NetiquetteNetiquetteMr. EllsworthMr. Ellsworth

NetiquetteNetiquetteNetiquette - Internet EtiquetteNetiquette - Internet Etiquette

Understanding netiquette, or Internet etiquette, Understanding netiquette, or Internet etiquette, will keep you from making an electronic faux pas will keep you from making an electronic faux pas and will enable you to tell when others do.and will enable you to tell when others do.

Netiquette is as close as the Internet comes to Netiquette is as close as the Internet comes to having rules.having rules.

Like every society in history, the Internet has to Like every society in history, the Internet has to have a few mutually agreed upon guidelines to have a few mutually agreed upon guidelines to efficiently manage resources and maintain group efficiently manage resources and maintain group harmony.harmony.

Chaos reigns in some corners of the Internet, but Chaos reigns in some corners of the Internet, but it's in your best interest to be a solid, upstanding it's in your best interest to be a solid, upstanding netizennetizen..

Electronic Electronic CommunicationsCommunications

Keep paragraphs and messages short and to Keep paragraphs and messages short and to the point.the point.

Focus on one subject per message and always Focus on one subject per message and always include a pertinent subject title for the include a pertinent subject title for the message, that way the user can locate the message, that way the user can locate the message quickly.message quickly.

Don't use academic networks (like Spectrum's, Don't use academic networks (like Spectrum's, or the U of M’s) for commercial or proprietary or the U of M’s) for commercial or proprietary work.work.

Include your signature at the bottom of email Include your signature at the bottom of email messages.messages.

Electronic Electronic CommunicationsCommunications

Capitalize words only to highlight an important point Capitalize words only to highlight an important point or to distinguish a title or heading.or to distinguish a title or heading.

*Asterisks* surrounding a word also can be used to *Asterisks* surrounding a word also can be used to make a stronger point.make a stronger point.

Capitalizing whole words that are not titles is Capitalizing whole words that are not titles is generally termed as SHOUTING!generally termed as SHOUTING!

Limit line length and avoid control characters (non-Limit line length and avoid control characters (non-language characters).language characters).

Follow chain of command procedures for Follow chain of command procedures for corresponding with superiors. For example, don't send corresponding with superiors. For example, don't send a complaint via Email directly to the "top" just a complaint via Email directly to the "top" just because you can.because you can.

Be professional and careful what you say about Be professional and careful what you say about others. Email is easily forwarded.others. Email is easily forwarded.

Electronic Electronic CommunicationsCommunications

Cite all quotes, references and sources and Cite all quotes, references and sources and respect copyright and license agreements. respect copyright and license agreements. HIIII!!!! I’m SHOUTING AT YOU!!! (This is a HIIII!!!! I’m SHOUTING AT YOU!!! (This is a quote from Emma, see. I cited it. That’s correct quote from Emma, see. I cited it. That’s correct Netiquette!)Netiquette!)

It is considered extremely rude to forward It is considered extremely rude to forward personal email to other users without the personal email to other users without the original author's permission.original author's permission.

Be careful when using sarcasm and humor. Be careful when using sarcasm and humor. Without face to face communications your joke Without face to face communications your joke may be viewed as criticism.may be viewed as criticism.

Electronic Electronic CommunicationsCommunications

Acronyms can be used to abbreviate when Acronyms can be used to abbreviate when possible:possible:

Examples (some of these you definitely know):Examples (some of these you definitely know):

IMHO= in my humble/honest opinionIMHO= in my humble/honest opinion

FYI = for your informationFYI = for your information

BTW = by the wayBTW = by the way

Flame = antagonistic criticismFlame = antagonistic criticism

:-) = happy face for humor:-) = happy face for humor

However, messages that are filled with acronyms However, messages that are filled with acronyms can be confusing and annoying to the readercan be confusing and annoying to the reader

i.e. FYI IMHO I FLAME newbies who don't RTFM.i.e. FYI IMHO I FLAME newbies who don't RTFM.

CapitalizationCapitalizationCapitalization is viewed as shouting except in Capitalization is viewed as shouting except in the case of acronyms or product names.the case of acronyms or product names.

More often than not, a person typing their More often than not, a person typing their entire message in caps is not shouting, but is entire message in caps is not shouting, but is merely less than knowledgeable about the merely less than knowledgeable about the rules.rules.

These folks are These folks are newbiesnewbies (or new users) and (or new users) and should be treated gently.should be treated gently.

Don't forget--everyone has been a newbie at Don't forget--everyone has been a newbie at some point. Subtle reminders should do the job some point. Subtle reminders should do the job here.here.

Emoticons, Emoji, & Emoticons, Emoji, & SmileysSmileys

Emoticons - Symbols that stand for emotive Emoticons - Symbols that stand for emotive content.content.

Also called Emoji or SmileysAlso called Emoji or Smileys

It's very difficult to tell what the true intent of a It's very difficult to tell what the true intent of a line of text is in email.line of text is in email.

In the virtual world, there are no facial In the virtual world, there are no facial movements or changes in tone that can make movements or changes in tone that can make a derogatory comment into a friendly joke.a derogatory comment into a friendly joke.

Emoticons, Emoji, & Emoticons, Emoji, & SmileysSmileys

One academic study as shown that people One academic study as shown that people correctly interpret the intended tone of an correctly interpret the intended tone of an email only about 50 percent of the time email only about 50 percent of the time (Kruger, Gordan, and Kuban, 2006). Because of (Kruger, Gordan, and Kuban, 2006). Because of this, we need to make some changes in our this, we need to make some changes in our standard typing to convey emotions.standard typing to convey emotions.

One way is to emphasize words or phrases One way is to emphasize words or phrases using *asterisks* or _underline symbols_.using *asterisks* or _underline symbols_.

Another is the use of emoticons (for emotion Another is the use of emoticons (for emotion icons)--symbols that stand for emotive content.icons)--symbols that stand for emotive content.

Emoticon ExamplesEmoticon Examples:-) basic smiley face:-) basic smiley face

;-) sarcasm;-) sarcasm

:-( user is unhappy:-( user is unhappy

8-) user wears glasses8-) user wears glasses

B-) user wears horn-rimmed glassesB-) user wears horn-rimmed glasses

(-: user is left handed(-: user is left handed

:*) user is drunk:*) user is drunk

:-@ user is screaming:-@ user is screaming

d8= your pet beaver is wearing goggles and a d8= your pet beaver is wearing goggles and a hard hathard hat

The “sarc-mark.”The “sarc-mark.”The use of sarcasm is a frequent source of The use of sarcasm is a frequent source of confusion and trouble for those participating in confusion and trouble for those participating in online discussions.online discussions.

So much so, some advocates say, we need a So much so, some advocates say, we need a new punctuation mark to indicate when we are new punctuation mark to indicate when we are speaking sarcastically.speaking sarcastically.

Hence the newest punctuation mark: the "sarc-Hence the newest punctuation mark: the "sarc-mark."mark."

But as opposed to the familiar emoticon, the But as opposed to the familiar emoticon, the sarc-mark comes with a price: $1.99 USD to be sarc-mark comes with a price: $1.99 USD to be exact!exact!

Read more about it at: Sarc-Mark.com.Read more about it at: Sarc-Mark.com.

FlamingFlamingFlaming is an often-angry, mean-spirited attack on Flaming is an often-angry, mean-spirited attack on another person via email.another person via email.

It is a major breach of netiquette to flame someone.It is a major breach of netiquette to flame someone.

It's rather counterproductive and usually the result It's rather counterproductive and usually the result of:of:

A quick move to judgment.A quick move to judgment.

A sadistic temperament.A sadistic temperament.

Maybe the person is simple a jerk.Maybe the person is simple a jerk.

The feeling of anonymity.The feeling of anonymity.

The Internet gives users the feeling that they The Internet gives users the feeling that they can say whatever they want.can say whatever they want.

FlamingFlamingUnfortunately, there is little you can do when Unfortunately, there is little you can do when you have been flamed.you have been flamed.

Responding with a flame brings only joy to Responding with a flame brings only joy to the flamer and provides you with only the flamer and provides you with only momentary satisfaction.momentary satisfaction.

My advice is to contact a systems My advice is to contact a systems administrator at the flamer's institution and administrator at the flamer's institution and register a complaint.register a complaint.

Those who flame repeatedly can have their Those who flame repeatedly can have their accounts shut down.accounts shut down.

Flaming is the original cyber-bullying, which we Flaming is the original cyber-bullying, which we will talk about later on.will talk about later on.

Subject HeadingsSubject HeadingsSubject Headings are a short description of what Subject Headings are a short description of what the email is regarding.the email is regarding.

I cannot emphasize enough here the importance I cannot emphasize enough here the importance of a good subject heading for your message.of a good subject heading for your message.

ALWAYSALWAYS

Try to be as descriptive as possible in the Try to be as descriptive as possible in the space provided in your subject heading.space provided in your subject heading.

NEVERNEVER

Leave your subject heading blank.Leave your subject heading blank.

Write subject headings with non-descriptive Write subject headings with non-descriptive titles like "Internet" or "Hi!"titles like "Internet" or "Hi!"

Message & Signature Message & Signature LengthLength

There's nothing wrong with sending a long There's nothing wrong with sending a long message per se.message per se.

You want to be sure of two things:You want to be sure of two things:

Your recipient(s) will actually want to read Your recipient(s) will actually want to read the whole message.the whole message.

That you let them know in the subject line That you let them know in the subject line that it is a long messagethat it is a long message

i.e., "Subj: Yearly Finance Report - *Long*"i.e., "Subj: Yearly Finance Report - *Long*"

i.e., “Subj: Breaking Up With You - *Long*”i.e., “Subj: Breaking Up With You - *Long*”

Message & Signature Message & Signature LengthLength

With signature files, you generally want to stick With signature files, you generally want to stick with the ten line rule to keep your messages with the ten line rule to keep your messages shorter.shorter.

Adding a couple of extra lines is no great sin, Adding a couple of extra lines is no great sin, but more than that drives some people nuts.but more than that drives some people nuts.

Along with your contact info, you may wish to Along with your contact info, you may wish to include a favorite quote or saying.include a favorite quote or saying.

This is fine; don’t overdo it.This is fine; don’t overdo it.