Network etiquette: subtleties and rules of communication in cyberspace

The concept of network etiquette came to us from English. However, the very concept of “netiquette” has not taken root, unlike the principles of communication themselves. The etiquette of communication on the Internet includes the rules of conversations on the network, correspondence by mail, communication on the forum and so on. Understanding its principles is not difficult - just know the main points and not forget about basic politeness.

The rules of network etiquette allow beginners to get used to the network, and experienced users do not experience discomfort even when communicating with strangers. In fact, the “setiquet” is all the same norms of behavior that people adhere to in ordinary life, but transferred to the information network.

Ethical standards are not strict rules, but if you want to be taken seriously and with respect, you should still stick to them.

To start a conversation about the rules of communication on the network is to analyze the basic concepts that all Internet users face on a daily basis.

On the Internet there are a huge number of different sites and chats designed for people to share interesting experiences, or just talking to each other:

• Forum. The main place for communication is the forum. As a rule, this is a site with a narrow specialization. For example, there are forums for moms, travelers, freelancers, and so on.On such sites there is both textual and graphic information, and each user gets the opportunity to ask a question, create a new topic, or just chat in the comments with others.
• Chat The main purpose of chats is real-time communication. They can be used for personal correspondence, or be group.

Messaging on the network can ruin the mood for both you and the other person if you break simple rules. There are a number of things that should be avoided by conducting a dialogue, or communicating in a forum:

• Flame. This word means comments that do not carry much meaning and are used to provoke a response. In fact, this word refers to an ordinary argument for the sake of an argument. The flame on the network is called the transition to individuals, insults, discrimination and so on. Such messages should not only not be written by ourselves, but also ignored, seeing on the forum, so as not to provoke flamers to further meaningless disputes.
• Flood. The so-called flood does not make sense either. These are “off topic” messages that you can safely delete. As a rule, floodders simply send emoticons or monotonous messages to everyone in a row. The abundance of flood slows down the process of loading pages, and it just annoys users.
• Caps. This word refers to messages written with the Caps Lock key held down. Messages written in capital letters are annoying just like the abundance of emoticons or exclamation points at the end of the message. As a rule, this means that the person has not read the rules for using the site or forum.

In fact, the basic concepts that are found on the network are not so many. Computer slang is constantly evolving, and it’s hard to keep track of all the new terms. But, knowledge of at least this base is already enough for normal communication in cyberspace.

After familiarizing yourself with the basic terms, you can proceed to study the rules of correspondence.

For many old-timers, it is e-mail that is the main way to communicate on the network. Business correspondence is usually conducted by mail, so it is important to learn how to use it first of all.

First of all, you need to draw up your profile. The personal name and signature are visible to everyone to whom you send letters, so you need to fill out this line. It is advisable to use your real name. So you are immediately recognized among a huge number of senders.

When sending a letter, you must also indicate the subject. This is also a peculiar manifestation of respect for your interlocutor. He will immediately understand what you want, and if it becomes necessary to reread the message, he will not seek it out among dozens of nameless messages.

As for the letter itself, it should not be too long. If you are simply responding to a message, you can get by with a few phrases per se. When sending a letter yourself, also try to stick to the topic, and not go into lengthy explanations.

The culture of communication on the network also includes literacy. Check the text at least in free editors, so as not to make mistakes that spoil the impression of the interlocutor. The fact that mail is considered a fast communication method does not give the right to send illiterate messages.

When communicating by e-mail, it is also worth remembering that you can’t include any personal data in the message. Although at first glance it seems that correspondence will remain available only for two interlocutors, it is possible that personal information will appear in the public domain. It happens that fraudsters intercept letters in order to obtain personal data, for example, a bank account number.

Signature completes any message. Like the name, it must be intelligible and thought out.Most sites automatically add a signature to the message, but there is almost always the option to edit a given phrase. The main thing is that it is not too long, the optimal size is four to seven lines. At the very end of the letter, you can duplicate the name, or specify other contacts.

Communication on forums and chats is usually less formal. But still it’s worth adhering to certain rules. First of all, you need to respect the interlocutors. The item “avoid insults” is present in almost every set of rules. As a rule, insults include “personalization”: insulting the interlocutor’s relatives, discrimination based on gender, religion or race, as well as ridiculing a person’s preferences and passions.

Also on most sites the so-called overclocking is prohibited, that is, excessive quoting. If you need to quote something, or highlight someone’s comment, you need to choose the exact sentence or phrase that carries the desired meaning, and not just copy the entire text. The same applies to a pile of quotes - always choose one or more, without which you can not do without loss of meaning.

Most forums, like email, usually have a signature. It should not be made too long either. Most often, such signatures are playful or personal.

In addition to these basic rules, there are unwritten rules. They help earn a good reputation and stay safe when dealing with strangers.

The first principle is respect for other people. Remember that although you do not see a real person in front of you, he still exists on the other side of the screen. This means that it is worth controlling your statements and thinking that your words can hurt someone.

Flaming and public insults should be avoided not only for the reason that your words can be perceived as an insult, but also because everything is recorded on the Internet. If the words expressed in real life can be forgotten over time, then the written and sent message remains forever. Many users create the illusion of control - it seems that just click the “delete” button and the message will be erased forever.

But this is far from the case, because all sent messages remain on the Internet, and it will not be difficult for experienced hackers to collect all the information that a person has ever sent over the network.

Unfortunately, not all users remember etiquette when logging into the network. Therefore, another unwritten rule is to be patient with everyone. No need to go into every argument and try to fix every person. It’s enough to just be patient and not be provoked.

Communication in virtual reality is often complicated by the fact that any person has a real life. So, you can’t wait for the interlocutor to devote all his free time to communication on the forum, or waiting for a response letter by e-mail.

One of the main advantages of network communication is complete anonymity, which is initially provided to the user. A person chooses how to apply himself and what image to create. Anonymity is also a guarantee of security. Do not transfer personal data to strangers and do not leave them where they can be found by scammers. Such negligence often leads to sad consequences.

For safe communication, it is also important to be a polite interlocutor. In order not to cause a negative reaction to your words and not to receive threats against you during correspondence, it is enough to restrain your emotions and not say too much. Profanity and attempts to provoke another person will not lead the dialogue in the right direction.

Ethically, behavior involves being prepared to help others in a difficult situation. Often they go to the Internet in search of answers to some questions. Do not be rude, even if they seem dumb. It is better to simply help the person you are talking to without provoking lengthy discussions and debates on any meaningless topics. It must be remembered that all Internet users were once in the role of newcomers.

The rules of communication on the network, even if they are unwritten, greatly simplify life and allow you to maintain a reputation as a well-educated person, even in cyberspace. You will learn more about the rules and subtleties of communication in cyberspace from the following video.