Netiquette Tips

Typing in CAPS on the internet is considered "shouting" and is considered rude. Don't "shout" in e-mails or chat forums if you want to get along.

Be careful with posting commericial links to internet groups, sites and forums, etc. Many sites are highly sensitive to spam and they'll ban you if it appears you're only there to promote your company.

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Be courteous on the net. There seems to be a trend in sites like YouTube and forums for people to talk nasty and put down people simply because you can. Most of us would never talk that way to people to their face. There's a reason for that. IT'S WRONG! If you need to know where the lines are drawn and know what's acceptable, use the Golden Rule. How do you want people talking to you?

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When you get an e-mail from someone don't forward that e-mail to everyone you know. Often that e-mail is private and the sender may not wish for the whole world to know his thoughts. At the very least, ask first.

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Don't post pictures of people doing embarrasing or humiliating things to the net. Think about how this might affect them emotionally. Teens have a habit of doing this but they don't often think of the consequences of their actions. Some people have literally killed themselves because of the humiliation and embarassment. Ask yourself; "Would I want someone to do this to me?"

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Before asking basic or elementary questions in a specific website, check to see if they have a FAQ page. FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions and it often answers most of the basic questions already. This will save you some time and save the site owners or administrators some frustration.

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Use a name when you're in a newsgroup, social media site or forum. Even if it's a ficticious name, at least people will have someone to identify with (as opposed to unregistered guest) and they'll know what to call you.

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On message forums, try doing a search on the topic you want to post about first to see if someone already started a thread about the same thing. This will help keep that board more organized and save you the shame of being a reposter.

Remember that if you can access a particular chat room, so can millions of other people ranging from teenagers to older adults. Think twice about using off-color language, sexual innuendo, personal attacks, or slurs against a particular group of people.

Web moderators have little tolerance for chatters who do these things, and are quick to banish serious offenders.

A good rule to follow is--"Would you want your mother to see this?"

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If you have been forwarded something by someone via e-mail, think twice before sending it along to everyone in your address book. If you have been sent a joke, some people may not appreciate it if it's of a more "adult" nature. If you have been forwarded a story that is political or religious in nature, it may be something that has been forwarded around the 'Net many, many, many times before you have received it, and may not even be true to begin with.

If you are sending an e-mail, instant message, or posting on a bulletin board (such as this one!), it is better to use clear, thought-out language with good grammar and spelling, than to use "NetSpeak." Many people get tired of seeing the letters "r" and "u" substituted for the words "are" and "you," the number "2" substituted for the word "to" (or "too"), etc.

Avoid "flaming" in newsgroups or chat forums. Flaming is an angry or harassing post either expressing outrage or trying to humiliate someone. Although it's tempting to flame, remember "diplomacy" is what works and is always best to keep things civil.