Etiquette on the Internet

by Victoria A. White

The Internet can be described as a community of over 40 million individuals as well as a giant technical phenomenon. This contrast, and the combined social and technical history encompassing the last 27 years of Internet growth lends itself to a discussion of etiquette on the Internet.

The Internet is composed of a variety of distinct services which may be grouped into three main types: text, real time, and hypertext. Text based services include: electronic mail ("e-mail"), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Gopher, Telnet and Usenet. Real time services, where participants are interacting with one or more persons at the same time, include Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Multi User Dungeon or Dimension games (MUDs), Talk, Phone, C-U-See-Me and more. The only hypertext, or linked, system is the World Wide Web service of the Internet. Like neighborhoods within a larger community, specific services and types are experienced differently so each have unique (user) etiquette issues.

"Proper" etiquette which may be applied to the use of e-mail would include: to respect confidentiality; don't "flame" (to send an inflammatory or injurious message); don't use anonymous remailers (unless whistle blowing); and consider the presentation of message. The latter would include evaluation of the physical appearance of the message to be sent. Consider starting with a blank line; don't shout (all caps); and try to be aware of cultural differences or other issues that may affect the reader adversely in this international arena. Also remember that in this unique form of communication, emotions are not transmitted to the reader unless explicitly inserted into the message by the sender. Minimize the transmission of hoax and/or junk mail.

The Usenet system also has its own culture. This giant bulletin board messaging system now has over 25,000 separate topics! Before one posts to a news group, one should read the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) for that group. When participating in a discussion, stay focused on the topic and especially avoid "me too" types of postings.

While language considered inappropriate by many may be viewed via Internet Relay Chat, it is considered totally unacceptable in the technically similar real time game areas.

Etiquette as applied to the presentation of a (hypertext) web site would include content, design, time and technical issues. The signature of the web page designer should appear on the site; inaccurate spelling and offensive language should not appear; out of date material should be removed and most importantly - the site should be designed for all web browsers.

Related
Internet Sites:

Etiquette for information providers

E-Mail Etiquette

Privacy in Electronic Mail

NCSA Virus Paper

Computer Ethics Institute

Electronic Frontier Foundation

Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility

Netiquette

Search the Web for more information on Internet Etiquette

Search Usenet for more information on Internet Etiquette

written for & published in Springfield Chamber of Commerce newsletter November 1996