Understanding Netiquette
(the Etiquette of cyberspace)
(the Etiquette of cyberspace)
"Etiquette" means "the forms required by good
breeding or prescribed by authority to be required
in social or official life."
"Netiquette" is a set of rules for behaving
properly online.
Here are 16 BIG Mike Netiquette suggestions.
1. Be Prompt
Answer your mail as soon as you get it. If you
think the importance of a message justifies it,
immediately reply briefly to an eMail message to
let the sender know you got it, even if you will
send a longer reply later. The idea here is time
and speed. Check your mail at 10, 2 and 4 (like
the old Dr Pepper Advertising slogan).
2. Be nice to your reader
Use short paragraphs - Reading endless rows of
text is a killer Make each line no more than 40
characters long.
3. Be Concise
One of the many luxuries of eMail is its ability
to answer a question or communicate a thought in a
more quick and informal manner than a letter or a
phone call. Keeping eMails short helps to keep
eMail more productive. Attention may drift if
messages are too long. You can be brief without
being overly terse.
When replying to a message, include enough
original material to be understood but no more. It
is extremely bad form to simply reply to a message
by including all the previous message: edit out
all the irrelevant material.
4. Write it off-line
For a lengthy or complicated eMail, create the
eMail in your word processing program, use the
spell check and then copy to your eMail. If you
have an eMail glitch during the sending process,
you can easily retrieve your message! Reread your
message to avoid those "I meant to say" messages
sent two seconds later.
5. Use an Informative Subject Title
Use the Subject line to clearly describe the topic
of your eMail. This is helpful for the recipient,
and for you if you want to find a message you've
sent.
6. Use a Signature File.
eMail without a sig file says more about you that
you want them to know.There is a detailed article
abouot htis available from
MailTo:SignIt@BIGIdeasGroup.com
7. Don't Use ALL CAPS
Using capitals is considered SHOUTING.
Instead of Caps. Use Asterisks to highlight a key
word or thought for emphasis (i.e. thank you
*very* much). Use asterisks only when necessary to
highlight a point as overuse of asterisks may make
your message appear insincere.
8. Size IS important
Know how large a message you are sending.
Including large files such as Postscript files or
programs may make your message so large that it
cannot be delivered or at least consumes excessive
resources. A good rule of thumb would be not to
send a file larger than 50 Kilobytes. Consider
file transfer as an alternative, or cutting the
file into smaller chunks and sending each as a
separate message.
9. Avoid "Flames"
A "flame" is an inflammatory or critical message.
Keep your emotions in tow. Don't send eMail that
might trigger an upsetting response from the
recipient. Don't say anything you would say face
to face. When you press the SEND button your reply
is GONE. There is no takeback. You can rean a
widley published article on this subject at
MailTo:Flames@BIGIdeasGroup.com
10. Avoid Angry Replies
If someone sends you an eMail message that strikes
you as just a little too critical, or you read a
message in a discussion group (eGroup) that seems
a little too offensive, chances are that you're
misinterpreting the intent of the sender. Perhaps
the message that you are taking so seriously was
intended to be taken sarcastically--or perhaps you
have stumbled upon a newsgroup where no-holds-
barred messages are tolerated, or even expected.
Either way, it does no good to pour fuel on the
fire of what could potentially become a "flame
war," where a few people engage in pointless
verbal warfare, usually as the result of a
misinterpreted message or an undiscriminating
author.
Wait to send emotional responses to messages. If
you have really strong feelings about a message
received write the response immediately, but don't
send it. Let it cool for 48 hours. Then, if you
still feel that way, perhaps you can temper your
remarks and send a less inflammatory message
11. Sometimes you just want to have fun
Use Shortcuts and eMotes for personal eMail only.
Not for business use
Using BTW instead of typing By The Way or making a
smiley face :) is reserved for the most personal
and informal of all eMail
12. Use Threads
Threads are a series of responses to an original
message. It is helpful to, rather than start an
entirely new message as a response, continue with
the thread by pressing "reply" to the messages
until the communication is complete. Keeping the
thread information together makes it easier for
the participants to follow the chain of
information that has been exchanged.
13. Use Correct Subject Line
Mail should have a subject heading which reflects
the content of the message. Many times replies
head off in a different direction and have nothing
to do with the original heading which appears with
every transmission.
14. Use Common Sense
Just as mail (today) may not be private, mail (and
news) are (today) subject to forgery and spoofing
of various degrees of detectability. Apply common
sense "reality checks" before assuming a message
is valid.
15. Avoid Spamming
Spam, when used in reference to eMail, means
electronic garbage. Sending junk eMail (such as an
advertisement) or to anyone you don't know,
singularly or in a group is considered "spamming".
Avoid this annoying practice.
16. Assume everyone will read it
Whether you are composing an eMail message or
writing your own WWW document, it is wise to
assume that everyone in the world will read your
words. Never assume that your eMail can be read by
no one except yourself. Though eMail is sent to
only one person, it is very easy to forward an
eMail message to hundreds or thousands of people.
Be sure you want it in writing. Remember, once
your message is sent it can be printed, saved,
duplicated forwarded or anything else the receiver
chooses to do. You may find out in a most
unpleasant way that your private conversation is
now public information.
Unless you have complete trust that the recipient
of your mail will keep it confidential, assume
complete exposure to the rest of the world.
Think of eMail as a postcard. Once you send it,
you have no control over who sees it.
Good manners are always welcome, on line or not.
Copyright 2004 BIG Mike McDaniel - All Rights Reserved -
BIG Mike McDaniel is a former successful
radio station owner and major market TV News
anchor and nationally recognized Speaker,
Author, and Small Business
breeding or prescribed by authority to be required
in social or official life."
"Netiquette" is a set of rules for behaving
properly online.
Here are 16 BIG Mike Netiquette suggestions.
1. Be Prompt
Answer your mail as soon as you get it. If you
think the importance of a message justifies it,
immediately reply briefly to an eMail message to
let the sender know you got it, even if you will
send a longer reply later. The idea here is time
and speed. Check your mail at 10, 2 and 4 (like
the old Dr Pepper Advertising slogan).
2. Be nice to your reader
Use short paragraphs - Reading endless rows of
text is a killer Make each line no more than 40
characters long.
3. Be Concise
One of the many luxuries of eMail is its ability
to answer a question or communicate a thought in a
more quick and informal manner than a letter or a
phone call. Keeping eMails short helps to keep
eMail more productive. Attention may drift if
messages are too long. You can be brief without
being overly terse.
When replying to a message, include enough
original material to be understood but no more. It
is extremely bad form to simply reply to a message
by including all the previous message: edit out
all the irrelevant material.
4. Write it off-line
For a lengthy or complicated eMail, create the
eMail in your word processing program, use the
spell check and then copy to your eMail. If you
have an eMail glitch during the sending process,
you can easily retrieve your message! Reread your
message to avoid those "I meant to say" messages
sent two seconds later.
5. Use an Informative Subject Title
Use the Subject line to clearly describe the topic
of your eMail. This is helpful for the recipient,
and for you if you want to find a message you've
sent.
6. Use a Signature File.
eMail without a sig file says more about you that
you want them to know.There is a detailed article
abouot htis available from
MailTo:SignIt@BIGIdeasGroup.com
7. Don't Use ALL CAPS
Using capitals is considered SHOUTING.
Instead of Caps. Use Asterisks to highlight a key
word or thought for emphasis (i.e. thank you
*very* much). Use asterisks only when necessary to
highlight a point as overuse of asterisks may make
your message appear insincere.
8. Size IS important
Know how large a message you are sending.
Including large files such as Postscript files or
programs may make your message so large that it
cannot be delivered or at least consumes excessive
resources. A good rule of thumb would be not to
send a file larger than 50 Kilobytes. Consider
file transfer as an alternative, or cutting the
file into smaller chunks and sending each as a
separate message.
9. Avoid "Flames"
A "flame" is an inflammatory or critical message.
Keep your emotions in tow. Don't send eMail that
might trigger an upsetting response from the
recipient. Don't say anything you would say face
to face. When you press the SEND button your reply
is GONE. There is no takeback. You can rean a
widley published article on this subject at
MailTo:Flames@BIGIdeasGroup.com
10. Avoid Angry Replies
If someone sends you an eMail message that strikes
you as just a little too critical, or you read a
message in a discussion group (eGroup) that seems
a little too offensive, chances are that you're
misinterpreting the intent of the sender. Perhaps
the message that you are taking so seriously was
intended to be taken sarcastically--or perhaps you
have stumbled upon a newsgroup where no-holds-
barred messages are tolerated, or even expected.
Either way, it does no good to pour fuel on the
fire of what could potentially become a "flame
war," where a few people engage in pointless
verbal warfare, usually as the result of a
misinterpreted message or an undiscriminating
author.
Wait to send emotional responses to messages. If
you have really strong feelings about a message
received write the response immediately, but don't
send it. Let it cool for 48 hours. Then, if you
still feel that way, perhaps you can temper your
remarks and send a less inflammatory message
11. Sometimes you just want to have fun
Use Shortcuts and eMotes for personal eMail only.
Not for business use
Using BTW instead of typing By The Way or making a
smiley face :) is reserved for the most personal
and informal of all eMail
12. Use Threads
Threads are a series of responses to an original
message. It is helpful to, rather than start an
entirely new message as a response, continue with
the thread by pressing "reply" to the messages
until the communication is complete. Keeping the
thread information together makes it easier for
the participants to follow the chain of
information that has been exchanged.
13. Use Correct Subject Line
Mail should have a subject heading which reflects
the content of the message. Many times replies
head off in a different direction and have nothing
to do with the original heading which appears with
every transmission.
14. Use Common Sense
Just as mail (today) may not be private, mail (and
news) are (today) subject to forgery and spoofing
of various degrees of detectability. Apply common
sense "reality checks" before assuming a message
is valid.
15. Avoid Spamming
Spam, when used in reference to eMail, means
electronic garbage. Sending junk eMail (such as an
advertisement) or to anyone you don't know,
singularly or in a group is considered "spamming".
Avoid this annoying practice.
16. Assume everyone will read it
Whether you are composing an eMail message or
writing your own WWW document, it is wise to
assume that everyone in the world will read your
words. Never assume that your eMail can be read by
no one except yourself. Though eMail is sent to
only one person, it is very easy to forward an
eMail message to hundreds or thousands of people.
Be sure you want it in writing. Remember, once
your message is sent it can be printed, saved,
duplicated forwarded or anything else the receiver
chooses to do. You may find out in a most
unpleasant way that your private conversation is
now public information.
Unless you have complete trust that the recipient
of your mail will keep it confidential, assume
complete exposure to the rest of the world.
Think of eMail as a postcard. Once you send it,
you have no control over who sees it.
Good manners are always welcome, on line or not.
Copyright 2004 BIG Mike McDaniel - All Rights Reserved -
BIG Mike McDaniel is a former successful
radio station owner and major market TV News
anchor and nationally recognized Speaker,
Author, and Small Business
