How to Give Meaning to Etiquette and Netiquette

Always treat others as you would like to be treated.

Most people grow up learning etiquette, a guide for how to treat others and make them comfortable in any situation, but many are unaware of netiquette. Netiquette is simply online etiquette. The barrier of the computer screen makes many people think they don't have to act as they would in person -- a truth found by a visit to almost any forum. In the modern world, it's important to showcase both proper etiquette and netiquette. Teach someone seeking to understand the difference between etiquette and netiquette what makes them separate and what makes them similar.

Instructions

1. Explain the basic tenets of etiquette. These vary, depending on your religion, culture and beliefs. Basics include being kind to others, being punctual and not swearing.

2. Illustrate how the rules of etiquette become netiquette. For example, you should be punctual in returning emails, kind in comments you leave on forums or social networking sites and mindful of your language in instant messaging conversations.

3. Explain the differences between etiquette and netiquette. Taking off a hat indoors is considered good etiquette in many situations, but is not netiquette because it can't be applied online. Conversely, typing all in uppercase over and over is considered bad netiquette, but not something that one must worry about in real life.

4. Show an example of bad etiquette. Point out a person in public who is behaving rudely. An illustration can help someone understand why it's important to understand and practice etiquette. Ask how it makes her feel when another person treats her discourteously.

5. Navigate to a webpage -- anything from Facebook to YouTube to Myspace works -- and show examples of poor netiquette. Ask how it impacts his view of that person. Ask what the person showing poor netiquette in the example could have done better.

Tips & Warnings

• Emphasize treating people online the same way you'd treat them if you were standing in front of them.

References

• Churl: Basic Etiquette
• Web Upon; Top Ten Internet Etiquette Rules; Verity; September 2009
• Informarex International; Netiquette; Michael McCann