Email Etiquette: Courtesy #10 ~ Help and Share With Others

One of the most disheartening things I see in regard to the use of technology is that many times people have forgotten the human touch. There are living, breathing human beings at these keyboards. Some more able to communicate clearly than others based on level of education or level of exposure to technology.

Share your online information with those you know to be new to the online arena. Send them to this site or others like it, teach them what you have learned, possibly the hard way, so they will not make the same mistakes as you did. Be open and willing to keep on learning and improving your skills. Don’t let your ego or pride stop you from understanding the importance of the issues relayed in this site, by letting your unwillingness to be wrong get in the way and blur your common sense with anger or feeling as though you have been insulted. If you were sent here, take a deep breath and do not blame the person who did you the courtesy – actually you should thank them! Just because you may not like what you are reading here or how I present it, does not make it any less important or relevant to how you will be perceived.

Just as in the off-line world, online there is also an expectation of socially acceptable behavior and common courtesy. Do not for a moment think that because you are behind a monitor that gives you the excuse to be lazy, rude, crude, obnoxious or just a plain jerk. You need to be aware of and practice the information on this site if you want to be perceived favorably. Even more so if you are online for commercial gain. To think you don’t have to abide by this information, or that anything goes online will be an error in judgment you will regret. Netiquette applies to each and every one of us who are online and using technology.

Learn to communicate your thoughts and ideas clearly and succinctly using the accepted practices online included in this site. To not do so does us all an injustice. If your writing skills are anemic, stop by Amazon.com and purchase a book to guide you. I have an entire collection and hone my skills daily. Don’t let this wonderful communication tool turn into one that is used as an excuse to not learn or use your basic education.

Make an effort to use and hone the skills of the written word we all should have learned in school. Treat others as you would have them treat you. If you find you are wrong, don’t spout claims of self-importance that reflect your dented ego and lack of understanding in regard to the issues in discussion or to communicating online. If you are ignorant, it is because you have chosen to be ignorant. Make the choice to reverse that pattern and learn, learn, learn.

If you choose to do otherwise, you will be thought of in the most undesirable terms, like it or not. Period. 

As a courtesy to your fellow Netizens, act like a human being
and make an effort to understand the culture in which you
are participating and then share your experience with others.

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