This morning my husband and I were sitting around the breakfast table, discussing how technology is advancing so quickly that humans are struggling to form new social norms. (Yes, this is a typical Sunday morning for us!) In this set of posts, I will discuss how to have proper etiquette in today’s tech-driven world.
Etiquette is more than just some stuffy old lady insisting on rigid outdated rules. Rather, etiquette provides a common blueprint for acceptable human behavior. When we pay attention to that blueprint, we know that we are acting in such a way that treats our fellow humans with dignity, consideration and respect. According to Merriam-Webster, etiquette is “the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life.” Just as we have rules of conduct in our brick-and-mortar lives, we should also adhere to them in our online lives. Thus, netiquette is “The social code of network communication. 2. The social and moral code of the internet based on the human condition and Golden Rule of Netiquette. 3. A philosophy of effective internet communication that utilizes common conventions and norms as a guide for rules and standards” (NetworkEtiquette.net).
After all, wouldn’t you hate to alienate somebody just for doing something stupid online?
So…here are the general rules of netiquette:
- Act human. Behave the same way online as you would in person. This is perhaps the most important rule. If you follow this rule, for the most part you will automatically have good “netiquette.”
- Avoid emotional misunderstandings. Remember that things like tone of voice and facial expression are not being transmitted to your listener. Therefore, be careful with expressing things like sarcasm, which may be too nuanced to properly transmit via electronic means. But perhaps more importantly, do not rely on electronic media to express the depth of your emotions, or really to communicate about anything emotional. Save those types of conversations for face-to-face contact.
- Don’t post impulsively. Because you cannot see the person(s) you are communicating with, it can feel like you are “anonymous,” which can have a disinhibiting effect. But people know who you are and will remember the one time you slipped up and let your temper flare. Remember that every interaction you have online contributes to your online reputation and “electronic footprint,” and that footprint is permanent. So don’t post anything you wouldn’t mind having on the front page of your local newspaper.
- Be timely. If you are going to sign up for a discussion group, or give out your email account, expect to check it regularly and respond in a timely manner. Check your email at least once a day and your other social media a few times a week. It’s rude to keep people hanging.
- Don’t be demanding. On the flip side of this, don’t stalk people. Remember other people have lives, and priorities that may not include responding to your 3am discussion group post. Just because you are fired up about something doesn’t mean everyone else is.
In my next post, I will discuss more specific netiquette related to email.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Barbara LoFrisco
