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More Articles
Sept. 1998 - "Now is the Time"
Oct. 1998 - "What is the Internet?"
Nov. 1998 - "It's an Email World"
Jan. 1999 - "Little Help from a ..."
Jan. 1999 - "Is the Internet Safe?"
Mar. 1999 - "Desktop Clutter"
Apr. 1999 - "Searching the Net"
May 1999 - "What's in Domain Name?"
June 1999 - "Inernet Chaperones"
July 1999 - "Mind Your Online Manners"
Aug 1999 - " Chasing the Porsche"
Sept. 1999 - "Buying Hardware"
Oct. 1999 - "Buying Software" |
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(This article was originally published in The Tahoe Daily Tribune)
Just as in your real everyday life, manners are important on the
Internet as well. Although it may seem like you can say anything
to anybody for any reason (and you can, actually), there may still
be repercussions to such actions. Getting slammed (or spammed)
with angry emails will be the likely response from many, or you
may be barred from your favorite chat room. You can save yourself
a large amount of grief if you follow a few simple rules.
1. In all likelihood, you will not argue anybody to your position.
2. DO NOT CAPITALIZE ALL LETTERS. On the Internet, all capitals
signify you are yelling and will be treated as such.
3. Using all small letters will indicate you are mumbling.
4. Pause (and count to 10) before you send anything. This brings
up the next point.
5. Everything you send is permanent someplace. People can post
it, keep it
for later use or whatever so BE CAREFUL. Sorry, I didn’t mean
to yell.
6. Since what you write is the only way people will know who you
are (they can’t see your expressions, the color of your skin,
size of your waistband, or anything else unless you post your
picture on the net someplace), your words are the only way to
communicate. Poor spelling indicates you are not very bright.
The way to fix this is use a spell checker, but be aware this
tool will not check usage, tense or syntax. You should still read
what you have written before hitting the “send” button, because
if you don’t, the horse is out of the barn.
7. Look before you leap. This is simple common sense. When entering
a new chat room, watch (I mean read) for awhile to ascertain the
mood and discussion. Jumping in too soon may be embarrassing and
defy any credibility you might want later.
8. Use symbols sparingly. There are common symbols which attempt
to add emotion to your words. If you think something might sound
sarcastic, you may put a smiley face at the end of the sentence,
like this :-)
Here are a few more just for fun:
;-) equals wink
:-( equals frown
:-> equals sarcastic
>:> equals devilish
:’-( equals crying
:-o equals surprised
:’) equals crying happily
:-0 equals Uh-0h
:-@ equals screaming
:-& equals Tongue-tied
>:-> equals mad
<:-I equals dunce, like in, “sorry, but I don’t understand”
:-D equals a big smile
8. Check the word “Netiquette” in one of the major search engines
like Yahoo! and you will find locations that will expound on many
of these principals.
The bottom line is this: Be pleasant, try to get along, and don’t
give your opinion unless you are either asked for it or it seems
otherwise appropriate.
When you go online, you take on a persona not unlike the personality
you give when you interact with other people. Given time and effort,
you may become as popular (or more so) on the internet because
of your insight, compassion, willingness to listen, or just because
you are a good person. This is the way we all make friends, whether
in the Real or the Virtual world.
Rick Langford is founder of Tahoe Mall, The Tahoe Net and Cache-World
Email
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