Netiquettes

EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES
NETIQUETTES
NETIQUETTES
In this generation, people are dependent on the

Internet. Like how people socialize face to face,
we should follow etiquette at all times as it mirrors
our personality. Being on different platforms, we
should be aware of our actions and protect
ourselves at the same time. Remember that once
something has been shared online, it cannot be
deleted.
This lesson provides information about Netiquette.
It will serve as your guide on how to behave
appropriately online. It is vital to use Netiquette
because communication online is non-verbal. Most
often, online discussion consists of reading
something someone else’s has typed.
COMPARE & CONTRAST
CORE RULES OF NETIQUETTE
Netiquette, or network etiquette, is concerned

with the "proper" manner of communication in the
online environment. Whenever you communicate
in the virtual world, consider the following "rules,"
adapted from Virginia Shea's Core Rules of
Netiquette.
Rule 1: Remember the Human
When communicating electronically, whether through

email, instant message, discussion post, text, or
another method, practice the Golden Rule: Do unto
others as you would have others do unto you.
Remember, your written words are read by real people,
all deserving of respectful communication. 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
While it can be argued that standards of behavior

may be different in the virtual world, they certainly
should not be lower. 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. Neither should you behave this way in
the virtual world.
Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace
"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. What you text to a friend
may not be appropriate in an email to a classmate or
colleague. Can you think of another example?
Rule 4: Respect other people's time and
bandwidth
Electronic communication takes time: time to read
and time in which to respond. 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. As a virtual world communicator, it is your
responsibility to make sure that the time spent
reading your words isn't wasted. Make your written
communication meaningful and to the point, without
extraneous text or superfluous graphics or
attachments that may take forever to download.
Rule 5: Make yourself look good online
One of the virtual world's best things is the lack of judgment

associated with your physical appearance, the sound of your
voice, or the clothes you wear (unless you post a video of
yourself singing Karaoke in a clown outfit.) The quality of
your writing will judge you, so keep the following tips in
mind)
• Always check for spelling and grammar errors
• Know what you're talking about and state it clearly
• Be pleasant and polite
Rule 6: Share expert knowledge
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. 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. Are you an expert at something? Post resources
and references for your subject matter. You have recently
expanded your knowledge about a subject that might be of
interest to others? Share that as well.
Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control
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). As an
example, think of the kinds of passionate comments you
might read on a sports blog. 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.
Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy
Depending 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. Perhaps someone is sharing
some medical news about a loved one or discussing a situation
at work. 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. Be sure to err on the
side of caution when deciding to discuss or not to discuss virtual
communication.
Rule 9: Don't abuse your power
Like in face-to-face situations, there are people in

cyberspace who have more "power" than others. They have
more expertise in technology or have years of experience
in a particular skill or subject matter. Maybe it is you who
possesses all of this knowledge and power! Just remember:
knowing more than others do or having more power than
others may have does not give you the right to take
advantage of anyone. Think of Rule 1: Remember the
human.
Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's
mistakes
Not everyone has the same amount of experience working
in the virtual world. And not everyone knows the rules of
Netiquette. At some point, you will see a stupid question,
read an unnecessarily long response, or encounter
misspelled words; when this happens, practice kindness
and forgiveness as you would hope someone would do if
you had committed the same offense. If it's a minor
"offense," you might want to let it slide. If you feel
compelled to respond to a mistake, do so in a private
email rather than a public forum.

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EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES

In this generation, people are dependent on the

Netiquette, or network etiquette, is concerned

When communicating electronically, whether through

While it can be argued that standards of behavior

"Netiquette varies from domain to domain." (Shea,

One of the virtual world's best things is the lack of judgment

What is meant by "flaming" and "flame wars?" "Flaming is

Depending on what you are reading in the virtual world, be it an

Like in face-to-face situations, there are people in

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