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Netiquette
One of the most powerful aspects of the Internet is the ability to interact with people around the world via your PC.
Interacting over the Internet is similar to other forms of communications but in some ways it is unique. There are certain things you should consider as you use the Internet. Just like there are rules of etiquette that we consider polite to follow in other aspects of our lives, there are rules of netiquitte to consider on the Internet.
There are many aspects of netiquette. We'll only mention a few here so be sure and check out at least one of the other sites listed below for a more complete picture.
When communicating through e-mail or newsgroups, it is sometimes difficult to convey your message because you cannot use the signals such as tone of voice and body language that you would use in a face to face conversation. There are, however, ways to express emotion to some extent. For example, typing in all caps means that you're YELLING! And then there are smileys that can be used to indicate mood:
good :-) or bad :-(
If you turn your head sideways, you will see a smiling face and a frowning face.
Remember that the Internet is huge and worldwide. Mailing lists and Newsgroups are global so your messages will be read by people around the world. Be careful with colloquialisms and comments that may offend people from different countries or cultures.
If you want to start participating in a newsgroup, don't just jump right in. Understand what the conversations are all about. See if there is a list of FAQs for the newsgroup so you don't have to ask the same questions everyone else did. Think of a newsgroup as a group of people having a conversation. You are welcome to join them but no one takes kindly to interruptions or abrupt subject changes.
Check your e-mail periodically. If you are sending e-mail or have signed up to be on mailing lists, check it at least once a day. Otherwise check it at least every few days. You never know when someone might be writing to you.
Keep your e-mail and newsgroup messages short and to the point. Use subject lines that clearly indicate the topic of the message. And be judicious in your selection of the recipients; don't send it to an entire mailing list if you only want to communicate with one person.
For More Information:
- The Core Rules of Netiquette
- Don't Spread that Hoax!
- Internet Acronyms for Beginners
- Smileys & Emoticons