We have different rules for libraries than we do malls. We
speak differently to our principal and grandma than our best friends. We have
inside, outside and oh! my! gosh! voices. We know not to run in the halls and
to run very fast on the field. There are different rules for different places
and different parts of our lives. The Internet is the same. It’s just another
place, even though it is a big part of our lives.
You already know not to type in all CAPs. You don’t use punctuation
in IMs and text messages. You use smileys J to show emotion. And when you send something that
could be misunderstood, you use a “JK” for just kidding. Right? Those are rules
of netiquette – cyber etiquette.
What are some of the other rules, and why do we care? The
less you break the rules, the less people will misunderstand what you mean. The
less they misunderstand you, the less likely they will be upset with you or
lash out at you. When someone thinks you launched the first attack, they are happy
to launch the counter-attack. Lots of cyberbullying starts this way. You did
something that hurt someone else’s feelings by accident. But it begins cyber
world war 3 when they react.
Remember Take 5! in our cyberbullying materials? It’s designed
to make sure you don’t do or say anything that others will react to.
Remember, too, that in addition to the rules of the online
world, there are different rules for people all around the real-life world. On
the Internet people from many countries will be sharing ideas, and what is
normal and correct for them may be strange to you. So the rule of the game is
RESPECT. Respect the opinions of others, don’t rush in and start bossing people
around and thinkB4uClick!
