.’ which offers no indication of what the email is about or if a commitment is required. Likewise an email with a subject of ‘request’ would not garner much interest as ‘request payment for invoice 34-09’.
Signatures should be tasteful, three or four lines. It is bad netiquette to have too many lines on the signature. Use a tasteful signature that won’t offend. Several lines and added sparkly pictures just identify you as an amateur. Keep your signature to around 3 lines. More than 3 lines is excessive and turns people off.
Who are You Talking To?
While using the internet it is important to remember the ‘Golden Rule’, “due unto others as you would have them do unto you”. The internet has been around for awhile now and you must remember that it gives quick and direct access to many people. People will respond to you as you treat them so treat them with respect.
Internet interaction offers people the opportunity to ‘talk’ with someone who they may never meet except on line. Before pressing that send button, think, “would I say this to this persons face?” If not then don’t post it. Most people are polite and respectable, however some people think that because they are on line and that they won’t ever see them, they can be rude. Not true. Online or in person you should act in an ethical manner.
Generally, the internet is a friendly place. Every year people make the internet more accessible and user friendly. With theses simple rules avoiding cyber netiquette blunders can be avoided.
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