TU170 - Netiquette - The Conventions and Rules of Online Communications
The first thing you will need to know about as you enter the online world is Netiquette, the convention of online communication practises. These a simple set of 'rules' which allow conferencing to be carried out and some useful outcome gained. The list follows:
Consensus in conferences: Don't try to impose your views on the conference without discussion, be prepared to alter your standpoint. The main aim of a conference is for all the participants to arrive at a solution to a problem that is acceptable to all.
Thank, acknowledge and support: Common courtesy to thank you colleagues for their input, acknowledging and supporting them.
Acknowledge before differing: Acknowledge that you understand the other person's point of view before expressing your own view.
Avoid "flaming spirals": Usually caused by people with diametrically opposite views who will not back down. This can absolutely wreck a conference and is very disruptive and should be avoided at all costs. A 'flaming spiral' is a heated argument electronic style.
Careful of emotions in messages: The use of emotions in messages can be none beneficial especially if someone takes offence - can cause flaming spirals in not nipped in the bud.
Avoid "shouting": This is when the sender types the message in uppercase only. This in my experience of newsgroups on the Net is a major cause of flaming spirals. (Observation)
Don't overquote: Ideally you should just use short quotes from the original covering the subject of your reply. Don't quote the entire message - just the phases which are pertinent to your reply.
Where to write your message: If your message is personal in nature send it email don't post it to a conference where all members of the conference can read it.
Keep to the conference subject: Keep to the conference subject, this will make the conference easier to use. If you have another sublect to discuss start a new thread.
Keep messages short: Nobody is going to be bothered to read a message that goes on and on i.e. multiple screens of text. Messages should be short and to the point.
Use the subject line wisely: Make the subject line reflect the content of your message.
Copyright issues: Do not post anything to a conference that is not free or that you have copyright to.
Libel issues: Be careful what you say on a conference as you might be committing a libellous act.
Gary Alexander in his article, "Netiquette, or the social conventions of computer conferencing" suggests the following key principles be applied to allow a shared understanding between contributors in computer conferences:
- Thank, acknowledge and support people freely
Acknowledge before differing
Speak from a specified perspective (or at least some specified perspective)
Avoid 'flaming spirals'
Use emoticons in messages
Use caution when quoting other messages while replying to them - don't overquote
Write short, concise messages
Make sure thread title relates to content