Remember Netiquette?

Back in 1990 I was a postmaster for a lab at the University of Minnesota. In addition to rerouting misaddressed email (this was pre-spam days) I once had to deal with someone sending offensive email to a mailing list. Long story short -- the student was hauled into the Deans office, counseled and subsequently apologized for their actions.

After that new accounts in my lab were required to read some basic netiquette info before going online (plus some legal verbiage about the "Minnesota Computer Crime Act")

In that environment actions had consequences and there were resources to help people learn how to use online tools appropriately. Today, it seems like there is much less accountability and bad behavior is tolerated, or even celebrated. Only the concept of the KILL file remains.

In any case here's Virginia Shea's internet classic - Netiquette including a forward from Guy Kawasaki

I used to think that network etiquette meant sticking a few smileys in your messages. I wish I had written Netiquette. It should be bundled with every modem. It should be mandatory reading for new users of the Internet. I wouldn't print my Internet address here without it.

Kawasaki@radiomail.net

http://www.albion.com/netiquette/

#gplus