Network etiquette: the concept and rules

The concept of network etiquette came to us from English - network etiquette. Often there shorten the expression to a netiquette. In runet the term "networket" is not yet widely distributed. To communicate in the network was pleasant, and negotiations successful, you should take into account some principles, as in real life. Network etiquette is a set of rules for communication in the network, correspondence, mailing, exchange of opinions, knowledge, experience and so on.

About the rules

The rules of network etiquette do not differ much from the rules in real life. Be polite, listen carefully (read) the interlocutor, respect his opinion, do not bluff, do not be rude.

Speak clearly, briefly and on the topic. Do not engage in skirmishes, do not use mate, try not to make mistakes in the texts of messages.

But virtual communication has its own characteristics, so there are some special items and terms. Let's consider each in more detail.

Offtopic

This term means any message that goes beyond the scope of the topic. That is, if in some branch there is a discussion of injector engines, you do not need to try to express your opinion about the latest football match and dresses from the new collection.

Offtics are not approved by moderators, and you can be banned from leaving messages (ban, banned). In some subjects, unacceptable statements (offtopic) are immediately clearly specified in order to predict the development of the discussion and not to release it for the necessary framework.

Flood

Etiquette of network communication prescribes not to distribute flooding for a good reputation of the user on the Internet. After all, no one likes noise, and "flooders" just make noise, leaving a lot of meaningless comments like "Cool!", "Tin!", "Kaif!", Trying to attract attention. Mark what you really thought was interesting. Let it be a meaningful phrase expressing your opinion, not "Chic!". Otherwise you will be provided with a bath.

Smilies

These are funny images for an additional emotional coloring of the text, which are now very much in the network. Each decent site or forum provides users with a set of emoticons, static or animated. Despite the popularity, they need to be used very carefully. One or two images in the message are enough. A large number will make the text poorly readable or even deprive it of its semantic load.

Trolling

This term also came to us from the English language, where it means fishing for trolls.

In the network, however, trolling is the writing of rude, inconsistent, provocative messages in order to quarrel, offend, and anger the participants in the discussion.

The person who leaves such cues, the troll, acts most often hidden and solely for their own pleasure. It is not the result that matters, but the process itself - the correspondence itself, the people's reaction to his statements.

Moderators are fighting this phenomenon with all their might, because a confident and active troll can scare visitors away.

The basic rule of network etiquette is politeness. Try to adhere to it always, even if you are in an unpleasant situation (conversation), get out of it first, do not succumb to provocation. Do not let you troll.

Literacy and reductions

Try to write competently. Carefully check the finished text. Now there are enough programs and resources to help you with this. Literacy in the network is courtesy in real life. Yes, there are enough words on the Internet that are written with errors, but they are perceived as correctly written - this is a kind of network slang, but it should not be abused.

In addition to slang words, network etiquette also allows common abbreviations:

• IMHO - my humble opinion.
• LOL is my loud laugh.
• BTW - by the way.
• AFAIK - as far as I know.
• WBR - my best wishes.
• AKA - known as.
• WTF is a curse word.

Network etiquette: email

Correspondence, especially business, is a separate block in the list of rules of communication in the network. How to compose a literate, pleasant letter for the interlocutor, which he will most likely read and then have a desire to answer it? Moreover, write so that his answer matches your expectations?

1. First, introduce yourself. Abstract, general contact data for pleasant communication is enough. Specify your real name, and correspondence will be arranged. Users are very wary of anonymous letters, often sending them to spam without even reading it.
2. Secondly, specify the subject of the letter. It should reflect the content of the message, be bright, capacious, brief, evoke interest and desire to read the letter. For example, "You dream to rest, you have a special offer!", And even better individually - "Sergei Vasilievich, a holiday especially for you!"
3. Third, think well of the content. Check the text for errors. Write briefly and in essence, do not pour water. If the message is long, it may not finish reading. Separate the message into semantic paragraphs, key points can be highlighted in capital letters, but no more than two or three words.
4. Fourth, the design should be delicate. Most programs for correspondence support a lot of fonts, colors, pictures, but this does not mean that everything must be used without fail. At the interlocutor such bright letter can cause irritation or in general it is incorrect to be displayed. A pair of elements of corporate style or color is enough.
5. Fifth, be moderate in quoting. When there is an active correspondence, the network etiquette advises not to erase all previous messages when replying, but also not to send the entire branch. The best option is to leave the source text and the next few, so that the basic meaning of the conversation is clear.
6. Sixthly, a laconic signature. The rules of network etiquette say that the optimal value of the signature is four lines. Usually they write a name and contact information. Do not confuse the signature and business card, do not need to insert pictures, tables and diagrams here. From the signature, the reader should find out who wrote to him and how to contact this person (you) if they wish.

Newsletters

What is network etiquette? Rules of communication in the network. And what is a mailing list? Mass communication. So, even if you send a message to many and possibly completely unfamiliar people, you will have to follow some rules.

If you do not care if your information needs those to whom you send letters, it's spam. The concept is very negative in the network. For some time, even persecuted by law. It's better to gather an official list of subscribers to be sure that your letter will not be spammed, that it is expected.

When composing a letter for a certain circle of people, always fill out the subject of the letter, the newsletter should be thematic.

Register additional addresses in the "hidden copy" (BCC) topic. Any person is not very pleased to be one of the tens, hundreds, thousands ... He enjoys individual attention. You also do not need to show the addresses of your subscribers.

Do not respond to spam emails. If they are annoying you, put a filter on it or ask your provider for help.

If you forward the information, copy the text directly and paste it into a new letter. Do not propagate signs ">", which automatically appear during the transfer and make the text unreadable.

Do not send heavy files and archives to interlocutors without asking permission. Many have restrictions on the weight of incoming letters, and then your message will not reach the addressee, the correspondence may be interrupted. Unfused archives also cause suspicion and rejection. Especially if they are self-extracting (.exe).

For personal comfort, install a filter on incoming messages and do not unpack archives from strangers, they may contain viruses.

Network etiquette

Communicating online, you create your own image. Interlocutors know you only from your own virtual statements and actions. But behind any machine there is a person who, perhaps, will be a good acquaintance, a good friend in real life. Do not disregard the rules of network etiquette. Be polite, do not spill negative emotions on the audience.

Try to write yourself competently, but do not pay attention, especially not to point out mistakes to others. If there are many of them and they are repeated on a regular basis, write a personal letter to the person with wishes and advice, but do not insist or ridicule - we all sometimes make mistakes.

Very delicately enter into your posts humor, irony, sarcasm. They may not be accepted or insulted by the interlocutor. With developing correspondence begin with very popular or already established phrases and expressions to understand the level of perception of the interlocutor.

Do not be arrogant. Even if you are a great specialist in some field, give polite and detailed answers to beginners, explain terms and principles, because you yourself once started.