New to Netiquette

Since my team's paper in Supervised Legal Research is on websites containing legal information, I had to check out the law and IT-related books available in the library of the College of Law. While coursing through one such book, I came across the term "netiquette." It doesn't really take anyone a long time to figure out that the coined term referred to "network etiquette" or the etiquette of cyberspace.

There are many takes on what are the rules comprising netiquette, perhaps the most popular of which is that of Virginia Shea, author of "Netiquette." Her book discussed Netiquette Basics, Business Netiquette, Social Netiquette, and even Legal and Philosophical Issues in Netiquette. She enumerated 10 rules, which she termed "The Core Rules of Netiquette", each rule having its corollaries. (http://www.albion.com/netiquette/)

Another take is the Computer Ethics Institute's "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR COMPUTER ETHICS", i.e., -
1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.
2. Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work.
3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's files.
4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
6. Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid.
7. Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization.
8. Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.
9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you write.
10. Thou shalt use a computer in ways that show consideration and respect. (http://www.tekmom.com/tencommand/index.html)

There are also "personalized" versions of the rules of netiquette which particular websites develop. For instance, the ADB has its own "Community Guidelines" to follow when sending a message to their mailing list or taking part in their discussion forums. (https://c-cube.adb.org/)

While the rules seem simple and common sensical, I think it's quite likely for anyone to violate one or two rules of netiquette without even realizing it. And netiquette violations may range from the petty breaches, like making and sending chain emails promising bad luck to those who break the chain, to major cyber issues, like spamming, online porn, hacking, piracy, etc. Even the biggest issues in ICT may be reduced to an infringement of a rule of netiquette. Clearly, netiquette is fundamental in the cyberspace culture; something that every net surfer and blogger should be aware of. Netiquette may simply be a set of universal norms of courtesy and respect, yet netiquette violations are epidemic in cyberspace. Being a newbie blogger, I wrote my very first blog entry last Dec 1 completely unaware of the existence of netiquette as a documented set of rules. Perhaps blog-making sites should ensure that potential bloggers be first introduced to netiquette. Given the dramatic impact of the IT Revolution and the growing IT related issues and problems, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to netiquette becomes even more imperative.