Netiquette

Netiquette

Adapted from a number of articles I read and basically the imprint of Pearson Education Inc. (2010).

Though I have been using the internet for twenty years I never read about netiquette and I sent e-mails not knowing that e-mailing has guiding rules. I used the internet haphazardly until I came across the term in The Professional Educator Diploma.

Etiquette guidelines that govern behavior when communicating on the Internet have become known as netiquette. Netiquette encompasses the rules of behavior during discussions, and the guidelines that govern all kinds of communication on the internet. Internet etiquette, also known as “Netiquette,” is essential in a civilized work environment or personal relationship Shea's (2004) online book, Netiquette states the guiding rules of writing and sending e-mails stating:

Identify yourself: Begin messages with a salutation and end them with your name

Use a signature (a footer with your identifying information) at the end of a message

Include a subject line.

Give a descriptive phrase in the subject line of the message header that tells the topic of the message.

Avoid sarcasm.

Do not quote or forward personal email without the original author's permission.

Acknowledge and return messages promptly.

Copy with caution. Don't copy everyone you know on each message.

No spam. Don't contribute to worthless information on the Internet by sending or responding to mass postings of chain letters, rumors, etc.

Be concise. Keep messages concise—about one screen, as a rule of thumb.

Use appropriate language: Avoid coarse, rough, or rude language.

Observe good grammar and spelling.

If you are unsure of anything you have typed, hold it in draft mode and read it later before e-mailing or posting.

Use appropriate emoticons (emotion icons) to help convey meaning. Use "smiley's" or punctuation such as :-) to convey emotions.

See website list of emoticons at http://netlingo.com/smiley.cfm and http://www.robelle.com/smugbook/smiley.html.

Use appropriate intensifiers to help convey meaning.

Avoid "flaming" (online "screaming") or sentences typed in all caps.

Use asterisks surrounding words to indicate italics used for emphasis (*at last*).

Use words in brackets, such as (grin), to show a state of mind.

Use common acronyms (e.g., LOL for "laugh out loud).

As for dealing in online forums never flame or rant in a public forum. Respect the opinions of others, even if you don’t agree, and refrain from name-calling. Avoid saying anything negative about others.

Never say anything negative about your company, your former company, your boss, or your co-workers.

Avoid cyber bullying. Think about how you would feel if someone said whatever you just typed about you. If you find it the least bit disturbing, delete it.

Learn Internet Acronyms. As communication on the Internet explodes, so does the use of acronyms. Learn what they mean so you won’t misunderstand messages and comments.

Keep Messages and Posts Brief

Remember that anything you put on the Internet can be there forever.

Protect Personal Information: Since anything you post on the Internet is out there for all to see, avoid adding anything personal. This includes your address, phone number, social security number, and driver’s license information. You don’t want to make things easy for identity thieves, burglars, and predators.

It is always a good idea to reread anything you type before clicking the “send” button. If you have time, step away for a few minutes and come back to it with fresh eyes. If not, at least check your spelling, grammar, and tone of the message. If it is late at night, and you are extremely tired, it’s probably best to wait until the next morning.

Keep social media in its rightful place and do not allow it to take over your life and destroy your manners. Remember Social Media is not a good substitute for real, face-to-face interaction.

Finally, limit your time online.

When assigned to read about Netiquette and think about ways to familiarize our students with the topic, I was happy to learn about the topic and became conscious about using the internet wisely. Still, I have not reached a definite way concerning familiarizing my students with the topic.