Do you ever send or receive e-mails? Are you on the @Internet a lot? Do you go to chat rooms? Did you know there are rules of behavior for all of these? The rules are called @Netiquette. They can be applied to almost every situation -- real life, as well as cyberspace. These rules might seem kind of obvious to you, but they're important. They will help you and your friends' Internet experience be productive, as well as fun.
Don't break any laws. Cyberspace is an extension of the real world. Just because you're dealing with computers and not people (at least not directly), it doesn't mean the law no longer applies. If it's illegal in the real world, it's probably illegal in cyberspace.
Be polite. You've certainly heard the saying "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." It's true not only when you're talking to someone face-to-face, but also when you're talking to them on the Web. Being polite doesn't just include what you say. It also covers how you say it, and to whom. If you use humor or sarcasm in your writing, be sure the recipient is going to like your sense of humor. Otherwise, you might offend the person. And never send an e-mail when you're angry or upset! It will probably show in your message, and you may hurt someone else's feelings.
Be careful of flames and flame wars. A "flame" refers to any insulting message. Nearly everyone receives a flame sooner or later. The question becomes what to do with them. The best move is to just ignore them. If, however, you feel the flame is worth a response, your reply may start a flame war, where the insults continue back and forth. In these situations, everybody loses.
Be patient. Everybody was new to the Internet at one time or another! Be patient with those who are new. If someone shows poor Netiquette, don't get angry. Politely respond and tell them of their error. Usually, the other person will be thankful for the advice. You may even find that you have made a new friend. Sometimes you'll bump into someone that you just don't see eye to eye with. In those cases, all you can do is agree to disagree.
Be concise and accurate. E-mail wasn't intended for carrying on long talks. E-mail is about convenience. Keep your messages brief and to the point. If you write long messages that drift from one subject to the next, your reader's attention will drift as well.
