Good Manners on the Internet The following are a few simple guidelines to Internet manners.
- Spelling counts. Use ALL CAPITALS and exclamation marks !!! sparingly, for emphasis only. Otherwise it seems as if you're shouting all the time.
- Read - mailing lists, Web pages etc - for a while before you start sending off messages. This enables you to work out where is the best place to send a message to. If you have a question, see if it is answered in a FAQ (frequently asked questions) list.
- Keep your messages short, simple and to the point. So-called smart comments just read as stupid.
- Only subscribe yourself to mailing lists. No one else, no matter how much you are tempted. While we are on the topic, subscriptions to mailing lists are sent to the list server program, not to the list itself.
0- Read the rules of a mailing list. These are sent to you when you subscribe to the list. Flaming someone for not following the rules when in fact they are following them does not make you popular. No one likes being told off for doing the correct thing. If you want to reply to someone's mistake, send him/her a private e-mail. The entire list does not want to know what you are telling that person (and this way it is less embarrassing if you get it wrong).
- Read your message before you send it. Think about how it will appear to other people, especially people from other cultures. Obviously, avoid racist or bigoted remarks (especially unintentional ones). These people will not know you are just joking.
- All mail programs let you have a signature, a little file that gets added to the end of each mail message you send. Quotes are common. Keep it short and sweet - four lines at the most.
- It is very easy to get upset about other messages on the Internet. Sending an irate message straight back is called flaming. These messages always read as far angrier than what you intended. Write the message, then file it in the garbage bin. Or wait a few hours until you have calmed down, and then consider if you really want to dignify that rubbish with a reply.
- Never forward a chain letter. Throw them away.
- Spamming (sending the same message to as many e-mail addresses as possible) is horrible. Don't participate.
- Download what you need, when you need it. Don't tie up your ISP connection by downloading lots of files, for hours at a time, just in case you need them.
- Don't leave your computer connected to the Internet if you're not using it. Hang up and let someone else log on.