In life, we have to follow standard rules of social behavior.. We have etiquette.. We also have etiquette online, it's called NETIQUETTE.. A compound formed from "NET ETIQUETTE".. It is a set of social conventions that make interaction easier over networks, ranging from usenet and mailing lists to blogs and forums. However, like many internet phenomena, the concept and it's application remain in a state of flux and vary from community to community..
Below are the core rules of netiquette:
-REMEMBER THE HUMAN: If you want to stand up for yourself, try not to hurt other people's feelings. just remember the golden rule: "DO UNTO OTHERS WHAT YOU WANT OTHERS DO UNTO YOU.."
-ADHERE THE SAME STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR ONLINE THAT YOU FOLLOW IN REAL LIFE: Don't bring your personal behavior in cyberspace.. Lower standard of ethics is not acceptable. Remember that there's a human being on the other side of the computer.
-KNOW WHERE YOU ARE IN CYBERSPACE:
What's perfectly acceptable in one area may be dreadfully rude in another. For example, you tell green jokes to your rascal friends and they know what you're talking about.. Do you think, if you tell it to the religious people, will they understand you? Just like in cyberspace, you would know how to be fair.. You have to be equal in whatever discussion may be..
-RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME AND BANDWIDTH: If you really wanted to post something online, do it with sense and make it interesting.. Make it clear and give understandable meaning.. So that people reading your post will never say " oh my.. I just wasted my time.."
-MAKE YOURSELF LOOK GOOD ONLINE: Yes, the net is a cold, cruel place full of people who just can't wait to insult each other.. If you have friendster, facebook and everything, of course you have to display your photo.. But why need to put other people's photo instead of yours? Don't you know that your violating their rights? Use your own photo.. Don't worry, you are beautiful.. you're not ugly.. It's just that you're not contented of what you have and what you are..
-SHARE EXPERT KNOWLEDGE: As you see, ther are some questions online that needs responses.. So if you have intelligent answer to at least one of those question, why don't you share it? If you do, you shared expert knowledge not just to a person but to the whole group where he belong..
-HELP KEEP FLAME WARS UNDER CONTROL: Flaming is what people do when they express a strongly held opinion without holding any emotions.. It's just that he's telling you something but you don't know what he really feel.. Online, you can also find torubles.. Flame wars, a conversation or a dicussion that leads to fight or debate.. But if you are not involved to the topic, You might get bored and feel yourself out of place..
-RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE'S PRIVACY:
Oh, yes! You're a good person right? So why need to peep and read other people's unclosed private e-mail? Well, it's not good.. Private is private and don't have the right to violate other people's privacy..
-DON'T ABUSE YOUR POWER: Some people in cyberspace have more power than another, system administrators are the best example.. They can monitor whatever you were doing in your computer.. They can change your password they can do everything.. But eventhough you're a powerful sysadmin, you really don't have to do it.. Even reading the company's private e-mail.. Just do your work as system administator.. Don't abuse your power..
-BE FORGIVING OF OTHER PEOPLES'S MISTAKES: If your correspondent has mistakes, don't step on him and put in his mind that he is damn dumb, nonsense and useless.. If you really wanted to correct him, just do it calmly and nicely.. Treat him as a person not a DOG..
