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Internet Etiquette (Netiquette)

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Netiquette

• Netiquette means Internet Etiquette

• Rules and conventions to make the

“Information Superhighway” friendly

• Well-mannered Netizens (Network

Citizens) don’t send unwanted

messages and junk mail

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• The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) developed Responsible Use of the Network (RUF) official rules, labeled “RFC1855

The use of the network is a privilege, not a right, which may be temporally revoked at any time for abusive conduct. Such conduct would include placing unlawful information on a system, the use of abusive or otherwise objectionable language in either public or private messages, the sending of messages that are likely to result in the loss of recipients’ work or systems, the sending of “chain letters” or “broadcast messages” to lists or individuals, and any other types of use which would cause congestion of the networks or otherwise interfere with the work of others.

[From RUC Netiquette guidelines used at Florida Atlantic University]

Netiquette Guidelines

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Netiquette Guidelines

• Use business language and write professionally in all work-related

messages.

• Remember that your message may be printed or forwarded to

other people.

• Proofread and correct all errors before sending it.

• Do not use capital letters because this denotes shouting.

• Keep in mind that your reader doesn’t hear your tone of voice or

facial clues.

• Remember the time, date, and return address don’t have to be

typed in e-mail messages.

• Respond promptly to e-mails.

• Always include an appropriate subject line

[From “Intellectual Honesty in the Era of Computing” by Frank Connolly, American Assoc. for Higher Education]

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Figure 5-1 The Ten Commandments of Computer Use

[Source: Computer Ethics Institute]

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SPAM

• Spam refers to unwanted messages

posted to newsgroups or sent to a list

of users through e-mail

• Spam is either a verb or a noun

• Types of spam

– Commercial advertising

– Chain letters

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CAN-SPAM ACT

• Congress enacted CAN-SPAM act in

January, 2004

– E-mail advertising must contain an

“Unsubscribe” link

– Unlawful to falsify “From” and “Subject” lines on

e-mails

– Violators can get <5 years jail and <$1 million

fine

• However, few spammers are convicted

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Hoaxes

• Netscape-AOL e-mail giveaway

–

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Viruses

– It is not possible for a computer to catch a virus

from an e-mail directly; however, opening e-mail

attachments allows viruses in

– Macros in MS Word .doc files and MS Excel .xls

files can also transmit viruses

– Recent virus “worms” spread without opening

attachments

– Virus programs can mimic e-mail addresses from

your address book

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Lurking

• To lurk, means to receive or read

Internet messages and not respond

• Lurking is not illegal

• Lurking can be useful for exploring

listservs, newsgroups, and chat

rooms before you join

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Flames

• A flame is a message written in anger

• Flame is both a verb or a noun

• Think about and proofread what you

write and send; it cannot be withdrawn

• Peacemakers on the Internet are

known as firefighters

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SHOUTING

• Messages on the Internet are

normally written in lower case letters

• Shouting means to ADD EMPHASIS

BY WRITING IN ALL CAPITAL

LETTERS

• Shouting is almost always regarded

as being in poor taste

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Smileys and Emoticons

• Emoticons are combinations of a few

characters that conjure a facial

expression when turned sideways

• The emoticon :) conveys a smiling face

• :-( is a frown with a nose

• There are 100s of smileys and

emoticons ;)

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Three-Letter Acronyms (TLAs)

• A three-letter acronym shortens a

three-word phrase by typing the first

letter of each phrase

• For example, “in my opinion”

becomes imo

• TLAs are common on the Internet and

for cell phone use

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Common TLAs

– brb be right back

– bbl be back later

– btw by the way

– lol laughing out load

– j/k just kidding

– oic oh, I see

– ott over the top

– thx thanks

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Other Letter Acronyms

• Two-letter acronyms

– np no problem

– wb welcome back

– b4 before

• More-than-three-letter acronyms

– bbiaf be back in a flash

– hhoj ha ha, only joking

– imho in my humble opinion

– ttfn ta ta for now