Etiquette for On-line Discussions

-- a university of arizona course on methods and approaches for studying the future

Here are four suggestions for interacting with others electronically.

Be courteous and friendly -- Critical comments given electronically are often taken more seriously than when speaking in person (there is no body language or and perhaps limited background for the comment). While you can disagree with the comment, do not attack the person. A little courtesy here goes a long way in building a good on-line community that allows for better future discussions. Also, enter your first name at the end of your comment (the software automatically adds your full name to the header); when you begin your comment, if appropriate, refer to a person if acknowledging their comments or to the group as a whole if general.

Place comments in context -- Your comments will be seen by different people at different times. Don't be too cryptic, and NEVER just respond with an entry like "me to", or "I agree". This has no context, unless you copy in the comment, but it does not add anything to the conservation. A better approach (to comment on something said in topic 4, response 21) would be something like "I strongly agree with #4:21, and would add .....". Refer back to earlier entries when needed for detail, or repeat a little of the issue you are referring in your comment, so the reader knows the context of your comments.

Enter Efficient and effective comments -- Say what you need to say but don't say to much. Generally it is better to keep a single theme in a single comment rather than trying to raise many points all at once. Singe topics are easier to respond to by others. Give references (URL links) to more information or further background if appropriate. That if some readers need the additional background they can get it, but if others don't they don't have to wade through details they already know. If you especially want comments on your entry, say so, let the reader know what is expected in the way of further dialog.

Expressing body language -- Some times you have to translate in words what you normally would say by voice inflection or hand/face gestures. You can to this by changing how you word your entry. For example, if I REALLY WANTED you to know this, I might capitalize a word or two. Or, I might say it was soooooo good seeing you in class last week, or you might at a laugh after making a comment you really intended to be funny (laugh!). Some people, mostly new users, use 'emoticons' or smelly faces " :-)" is a smile, for example. My personal view is these reduce the seriousness of the discussion and distract from the entry rather than help it.

For further reading on etiquette, visit these web sites.

A Guide to Electronic Communication & Network Etiquette
http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/help/internet/netiquette.html
This has a treat deal of detail and will probably have an entry on some aspect you would like to learn more about.

The Michigan Electronic Library - Internet Etiquette
http://mel.lib.mi.us/internet/INET-netiquette.html
Includes an overview of different ways to interact and what norms are most appropriate.

Keys to Successful Online Participation (from the Node)
http://thenode.canlearn.ca/interact.shtml
Broad guidelines from taking courses but applies to any online discussion

Updated January 2002 by Roger Caldwell (caldwell@ag.arizona.edu)