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Core Rules - Netiquette

Netiquette outlines rules for proper online communication. The core rules include remembering the human on the other side of the communication, adhering to the same standards of behavior online as offline, and knowing what type of communication is appropriate for different online contexts. Other rules are to respect others' time and bandwidth, make a good impression with clear writing, share knowledge and expertise, avoid inflammatory arguments, respect privacy, not abuse power over others, and be forgiving of mistakes. Following netiquette helps foster productive online interactions and communities.

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Kat Ng
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61 views

Core Rules - Netiquette

Netiquette outlines rules for proper online communication. The core rules include remembering the human on the other side of the communication, adhering to the same standards of behavior online as offline, and knowing what type of communication is appropriate for different online contexts. Other rules are to respect others' time and bandwidth, make a good impression with clear writing, share knowledge and expertise, avoid inflammatory arguments, respect privacy, not abuse power over others, and be forgiving of mistakes. Following netiquette helps foster productive online interactions and communities.

Uploaded by

Kat Ng
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Core Rules of Netiquette

Netiquette, or network etiquette, is concerned with the "proper" way to communicate in an


online environment. Consider the following "rules," adapted from Virginia Shea's The Core
Rules of Netiquette, whenever you communicate in the virtual world.
Rule 1: Remember the Human
When communicating electronically, whether through email, instant message, discussion post,
text, or some other method, practice the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have
others do unto you. Remember, your written words are read by real people, all deserving of
respectful communication. Before you press "send" or "submit," ask yourself, "Would I be okay
with this if someone else had written it?"
Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life
While it can be argued that standards of behavior may be different in the virtual world, they
certainly should not be lower. You should do your best to act within the laws and ethical
manners of society whenever you inhabit "cyberspace." Would you behave rudely to someone
face-to-face? On most occasions, no. Neither should you behave this way in the virtual world.
Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace
"Netiquette varies from domain to domain." (Shea, 1994) Depending on where you are in the
virtual world, the same written communication can be acceptable in one area, where it might
be considered inappropriate in another. What you text to a friend may not be appropriate in an
email to a classmate or colleague. Can you think of another example?
Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth
Electronic communication takes time: time to read and time in which to respond. Most people
today lead busy lives, just like you do, and don't have time to read or respond to frivolous
emails or discussion posts. As a virtual world communicator, it is your responsibility to make
sure that the time spent reading your words isn't wasted. Make your written communication
meaningful and to the point, without extraneous text or superfluous graphics or attachments
that may take forever to download.
Rule 5: Make yourself look good online
One of the best things about the virtual world is the lack of judgment associated with your
physical appearance, sound of your voice, or the clothes you wear (unless you post a video of
yourself singing Karaoke in a clown outfit.) You will, however, be judged by the quality of your
writing, so keep the following tips in mind:

 Always check for spelling and grammar errors


 Know what you're talking about and state it clearly
 Be pleasant and polite
Rule 6: Share expert knowledge
The Internet offers its users many benefits; one is the ease in which information can be shared
or accessed and in fact, this "information sharing" capability is one of the reasons the Internet
was founded. So in the spirit of the Internet's "founding fathers," share what you know! When
you post a question and receive intelligent answers, share the results with others. Are you an
expert at something? Post resources and references about your subject matter. Recently
expanded your knowledge about a subject that might be of interest to others? Share that as
well.
Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control
What is meant by "flaming" and "flame wars?" "Flaming is what people do when they express a
strongly held opinion without holding back any emotion." (Shea, 1994). As an example, think of
the kinds of passionate comments you might read on a sports blog. While "flaming" is not
necessarily forbidden in virtual communication, "flame wars," when two or three people
exchange angry posts between one another, must be controlled or the camaraderie of the
group could be compromised. Don't feed the flames; extinguish them by guiding the discussion
back to a more productive direction.
Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy
Depending on what you are reading in the virtual world, be it an online class discussion forum,
Facebook page, or an email, you may be exposed to some private or personal information that
needs to be handled with care. Perhaps someone is sharing some medical news about a loved
one or discussing a situation at work. What do you think would happen if this information "got
into the wrong hands?" Embarrassment? Hurt feelings? Loss of a job? Just as you expect others
to respect your privacy, so should you respect the privacy of others. Be sure to err on the side
of caution when deciding to discuss or not to discuss virtual communication.
Rule 9: Don't abuse your power
Just like in face-to-face situations, there are people in cyberspace who have more "power" than
others. They have more expertise in technology or they have years of experience in a particular
skill or subject matter. Maybe it's you who posesses all of this knowledge and power! Just
remember: knowing more than others do or having more power than others may have does not
give you the right to take advantage of anyone. Think of Rule 1: Remember the human.
Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes
Not everyone has the same amount of experience working in the virtual world. And not
everyone knows the rules of netiquette. At some point, you will see a stupid question, read an
unnecessarily long response, or encounter misspelled words; when this happens, practice
kindness and forgiveness as you would hope someone would do if you had committed the same
offense. If it's a minor "offense," you might want to let it slide. If you feel compelled to respond
to a mistake, do so in a private email rather than a public forum.

Adapted from The Core Rules of Netiquette Shea, V. (1994). Core rules of netiquette. Netiquette
(Online ed., pp. 32-45). San Francisco: Albion Books.

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