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Netiquette

Online Etiquette
(Otherwise known as Netiquette)



Don't Be A Cyberbully!
 
Before sending an e-mail or a text, think before you hit "send" and re-read what you wrote. It is very easy for anyone to misunderstand e-mail, text or other types of cyber-communication. We all have to be very careful to make our messages clear and easy to understand so that the person on the receiving end undersatands what we really mean and the tone in which it is being said.
 
The following is a checklist for good cyber-communication:
 
Before sending an e-mail or a text message:
 
* Start by making sure you are sending things to the right place and that the right person receives it.
 
  • Is it addressed to the right person?
  • Have you checked the spelling and screen name carefully.
  • Is the person in your address book or on your buddy list already?

* Is your message worth sending? Don't waste peoples' time or bandwidth with junk, chain e-mails or false rumors.

* Proofread your cyber messages and make sure the recipient knows who you are.
  • Many messages are never understood or they are misunderstood because words are left out or things are said unclearly.
  • If a message is important enough to send, then it is important enough to be understood!
  • It is acceptable in the cyber world to have grammar mistakes and creative spelling - especially when texting or instant messaging...
    but be careful not to use language or spelling that can be misunderstood and change the meaning of what you are saying.
  • Using emoticons can often clarify your intentions.
*Don't attack others on-line or say anything that could be considered insulting.
  • Don't intentionally say something to hurt someone else's feelings or invade their privacy.
*Don't forward other people's e-mail, text or IM addresses or share their personal information without their permission.
  • Sometimes, without even realizing it, we copy someone new on an e-mail thread and wind up sharing personal communications that someone else had shared with us.
 *Don't reply to Spam - EVER! It is ofen a good idea to ask to be removed from the mailing list.
 
* How private is the message you are sending? Would you be okay having other people read this message or having it forwarded to others without your permission?
  • Sometimes the people we send messages to share our communications with other people without asking us first. A good rule to follow is: DON'T EVER SAY ANYTHING IN A CYBER MESSAGE THAT YOU WOULDN'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO
    EVER READ!!
  • If you are going to share something very private, it is best to do so in person or on the phone.
  • Don't ever write anything that you wouldn't be okay having your parents read. If you wouldn't want them to see it, then it is a good bet that you have no business writing it!