|
We got so tired of people sending junk mail, hoaxes, urban legends
and filling our e-mail
screen with reams and reams of C.C. addresses, that we started this netiquette page.
Please feel free to contribute to... tips on polite usage of the Internet.
|
|
|
There has been much written about Internet etiquette... behaviour in the use of e-mail and designing
Web pages. We have included ten of the more important Netiquette guidelines here.
You can find further references in the
column on the right. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1. Sending E-Mail |
When sending an e-mail message use an appropriate "Subject" and even "identify"
yourself if you can. There is so much spam (junk mail) and potential viruses being sent today that many people
are using filters in their e-mail software to weed out unnecessary messages.
Simple words like "Hello", "Hi", "Remember me", etc., or unsolicited offers for products,
lotteries and the like are generally all spam and we filter them out regularily, so if you do not send an appropriate
subject line, your message will likely be deleted without being read.
Use something like: "Meikle says: Here are the class pictures I promised"
You know Meikle and you know that he took pictures of your French class...
So... if you do not recognize the name of the person sending you e-mail, or if the subject is not familiar, no
matter how tantalizing, delete, delete, delete! |
 |
|
|
| |
| 2. Answering/Editing e-mail |
This is not for the "Editors" on the list, although some of you need a reminder... When
you are answering an e-mail message do not quote the entire
incoming message. Keep only important parts of an incoming message as references and
cut out all other material, including original header information like: ADDRESS:, TO:, FROM:.
Many of you are simply hitting the "Reply" button, often times leaving screens of useless information,
which actually takes up bandwidth.
And please... you don't have to reply just for the sake of replying. Have something to say. If you agree with somone's
idea or opinion, give us a reason... we don't need to see: "I agree with so and so."
If it is too frivolous, your message will not be forwarded. |
|
| |
| 3. Multi-addressing |
- When addressing more than one person, or a list of people, address the message to yourself,
then include all the other addressees in the "b.c.c.:"
portion of the message headers. This way the receiver will only see his/her name at the top of the incoming e-mail.
Many of you are sending us messages with your whole mailing list of people in the "c.c." portion.
Here are three reasons for not sending messages this way:
1. It takes up unnecessary space and bandwidth on the I-Net and is considered to be annoying
by some to have to scroll through this long list before one gets to the message.
2.
It reveals the identity of everyone on you list and could be considered a privacy issue as many people to not like
to be openly identified.
3.
It allows for unscrupulous people to take "your" list and make it vulnerable to spam and virus mongers.
|
|
| |
| 4. Change-of-addresses: |
| Please advise your correspondents when you have an e-mail change-of-address. If you leave the listserv
on a temporary basis (holidays, on assignment, etc.) for your convenience, we can remove you and get you back on
when you return. |
|
| |
| 5. Attachments (Overly large graphics, pictures, PDFs,
etc.): |
- Be aware of the size and number of attachments you are sending. Some people have a limited amount
of space on their Internet provider's server. If the attachments are too large they simple take up valuable real
estate on the server, fill it up too quickly and then block and bounce any further incoming messages, some of which
may be much more important than yours. Let your receiver know in advance if you are sending large attachments.
- Also be aware that many people are still using telephone "dial-up" service. Large
attachments can take literally hours to download at slower rates of speed and they actually tie up the e-mail software
so the person cannot send out any messages until the attachment is downloaded.
NOTE:
- As a matter of course, we do not accept any attachments ( Documents, PDFs, graphics, etc.).
- We simply do not have the time to edit, change or re-type them and our listserv software does
not allow for easy transmission of attachments (PDFs are particularly difficult to manipulate. They are look great
and are easy to send... but not to edit.)
- Also there is an added risk of viruses and the high level of junk mail (spam) through attachments.
- If you want your message to go out, please include it within the body of the email text.
|
|
| |
| 6. Spam (junk mail): |
- The best thing to do with spam (unsolicited and unwanted e-mail) is to:
~ Erase the message without opening it. If you open the message you run the risk of setting off a virus if the
message contains an attachment.
~ Do not reply to the spammer, or take up any offer to unsubscribe. Doing so will only confirm
that they have found a legitimate e-mail address and the junk will continue.
~ You may wish to report offensive junk mail to your Information Service Provider and ask your
ISP what the best method is for handling junk mail.
NOTE: Most competent and reliable Internet services are now providing good anti-spam and anti-virus
controls that you can incorporate into your incoming e-mail.
|
|
| |
| 7. Annoying, UNSOLICITED, boring, unecessary E-mail: |
Please don't send us unsolicited jokes or the latest and greatest Web sites and information unless
we request it or sign on to your mailing list. It simply takes up too much of our valuable time and becomes annoying
after a while... our "Delete" button is starting to wear out!
Especially DON'T SEND CHAIN LETTERS for peace, prayers, health, happiness, etc. |
|
| |
| 8. DON'T SHOUT! |
- When sending messages, do not use only upper case letters.
- THIS IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE
ELECTRONIC EQUIVALENT OF SHOUTING
AND IS CONSIDERED TO BE RUDE!
( Better still, learn to type and use proper capitalization ;-)
|
|
| |
| 9. Hoaxes and urban legends: |
| Check your sources before you flood your family and friends with needless warnings
about viruses and requests to help needy children. Often times these "the-sky-is-falling!" missives are
only hoaxes or urban legends. Find out
more on viruses and hoaxes by clicking on our viruses/hoaxes link. |
|
| |
| 10. Please! Identify yourself when responding to the WD-list |
If you are joining in on the debate, or if you have something to offer, please leave your name and
an e-mail address so others know who you are. Theymay want to respond to you directly, or offline.
When you reply directly to the WD-list address, your email does NOT come up, so if you sign with just a first name,
people do not know who you are.
Unsigned messages will not be forwarded on to the list. |
|
| |
| Are You an Irresponsible Forwarder? |
- Do you add all your contacts to a forward without thinking if it will be of interest to each
individual and whether or not they would really appreciate your forward?
- Do you reflect a lack of respect for your contact’s privacy by exposing all your contact’s e-mail
addresses in the To: field thereby announcing their e-mail address to people they don’t know?
- Does your forward include all the other forwards from other irresponsible forwarders with their
comments and contact’s still visible?
- Do you ignore requests from family, friends and associates to please not forward them silly
e-mails or chain letters and continue to do so anyway?
- Do you get upset with anyone dare ask they not be on your public forward list?
- Do you just forward without vetting the message first to make sure it is true and legitimate
at Snopes.com
or TruthOrFiction.com before perpetrating a possible hoax?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re an irresponsible forwarder.
For those of you who know irresponsible forwarders , you can easily pass on this article.
|
|
|
|
