Netiquette: 12 Rules Of Online Courtesy

The complete list of rules may be found in The Book Of Lists For Teens by Sandra and Harry Charon. I posted these in order to help those who need assistance (newbs, less than frequent users, etc.)

1. LISTEN BEFORE YOU LEAP. Take some time just to read a lot of the messages on the message board before sending any of your own. Before joining a live forum discussion, listen in for awhile.

2. GET YOUR FAQs STRAIGHT. FAQs = Frequently asked questions. Check them out on the website you're on before asking your question. If your question isn't covered, post a message to other members.

3. STAY "ON TOPIC". Post your messages to the correct forum. Don't interrupt a conversation about pets with "*Would someone plzzz vote on my poems?!?111". Make a thread and place it in the correct forum. *P&Q Tip: There is a forum made especially for this reason.

4. THINK TWICE, POST ONCE. Reread your messages before sending them. If there's a chance that you'll regret sending it, hit the backspace button and leave it.

5. DON'T USE ALL CAPITAL LETTERS WHEN YOU WRITE. It looks like you're shouting.

6. WATCH YOUR TEMPER. Online, insults are known as "flames". Discussions end up as insult wars. If you have to make a strong comment, put "FLAME" above your comment. Or ask your net-neighbor to continue the discussion privately, via email or instant messaging.

7. DON'T CORRECT PEOPLE'S GRAMMAR OR SPELLING. Somebody may have been in a hurry and didn't bother to clean up their messy typing. Some people don't type as well as others. Some people come from different cultural backgrounds as you. Be tolerant of other people's errors, hope that other people are tolerant of yours.

8. DO CORRECT YOUR OWN SPELLING. Proofread your messages. You'll probably recieve more responses if you appear to be a careful writer and not a slob.

9. DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ, AND DON'T FORWARD IT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. Some people use the forum to create new identities for themselves. Computer forums are open to everyone-and unfortunately that means that sometimes there are a few creeps and losers hanging around. If a message says "Send this to everyone you know," don't.

10. DON'T BE A SPOILER. Not everyone's seen the same movie or read the same book as you. Don't spoil the ending for anybody. If you have to mention a specific detail that spoils the ending, give a fair warning by putting SPOILER! above your message.

11. SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW. If you see messages from people who are struggling to catch up, help them out. The info highway is a two-way street.

12. USE BLANK LINES TO SEPARATE YOUR PARAGRAPHS. Your message will be easier to read.

Amen.

I'd also add, just as an addition to this site.

13. Mods are Gods, that is the first rule of this fight club.

and I thought you were elves all along

"13. Mods are Gods, that is the first rule of this fight club"

That should be rule number 1 I assume.