NETIQUETTE

[Angie]

THE CORE RULES OF NETIQUETTE
The Core Rules of Netiquette are excerpted from the book Netiquette by Virginia Shea. Click on each rule for elaboration.


*Introduction
*Rule 1: Remember the Human
*Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life
*Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace
*Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth
*Rule 5: Make yourself look good online
*Rule 6: Share expert knowledge
*Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control
*Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy
*Rule 9: Don't abuse your power
*Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes

Guidelines for good netiquette
*Apply the golden rule: Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
*Remember there is a person on the other end of your message.
*Know where you are and use appropriate good behavior.
*Forgive other people's mistakes, especially newcomers.
*Always remain calm, especially if someone insults you (or you think they have).
*Avoid using ALL CAPS to emphasize—some users see this a way to “yell.”
   ***We at KidneyKorner have decided it is okay to use all CAPS if your eyesight is bad to help you see the posts but would ask you to instead try to use the Ctrl and the - or + keys at the same time to adjust size***
*Don’t use inappropriate or offensive language.
*Use your online name or nickname consistently and sign all messages with it (but protect your real identity by never using your full name).
*Don't send or forward junk e-mail (commonly referred to as spam).
*Stay out of continual, emotional arguments or "flame wars."
*Check your spelling, be concise, and keep messages short.
*When you participate in chat rooms, don’t interrupt others and stay on topic.
*Follow the same rules of good behavior that you would in real life.
*Use emoticons to help communicate humor and sarcasm, and learn the common online acronyms.

and lastly one that I like that Kitkatz added to this list on the old forums:

And when you lose your mind, do it quietly!

[Angie]

Be civil.

    No personal attacks. Do not get defensive. If there is a problem, message the admin.

Stay on topic.

    Most of these threads read by busy people, so please pay attention to the topic of your messages, and check that it still relates to the topic of the thread to which you are posting. Off-topic discussion not taken to private email or private message if you wish.

Be kind to newcomers.

    Newcomers may ask the wrong questions, including ones that seem obvious (or whose answers seem easy to find). But lots of valued contributors started out this way, and treating newcomers kindly makes them more likely to turn into the valuable community members we all know and love (and cut some slack when they mess up).

    Point newcomers in the right direction in addition to turning them away from the wrong ones, and be kind to them in the process of correcting their transgressions.

Let sleeping dogs lie.

    It's tempting to revisit controversial decisions you disagree with, but it's rarely productive to do so, since it almost always results in the same heated, lengthy, and time/energy draining discussions leading to the same conclusion that was reached in the last round.

    Therefore, for issues already raised, discussed, and decided upon, reopen the discussion only if you have significant new information that would reasonably prompt reconsideration of the original decision.

http://www.mozilla.org/community/etiquette.html

Don't be a Forum Troll

    Forum Trolls just sit at their computer all day, flaming and swearing at every living person that has a different view on things than their own.