Oldham Blog #15

Netiquette. It is not a word that most of us hear very often, but simply put it is the set of rules for behaving properly online. Cyberspace is its own culture, and with each new culture comes a different and unique set of rules. Luckily, netiquette consist of ten basic rules, that when followed, will provide you with the skills to behave appropriately.

These ten rules are as follows:

1. Remember the human.
2. Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you would follow in real life.
3. Know where you are in cyberspace.
4. Respect other people’s time and bandwidth.
5. Make yourself look good online.
6. Share expert knowledge.
7. Help keep flame wars under control.
8. Respect other people’s privacy.
9. Don’t abuse your power.
10. Be forgiving of other people’s mistakes.

In my opinion, the most important of all these rules is to remember the human. When you communicate on cyberspace it is important to remember that you don’t see the person face-to-face, you only see the computer screen. Therefore, you need to realize that people can’t see gestures or facial expressions. Sometimes what you might mean to say sarcastically will only come off cold and mean. Also, remember that if you wouldn’t say something to someone’s face don’t say it online. It can often times be easy to say whatever you feel like when you are only looking at a computer screen, but manners are important, especially when it comes to people’s feelings.

Overall, following these ten rules will help you represent yourself better and keep the culture of cyberspace a happy and professional one.