Netiquette defined:

What is netiquette? Why is netiquette important?

Some simple rules of netiquette:

General rules Group Communication Individual Communication

Recommended netiquette resouces:

Netiquette Learn The Net: Netiquette Indiana niversity Computer ser!s Responsi"ilities

What is netiquette?
Simply stated# it!s net$or% etiquette && that is# the etiquette of cy"erspace' (nd )etiquette) means )the forms required "y *ood "reedin* or prescri"ed "y authority to "e required in social or official life') In other $ords# netiquette is a set of rules for "ehavin* and interactin* properly online'

Why is netiquette important?

+ach culture# ,and cy"erspace has its o$n culture-# operates under a system of rules that may not "e e.plicitly stated "ut are e.pected and enforced all the same' When you enter any ne$ culture you!re lia"le to commit a fe$ social "lunders unless you %no$ the rules' /ou mi*ht offend people $ithout meanin* to' 0r you mi*ht misunderstand $hat others say and ta%e offense $hen it!s not intended' The rules in cy"erspace are intrinsically different than those of everyday life "ecause cy"erspace presents such a novel environment' Gone are the *estures# facial e.pressions# voice tone# lau*hter# "ody lan*ua*e and other features of human non&ver"al communication that help inform our understandin* of others' To ma%e matters $orse# the lo*istics of communicatin* in cy"erspace ma%e it easy to for*et that you!re interactin* $ith other real people && not 1ust (SCII characters on a screen# "ut live human "ein*s' So# as a result of missin* out on important non&ver"al clues# for*ettin* that people online are still real# and not %no$in* the conventions# $ell&meanin* cy"ernauts can ma%e all %inds of mista%es and miscommunications'

The )Simple Rules of Netiquette) and the e.planations that follo$ them are offered here as a set of *eneral *uidelines for cy"erspace "ehavior' They pro"a"ly $on!t cover all situations# "ut they should *ive you some "asic principles to use in communicatin* online'

Some Simple Rules of Netiquette:

General Rules
2' 3a%e your messa*es easier to read "y ma%in* your para*raphs short and to the point' 4' T/5ING IN (LL C(5S IS C0NSI6+R+6 S70 TING 0N T7+ INT+RN+T' 8' 3essa*es in all lo$ercase letters can "e difficult to read# instead# use normal capitali9ation' :' ;(steris%s; surroundin* a $ord can "e used to ma%e a stron*er point' <' se the underscore sym"ol "efore and after the title of a "oo%# ,i'e'# =Green +**s and 7am= -

>' ?e careful $hen usin* sarcasm and humor' Without face to face communications your 1o%e may "e vie$ed as criticism' When "ein* humorous# use emoticons to e.press humor' ,tilt your head to the left to see the emoticon smile- :&- @ happy face for humor A' Never *ive your userI6 or pass$ord to another person' System administrators that need to access your account for maintenance or to correct pro"lems $ill have full priviled*es to your account'

Group Communication
2' Respect the fact that the class list is a closed discussionB do not for$ard mail from your classmates to others $ithout their permission' 4' In an online forum or ne$s*roup# de"ate is $elcome# "ut "e tactful in respondin* to others' Remem"er that there!s a person ,or a $hole class- at the receivin* end of your post' 8' Ceep your questions and comments relevant to the focus of the discussion *roup' Information intended for an individual or small *roup of individuals should "e emailed to those people directly' :' If you are respondin* to a messa*e from someone else# "riefly summari9e her or his post' <' When postin* a question to the discussion *roup# request that responses "e directed to you personally' 5ost a summary or ans$er to your question to the *roup'

>' If you quote a previous post ,"y usin* the reply function for e.ample-# quote only enou*h to ma%e your o$n point' A' Include your si*nature at the "ottom of +mail messa*es $hen communicatin* $ith people $ho may not %no$ you personally or "roadcastin* to a dynamic *roup of su"scri"ers' D' Resist the temptation to )flame) others on the list' Remem"er that these discussions are )pu"lic) and meant for constructive e.chan*es' Treat the others on the list as you $ould $ant them to treat you' E' se your o$n personal +mail account# don!t su"scri"e usin* a shared office account or a friend!s account'

Individual Communication
2' If you $ant to *et in touch $ith only one person in the class# send a messa*e to that individual!s e&mail address# not to the entire discussion list' 4' When replyin* to a messa*e posted to a discussion *roup# chec% the address to "e certain it!s *oin* to the intended location ,person or *roup-' It can "e very em"arrassin* if they reply incorrectly and post a personal messa*e to the entire discussion *roup that $as intended for an individual'