This is a guest post from Amy – my favorite teacher and my wife! She prepared this for the Wednesday night Ladies Class and asked me to proofread it. After reading it I asked her if she minded me sharing it with you.

Netiquette Rules

“Netiquette” are the manners everyone should follow when communicating online.

1. Remember that the person reading your comments is a real person with the same emotions as you.
2. Remember “whose” you are. You wear the name Christian.
3. Remember the “permanent” nature of the internet. Nothing is ever really deleted. If you can’t type it and leave it…don’t type it at all.
4. Remember to follow the same guidelines you follow in your everyday behavior while you are online.
5. Be nice and pleasant while online. (Review Rule 2). Don’t post flame-bait.
6. Avoid flaming, or posting in ALL CAPS. (There may be some exceptions, but that should be evident in what you post.)
7. Avoid sarcasm. Sarcasm is easy to misinterpret even when spoken. Just imagine how much harder it is when they cannot hear your tone of voice.
8. Use emoticons. These little pictures can help convey your feelings.
9. Be forgiving of other people’s mistakes online. You may need forgiveness one day.
10. Always follow Colossians 4:5-6 in all words, whether spoken or written: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

-Amy

References:

• Adapted from these sources:
• www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
• www.education.com/reference/article/netiquette-rules-behavior-internet/
• This article is based on the book Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching by M.D. Roblyer & A.H. Doering.