Home » Working Women » Computer savvy » It Pays To Be Polite On The Internet Because your interaction with the network is through a computer, it is easy to forget that there are people out here on the net. Situations arise where emotions erupt into a verbal free-for-all that can lead to hurt feelings. Strongly critical messages on the network are called flames.

Please remember that when you send a message to a bulletin board or mailing list, people all over the world are reading your words. Try not to say anything that you would not say to anybody in person, in a room full of people.

Avoid getting personal
Please remember - thousands of people may read your messages. They quite possibly include your boss, your friend's boss, your girl friend's brother's best friend and one of your father's beer buddies. Information posted on the Net can come back to haunt you or the person you are talking about. Think twice before you post personal information about yourself or others.

Cut the chaff
Say what you have to say succinctly and it will have a greater impact. Remember that the longer your article, the fewer people will bother to read it.

Your posting will say it all
Most people will know you only by what you say and how well you say it. Take some time to make sure each posting won't embarrass you later. Minimise your spelling errors and make sure that the article is easy to read and understand.

Think about your audience
When you post an article, think about the people you are trying to reach. Try to get the most appropriate audience for your message, not the widest. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms, if possible, and define the ones you use. If your message is of interest to a limited geographic area (apartments, car sales, meetings, concerts, etc.), restrict the distribution of the message to your local area.

Be careful with humour and sarcasm
Without the voice inflections and body language of personal communications, it's easy for remarks meant to be funny to get misinterpreted. Take steps to make sure that people realise you are trying to be funny. The Net has developed a symbol called the smiley face. It points out section of articles with humorous intent. No matter how broad the humour or satire may be, it is safer to remind people that you are being funny.