Netiquette: the subtleties and rules of communication in cyberspace

Such a concept as netiquette came to us from English. However, the very concept of "set" did not take root, in contrast to the very principles of communication. Internet communication etiquette includes the rules for online conversations, correspondence by mail, forum communication, and so on. It is not difficult to understand its principles - you just need to know the main points and do not forget about elementary politeness.

The rules of netiquette allow beginners to get comfortable on the web, and advanced users do not feel discomfort even when dealing with strangers. In fact, "setiket" is all the same norms of behavior that people adhere to in everyday life, but transferred to the information network.

Ethics are not strict rules, but if you want to be treated with respect and seriousness, then they are worth adhering to.

It is worth starting a conversation about the rules of communication on the network with an analysis of the basic concepts that all Internet users encounter on a daily basis.

On the Internet there are a huge number of different sites and chats designed for people to exchange 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 text and graphic information, and each user gets the opportunity to ask a question, create a new topic, or just chat with others in the comments.
• Chat. The main purpose of chats is to communicate in real time. They can be used for personal correspondence, or in group.

Online messaging can ruin your mood and the person you're talking to if you break simple rules. There are a number of things to avoid when engaging in dialogue or in a forum:

• Flames... This word means comments that do not carry much meaning and are used in order to provoke a response. In fact, this word is called an ordinary dispute for the sake of a dispute. Flame on the web is called personalization, insults, discrimination, and so on. Such a message should not only not be written by ourselves, but also ignored, seeing on the forum, so as not to provoke flamers into further senseless disputes.
• Flood... The so-called flood does not make sense either. These are off-topic messages that you can safely delete. As a rule, flooders simply send emoticons or monotonous messages to everyone. The abundance of flooding slows down the page loading process, and just annoys users.
• Caps... This word refers to messages written with the Caps Lock key pressed. Messages written in capital letters are annoying in the same way as an abundance of emoticons or exclamation marks at the end of a message. As a rule, this means that the person has not read the terms of use of the site or forum.

In fact, there are not so many basic concepts that are found on the net. Computer slang is constantly evolving, and it is difficult 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 email that is the main method of communication on the web. It is by mail that business correspondence is usually conducted, so it is important, first of all, to learn how to use it.

The first step is to complete your profile. Your personal name and signature are visible to everyone to whom you send letters, so be sure to fill out this line. It is advisable to use your real name. So you will be immediately recognized among the huge number of senders.

When sending a letter, you also need to indicate the subject. This is also a kind of respect for your interlocutor. He will immediately understand what you want, and if it becomes necessary to re-read the message, he will not look for it among dozens of nameless messages.

As for the letter itself, it shouldn't be too long. If you are just responding to the message, then you can get by with a few phrases to the point. When sending the letter yourself, also try to stick to the topic, and not go into lengthy explanations.

The culture of online communication also involves literacy. Check the text at least in free editors to avoid mistakes that spoil the impression of the interlocutor. The fact that mail is considered a way of fast communication does not give the right to send illiterate messages.

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

Completes any message with a signature. Like the name, it should be intelligible and thoughtful.Most sites automatically add a signature to the message, but almost always it is possible to edit a given phrase. The main thing is that it should not be too long, the optimal size is four to seven lines. At the very end of the letter, you can duplicate the name, or indicate other contacts.

Communication on forums and chat rooms is usually less formal. But all the same, it is worth adhering to certain rules. First of all, you need to respect the interlocutors. The clause "avoid insults" is present in almost every set of rules... Insults, as a rule, include "personalization": insulting the interlocutor's relatives, discrimination on the basis of gender, religion or race, as well as ridicule of any preferences and hobbies of a person.

Also, on most sites, so-called overclocking is prohibited, that is, excessive quoting. If you need to quote something, or highlight someone's comment, you need to choose exactly the sentence or phrase that carry 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 cannot do without losing meaning.

Most forums, like email, usually have a signature. It also should not be made too long. Most often, such signatures are humorous or personal in nature.

In addition to these basic rules, there are also unwritten rules. They help you build 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, on the other side of the screen, he still exists. This means that you should control your statements and think that your words may offend someone.

Flaming and public insults should be avoided, not only because 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 eventually be forgotten, then the written and sent message remains forever. Many users have the illusion of control - it seems that it is enough to press 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 ever sent by a person over the network.

Unfortunately, not all users remember about etiquette when logging into the network. Therefore, another unwritten rule is to be patient with everyone. You don't need to get into every argument and try to fix every person. It is enough just to be patient and not to be provoked.

Communication in virtual reality is often complicated by the fact that everyone has a real life. This means that one cannot expect that the interlocutor will 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 online communication is complete anonymity, which is initially provided to the user. The person himself chooses how to present himself and what image to create. Anonymity is also a guarantor of security. Do not share personal data with strangers and do not leave it where it can be found by scammers. Such negligence often leads to dire consequences.

It is also important for safe communication to be a polite interlocutor.In order not to cause a negative reaction to your words and not to receive threats in your address during correspondence, it is enough to restrain your emotions and not say too much. Obscene language and attempts to provoke another person will not lead the dialogue on the right track.

Ethical behavior involves a willingness to help others in a difficult situation. Often people turn to the Internet in search of answers to some questions. Do not be rude, even if they seem silly. It is better to just help the interlocutor without provoking lengthy discussions and disputes on some meaningless topics. It must be remembered that all Internet users were once in the role of newbies.

The rules of communication on the network, even if they are unwritten, make life much easier and allow you to maintain the reputation of a well-bred person, even in cyberspace. You will learn more about the rules and intricacies of communication in cyberspace in the following video.