Intro to Online Journalism

Readings One
Email Etiquette and The Core Rules for Netequitte

These two internet sites have helped me learn more about what I’m doing right and what I am doing wrong when participating in this web of communication. Here’s a bit of what I have found interesting.

According to emailreplies.com there are 32 rules of etiquette that one should follow when emailing.

32 most important email etiquette tips:
1. Be concise and to the point
2. Answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions
3. Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation
4. Make it personal
5. Use templates for frequently used responses
6. Answer swiftly
7. Do not attach unnecessary files
8. Use proper structure & layout
9. Do not overuse the high priority option
10. Do not write in CAPITALS
11. Don't leave out the message thread
12. Add disclaimers to your emails
13. Read the email before you send it
14. Do not overuse Reply to All
15. Mailings > use the bcc: field or do a mail merge
16. Take care with abbreviations and emoticons
17. Be careful with formatting
18. Take care with rich text and HTML messages
19. Do not forward chain letters
20. Do not request delivery and read receipts
21. Do not ask to recall a message.
22. Do not copy a message or attachment without permission
23. Do not use email to discuss confidential information
24. Use a meaningful subject
25. Use active instead of passive
26. Avoid using URGENT and IMPORTANT
27. Avoid long sentences
28. Don't send or forward emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist or obscene remarks
29. Don't forward virus hoaxes and chain letters
30. Keep your language gender neutral
31. Don't reply to spam
32. Use cc: field sparingly
While I thought these rules were needed there are some that stood out more than others to me. For instance I thought it was interesting that one of the rules was (23) Do not use email to discuss confidential information. I probably would have done this without realizing the problem with it but it’s not difficult for someone to hack into your email therefore all the confident information could be surrendered.
I also thought number 30 was interesting. Keep your language gender neutral. That is sometimes difficult for me and I’m sure for others because we have a very specific way we use our speech. If we don’t catch those we can create serious problems though. I think this is an important rule to keep in mind.

I picked up some rules on netequitte from,
http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
Rule 1: Remember the Human
Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life
Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace
Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth
Rule 5: Make yourself look good online
Rule 6: Share expert knowledge
Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control
Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy
Rule 9: Don't abuse your power
Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes
Like the email etiquette site I found valuable information in these rules as well. I think what I have witnessed as most common rule to break is Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life. Since people do not have face to face interaction they feel they can get away with a lot more and generally kind people in person turn ruthless through the web because they forget that their correspondences are human and have feelings as well.
Another rule I thought was interesting though is Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control. I thought this was interesting because this rule actually encourages you to almost respectfully debate. It’s difficult to find and keep the balance of debating and being kind to other people who’s opinions you do not agree with.

Overall I think most of these rules are pretty basic and users keep them just from using common sense but there are a few rules that I had not considered before and will be sure to become more aware of.