Netiquette: Online politesse. The digital hands shaking

The only things more complex than social relations are probably online social relations. In every given culture there are unwritten (or prescribed by authority) desirable manners to behave. The social characteristics of the Web 2.0, where the user practically creates the contents through online communications, have turned the cyberspace into a particular culture of its own. Like any other, this worldwide culture has its set of rules for proper online behavior, that’s what we call Netiquette.

When interacting online, it’s easy to forget we’re actually treating with people from all over the world; this situation makes us liable to commit, without meaning, some social blunders that could offend or disturb other users. This possibly innocent misbehavior could create a negative idea about us in the other users’ conception.

Some tips for international netiquette to bear in mind:

• Keep it human. Always remember there’s a person behind the user contact icon. Not to be rude or unnatural seems obvious in real life, but it often happens in cyberspace. Think if you would say the same thing to a person’s face. Be organic, there’s no need to sound like a robot!

• Characters talk. Writing is one of the most common ways of communicating online. CAPS LETTERS LOOK AS IF YOU’RE SHOUTING. Emotions are easily expressed by faces , but use them sparingly. Asterisks are used to rectify meaning (*). If you want to emphasize something, _use underscores for underlining_. And ever more important: no matter who will read it, watch out with orthography!

• Render onto Caesar. Always give credit to your source of information if there’s any. Respect others’ ideas and quote them. It’s an ethical issue; it will make you look wiser than just posting information as it fell from the sky!
Pay when you’re supposed to. Rarely is the information expensive online, but it serves to encourage qualified web materials. That benefits everyone on the long-term.

• Remain short and simple. Don’t saturate your e-mails with complicated subjects, over-elaborated sentences, and long signatures. Remember the Net is all about speed and saving time and money.

Regardless of what your online activity is, if you’re hosting a web forum on politics or just commenting on a random YouTube video then netiquette is your way to express respect and politesse. Use it in your favor!

Sources:

• Virginia Shea quoted on Albion.com and Seth T. Ross. (2005). The core rules of netiquette.
• RFC 1855. Netiquette Guidelines.
• Usenet News. Zen and the art of Internet.