Netiquette

Netiquette
“Network Etiquette”
• Online (or cyberspace) culture has its own rules
• Easy to make mistakes if you are new
• Step 1 – become familiar with the Basic Rules of
Netiquette

Netiquette
Remember the human
• The Golden Rule applies
• Review what you wrote:
– Would you be okay if someone else posted what you wrote?

Netiquette
Your online behavior should be no different than your behavior in real life
• Standards of behavior for online may be different than real life, but they should certainly not be lower
• Act legally and ethically responsible
• Use the same ethical manners of society when you are online
• If you wouldn’t be rude in a face-to-face meeting, don’t do it online

Netiquette
Know where you are in cyberspace
• Rules may differ from one virtual world to another
– Text to a friend vs. email to an instructor
– Know when to use proper grammar

Netiquette
Respect other people’s time
• Electronic communication takes time
• Most people are busy
• Be sure the time others spend reading what you write isn’t wasted
• Communication should be:
– Meaningful
– Relevant
– To the point
– On topic

Netiquette
Make yourself look good online
• In an online environment no one will judge you by how you look
• You will, however, be judged by the quality of your writing
• To make a good impression, follow these simple rules:
– Use proper grammar
– Check your spelling
– Know what you are talking about and state it clearly
– Be pleasant and polite

Netiquette
Share expert knowledge
• In a virtual environment information can be easily shared
• Share what you know!
– If you are an expert at something, share this expertise with your classmates
• Post resources and references in your area of expertise
• We can learn from each other

Netiquette
Keep “flame wars” under control
• What is flaming, or flame wars?
– When people express strongly held opinions without holding back any emotions (Shea 1994).
• Discussions can be heated with differences of opinion
– Keep anger under control
– Maintain respect
– Don’t make personal attacks
– Avoid broad judgments and generalizations
– Don’t feed the flames
– Typing in all caps is considered YELLING – don’t do it.

Netiquette
Respect other people’s privacy
• Do not inadvertently share something private
• Be careful about what you discuss or post online

Netiquette
Don’t abuse your power
• Just like in real life, there are some in the online world who wield more power.
– Those with more expertise
– Those with more skill
• Remember Rule #1 – remember the human

Netiquette
Be forgiving of other people’s mistakes
• Not everyone has the same level of experience in the online world
• Not everyone knows the rules of netiquette
• Practice forgiveness and kindness when you encounter mistakes
• If you feel you must correct the person, do so privately, not in a public forum
…Remember the Golden Rule

Netiquette
• Learning is social and cultural
– This applies to traditional as well as online courses
• To get the most from your online courses, follow these simple rules:
– Show up
– Write carefully
– Use an appropriate tone
– Behave as you would in a classroom

Netiquette
Following these simple rules as you interact in your online courses will ensure you won’t make any social blunders, will use your own and other’s time wisely, and will lead to more productive and civil discussions in your courses.

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