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Prevent Flames: Use Netiquette

The culture of the World Wide Web continues to evolve, and standards for online behavior are changing. Yet newbies (newcomers) would be well advised to remember the Internet's relatively short history.

The Internet began as the Aarpanet, a network of computers used primarily to share military information. University researchers soon found that this emerging network was a great way to exchange data and ideas. But then, particularly with the advent of commercial services such as America Online, Prodigy, and Compuserve, the Internet and its World Wide Web became a lively new cyber-environment with a broad range of new cyber-citizens.

As this suggests, the Internet's originators tended to be highly educated and courteous -- the online equivalent of soft-spoken and thoughtful communicators. USING ALL CAPS was quickly deemed akin to shouting. Personal critiques were beyond the pale. Ignore the conventions and you would soon find yourself flamed, if only to ensure that you took the time to learn the online rules quickly. But what are the rules?

Netiquette refers to the body of rules that were originally developed as a foundation for proper online behavior. While the range of acceptable communication has broadened, as millions of new users have come on board, it still pays to know the rules, so that you do not break them out of ignorance.

As any writer will tell you, communicating through the written word requires care. Humor is especially tricky to express, which led to the invention of emoticons such asor : ), which signal others that you meant what you wrote as a joke.

Flaming is also a common response to spamming -- the funny name given to the not-so-funny practice where companies buy lists of e-mail addresses to hawk their wares and thereby clog your e-mailbox. The way to avoid this kind of flame is to make sure that you do not succumb to the lure of marketers eager to persuade you that spamming is a great way to sell your goods or services over the Internet. Again, prevention is the key.

Cyberstalking: Don't Gamble Your Safety Online PREVENT FLAMES: Use Netiquette PRECAUTIONS: Protect Your Privacy If You Are Being Stalked

There are, however, rare cases where you could find yourself erroneously fingered as a spammer, when you are not. Spammers often go to great lengths to hide their identities, which can mean that the innocent are accused. If it gets bad enough, the only solution may be to log off, and then sign on again with a new online identity.

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