according to netiquette internet users should assume

Just like in face-to-face situations, there are people in cyberspace who have more 'power' than others. Be sure to err on the side of caution when deciding to discuss or not to discuss virtual communication.

What do you think would happen if this information 'got into the wrong hands?' Embarrassment? Hurt feelings? Loss of a job? Just as you expect others to respect your privacy, so should you respect the privacy of others. Perhaps someone is sharing some medical news about a loved one or discussing a situation at work. Rule 8: Respect other people's privacyĭepending on what you are reading in the virtual world, be it an online class discussion forum, Facebook page, or an email, you may be exposed to some private or personal information that needs to be handled with care. Don't feed the flames extinguish them by guiding the discussion back to a more productive direction. While 'flaming' is not necessarily forbidden in virtual communication, 'flame wars,' when two or three people exchange angry posts between one another, must be controlled or the camaraderie of the group could be compromised. As an example, think of the kinds of passionate comments you might read on a sports blog. What is meant by 'flaming' and 'flame wars?' 'Flaming is what people do when they express a strongly held opinion without holding back any emotion.' (Shea, 1994). Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control Recently expanded your knowledge about a subject that might be of interest to others? Share that as well. Are you an expert at something? Post resources and references about your subject matter. So in the spirit of the Internet's 'founding fathers,' share what you know! When you post a question and receive intelligent answers, share the results with others. The Internet offers its users many benefits one is the ease in which information can be shared or accessed and in fact, this 'information sharing' capability is one of the reasons the Internet was founded.

Know what you're talking about and state it clearly.

Always check for spelling and grammar errors.

One of the best things about the virtual world is the lack of judgment associated with your physical appearance, sound of your voice, or the clothes you wear (unless you post a video of yourself singing Karaoke in a clown outfit.) You will, however, be judged by the quality of your writing, so keep the following tips in mind: Make your written communication meaningful and to the point, without extraneous text or superfluous graphics or attachments that may take forever to download. As a virtual world communicator, it is your responsibility to make sure that the time spent reading your words isn't wasted. Most people today lead busy lives, just like you do, and don't have time to read or respond to frivolous emails or discussion posts.

Can you think of another example? Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidthĮlectronic communication takes time: time to read and time in which to respond. What you text to a friend may not be appropriate in an email to a classmate or colleague.

'Netiquette varies from domain to domain.' (Shea, 1994) Depending on where you are in the virtual world, the same written communication can be acceptable in one area, where it might be considered inappropriate in another. Neither should you behave this way in the virtual world. You should do your best to act within the laws and ethical manners of society whenever you inhabit 'cyberspace.' Would you behave rudely to someone face-to-face? On most occasions, no. While it can be argued that standards of behavior may be different in the virtual world, they certainly should not be lower. Before you press 'send' or 'submit,' ask yourself, 'Would I be okay with this if someone else had written it?' Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life Remember, your written words are read by real people, all deserving of respectful communication. When communicating electronically, whether through email, instant message, discussion post, text, or some other method, practice the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

Consider the following 'rules,' adapted from Virginia Shea's The Core Rules of Netiquette, whenever you communicate in the virtual world. Netiquette, or network etiquette, is concerned with the 'proper' way to communicate in an online environment.

According to netiquette internet users should assume