5.4 Netiquette and politeness
Netiquette is a term referring to the conventions of politeness recommended in electronic communication over a computer network.
The most important rule is: “Remember the human - stop, read again and edit before you post.”
Consider the following points:
- Double check the addressee before sending
- Avoid cross posting to inappropriate groups
- Ask permission of the sender before forwarding an email
- When attaching files, don't send any larger than about 50k
- Always include a subject header that reflects the content of the message
- Avoid using slang or phrases that may not be understood in another country
- If quoting or referencing in an email, follow print conventions
Mailing lists
- Before posting, read what others in the list have written to get a feel for the nature of the group, and what is acceptable practice
- Post concise and relevant messages
- If posting to discussion lists, don't say anything you might regret later. Many are archived, and not able to be retrieved
Online chat
- Observe and get a feel for the conversation and what is acceptable before joining
- If the topic offends you, do not join
- If the conversation becomes offensive, leave it
- Sending harassing messages is offensive and can get you banned from the server
- Use mixed case, as upper case can be interpreted ‘AS SHOUTING'
