Netiquette and Different Forms of Technology

It is always important to keep in mind other people’s thoughts and feelings when exploring the Internet. Acceptable on-line behavior changes depending on what type of technology is being used. For example, when a person is e-mailing, instant messaging, or text messaging; the rules of netiquette change. What is acceptable using one form of technology may not be acceptable when using a different form of technology (Hughes, 2003).
When sending an e-mail there are several things to remember before pressing the send button (Hughes, 2003). First, it is always a good idea to examine the “tone” of the email (Hughes, 2003). The way a paper is written can have direct results to how the reader interprets the meaning of the email (Hughes, 2003). It is okay to add an "*asterisk* around a word to emphasize a point (Yale library Homepage, 2006);” but not okay to “yell” using all capital letters. Second, nobody enjoys sending emails to somebody who never replies to them (Lewis, 2001). Always try to make an effort in reading and replying to a friends e-mail, maybe even include sentiments that show you care (Lewis, 2001). Third, even though today’s world is hectic and busy; e-mails should never replace face to face conversation (Conlin, 2002). Some bosses and authority figures use email to condone bad behavior among employees; this should never be solely done via emails (Conlin, 2002). Fourth, take a few minutes to read over and critique the email before it is sent out and always include a message in the subject line (Hughes, 2003). Busy professionals have sometimes hundreds of emails to sort through; there is nothing more annoying to these people when an email does not have a message in the subject line (Hughes, 2003). The fifth, and final thing to consider, if you want to have excellent netiquette is to make sure, before you press send, the email will be sent to the correct address (Hughes, 2003). Having good netiquette is similar to having good manners because netiquette requires people to think about others instead of themselves. Further, proper netiquette takes practice.
Due to the variety of ways to communicate, netiquette is often hard to maintain, because each form of technology requires different styles of etiquette. The rules of netiquette are much different when a person is using instant or text messaging versus when they are using e-mail. For example, “A short abrupt comment that is acceptable in instant messaging may not be in email where some people expect to be addressed by name (Preece, 2004).” When using different forms of technology it is always a good idea to remember who the recipient is, what technology is being used, and adjust the rules of netiquette to fit the needs of the situation.

References:

Conlin, Michelle. (2002). Watch What You Put in that Office E-mail. Business Week, 3801, 2p, 1c, pp. 114-115, [Electronic Version]. Retrieved November 18, 2006. from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ehost/detail?vid=46&hid=101&sid=d1208530-5f2e-4481-b33d-90b66885899a%40sessionmgr104

Hughes, Liz. (2003). e-mail etiquette: think before you send. Women in Business, 55, 4, p29, [Electronic Version]. Retrieved November 18, 2006 from
http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ehost/pdf?vid=42&hid=101
&sid=d1208530-5f2e-4481-b33d-90b66885899a%40sessionmgr104

Lewis, Regina. (2001). The AOL Online Advisor On…Online Etiquette. ON Magazine, 6, 2, p. 9, [Electronic Version]. Retrieved November 18, 2006 from
http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ehost/delivery?vid=55&hid=101
&sid=d1208530-5f2e-4481-b33d-90b66885899a%40sessionmgr104

Preece, Jenny. (2004). Etiquette Online: From Nice to Necessary. Communications of the ACM, 47, 4, pp. 56-61, [Electronic Version]. Retrieved November 14, 2006 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ehost/pdf?vid=7&hid=101&sid=d1208530-5f2e-4481-b33d-90b66885899a%40sessionmgr104.

Yale library Homepage. Retrieved from: http://www.library.yale.edu/training/netiquette/form.html on November 18, 2006.