Rules of Netiquette allow online users on the Internet to communicate with each other so we can get our message to the intended audience clear and respect the boundaries of others.
We will have such occasions where we will meet others in forums, newsgroups, by e-mail, through feedback panels and in other areas. Many of these arenas have been cause for abuse by those without a clue as to what they are doing wrong and those who are deliberately trying to do wrong. One can often overlook the mistakes of the newbie, but if the behavior is repeated, the forgiveness is not so swift by the Internet communities.
Just as there are codes of proper behavior in the real world, there are guidelines to follow in the virtual world. Breeching these codes can get you "flamed" or "bombed" as well as other not very nice things.
The biggest rule - DO NOT SPAM!!! Spamming is sending unsolicited commercial e-mail to someone. It does not matter if you know the person or not, by sending your ads to anyone by e-mail will not only get the other person angry, but could get you in a lot of trouble with your ISP and the company you are promoting that may have strict rules of advertising on their behalf.
Also common sense will tell you, treat others as you would have them treat you. Don't go into chat rooms or newsgroups "trolling". Trolling is the deliberate act to aggravate and antagonize those who normally use that area without the intention to contribute to the standards of that particular community.
Observe in silence before commenting in any public area. It will help prevent you from making a fool of yourself. Read the posts on rules before you join and read the comments from the regulars until you get the gist of how that particular group communicates. Before participating in a thread, introduce yourself. When you start a thread, be sure to participate in it and don't just post and run.
Another annoying rule of netiquette many don't realize is the habit of forwarding things they come across by e-mail. These can include chain letters, cutesy stories, urban legends in the guise of a real threat and so forth. Unless you know the person on the other end appreciates such things, don't forward everything in your inbox to everyone you know.
Write to be understood! In other words, to come across clear make sure your message is easy to read. TURN OFF THE CAPS!!! By leaving the caps on, you are shouting at people and this can get you flamed. Equally annoying is having everything in lower-cased letters. Leaving proper space between words and paragraphs is also helpful in making it easier for the audience to read what you have to say.
Playing with fonts, colors and backgrounds are fine, but PLEASE, make sure it isn't eye straining to read. Too much fancy font or a colored background with a colored text can turn people off if using the wrong combinations - for instance, don't use bright yellow with a light green or a strong red with a dark blue.
Just as annoying and immature is mixed caps and lowers in inappropriate places. dOEsn'T ThIS sEEm vErY HaRD tO rEAd?
If you follow these basic rules, you should not have any problem. If someone steps on your toes by not following these rules, don't stoop to their level. Ignore them long enough, they leave you alone. An Internet bully is much like a real life bully; their egos are fed by reactions. If you don't react, they get bored and go away.
These are common terms involved with netiquette rules, as well as emoticons and shorthand:
- Flamed - getting hateful responses directed to you.
- Bombed - getting your e-mail filled to the point you cannot get anything else (can also apply to your web site)
- Spam - unsolicited commercial e-mail otherwise known as UCE
- Trolling - making derogatory comments or stirring up unwanted controversy in a newsgroup or chat room (i.e. - an atheist going into a Christian group bashing them as Bible thumpers)
- :-) Basic smiley
- :-( Basic frown
- ;-) winking
- :-/ Wry humor
- :-> Sarcastic comment
- AFK - away from keyboard
- AOL - America Online
- AOH - AO Hell
- BAK - back at keyboard
- BD (BFD) - big deal (big f***ing deal)
- BFN - bye for now
- BRB - be right back
- BTW - by the way
- CUL8R - see you later
- CYA - see you
- FB - furrowed brow
- GAL - get a life
- GR8 - great
- GTRM - going to read mail
- HTH - hope this helps
- IMO - in my opinion
- IMHO - in my humble opinion
- IAE - in any event
- IOW - in other words
- IYSWIM - if you see what I mean
- L8R - later
- LOL - laugh out loud
- NRN - no reply needed
- NW (NFW) - no way (no f***ing way)
- OIC - oh, I see
- OT - off topic
- OTOH - on the other hand
- PBT - pay back time
- ROTFLMAO - roll on the floor laughing my ass off
- RTM (RTFM) - read the manual (read the f***ing manual)
- SOL - sooner or later
- TTYL - talk to you later
