Lepak's Guide To Netiquette

To paraphrase LP Hartley: the Internet is like a foreign country: they do things differently there. If you're new to cyberspace, it's easy to offend someone by breaking the *understood* rules of polite behaviour appropriate in this environment. Rules governing polite virtual conduct are usually referred to as Netiquette (a portmanteau from interNET and ETIQUETTE)

This is intended to be a general guide to all types of communication online. After reading this page, you can click on the images below for for more information.

Golden Rules

Be careful asking people about themselves. Questions about age, sex, sexual preference, marital status, income, religious beliefs etc is taboo in many cultures.

You are using a computer, not talking to one. At the other end is a real live person with feelings. Be nice.

Many people online are communicating in a language that is not their mother tongue. Be polite, expect misunderstandings and take time to communicate properly.

You'll find all sorts of people online. Don't give out private information like your address, place of work or school or worship, telephone number etc without careful consideration. You don't know who you're talking to: it may be the local priest or the local psychopath.

You'll find all sorts of information online. Evaluate everything you read!

Don't waste other people's time by bringing up inappropriate subjects. There's a time and place for everyone and everything online. Find out where that is and don't waste bandwidth with inappropriate postings, remarks or email.

Be honest. If you are promoting a product or site you have a personal interest in, say so. Stick to accepted forums to promote your interests.

Keep our internet space clean! Don't engage in damaging behaviours such as email bombing, fraud, virus building etc.

Type in sentence case, and avoid putting words in upper case. If you type "Hello" in an email or chatroom, you are being polite. Type "HELLO" and you're shouting.

Did you like this? If you look below, you'll see I have two new books out, Katz Tales: Living Under The Velvet Paw and Logomania: Where Common Phrases Come From And How To Use Them are now out at bookshops in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and other countries. Click on the links for free chapters and other goodies.

Click on the images above for free sneak peek at chapters, prefaces, tables of contents, lists of retailers and other information.