About Netiquette

Netiquette is network etiquette. Netiquette is a set of rules that tells you how to properly behave online. Sometimes people can forget that they are online and could easily hurt the feelings of others. Netiquette has two purposes and the purposes are to help people that are new to the web minimize their mistakes and to help people that are not new to the web still practice these rules. These rules and explanations will help you and guide you as you are online.

Rules

1. Remember the Human

• You can’t use facial expressions when you are behind a computer screen so be careful what you say.

• It’s easy to misinterpret what another person is trying to say. When talking through chat or email consider the feelings of others.

2. Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life
• Be ethical don’t copy another person’s work if you use something like shareware you have to pay for it.
• Breaking the law is a bad netiquette. Follow the law and don’t steal. If you are tempted to do something illegal online it is most likely a bad netiquette.
3. Know where you are in cyberspace
• Netiquette varies from domain to domain. If you can do something in one place it doesn’t mean you can do the same thing in another place.
• Lurk before you leap. When you are new to a website look around before you join. Look at how the other people behave and what things they do.
4. Respect other peoples time and bandwidth
• You are not the center of cyberspace. When you are working with others it is not always about what you want. You have to be aware of what other people have to say.
• Things to remember when in a discussion group are don’t spend too much time in the group you need to think of others that are not on the computer.
5. Make yourself look good online
• Take advantage of your anonymity. Nobody can see you so you won’t be judged on how you look.
• Know what you are talking about and make sure it makes since. Don’t post something that doesn’t if you are not sure think it over before you post it.
• Don’t post flame bait. Do not use bad language it is not polite to do this.
6. Share expert knowledge.
• If you post something that is not yours be sure to include the link or source of where you got it from.

7. Help keep flame wars under control

• When people flame the express themselves with what they truly feel. Sometimes they can get boring when people aren’t involved in them.

8. Respect other people’s privacy

• Never read someone’s email. It’s not any of your business and if someone finds out you can get in a lot of trouble.

9. Don’t abuse your power

• Some people have more power than others do on the web. If you have more power it doesn’t give you the right to take advantage of them.

10. Be forgiving of other people’s mistakes.

• Everyone who is online can make mistakes. If it directed towards you be forgiving and let them know their mistake and how it hurt you. But don’t be mad at them.