How to behave on the Internet

Amazon rating: ****

I'm a long-time computer geek, and I'm well aware of what is generally acceptable behavior on the 'net. But when asked to list the “rules”, it's tough to come up with a comprehensive source that you can point the newbie to. Matthew Strawbridge has taken a shot at that goal in his book Netiquette: Internet etiquette in the age of the blog, and it's a commendable effort.

Contents:
Introduction
Part 1 – Forms of Online Communication: Email; Forums; Real-time Messaging; World Wide Web; Blogs and Wikis
Part 2 – Online Services: Transferring Files; Online Auctions; Other Online Services
Part 3 – Other Issues: Advertising and Spam; Security; Miscellany; Conclusion
Appendix A – Instant-messaging abbreviations; Appendix B – Netiquette for Internet Service Providers; Appendix C – Summary of Rules; Glossary; Bibliography; Index; About the Author

I know some people will take exception to these “rules” and assert their right to do whatever they please. Conversely, Matthew has gathered together the conventional wisdom that has evolved over time about how people expect others to behave when they're online. Making an attempt to generally follow these guidelines tends to make everyone's experience much more pleasant. For instance, the forum rule “lurk before you leap” means that you should observe the flow of an online group and get a feel for how things are done before diving in. Breaking the established norms of a discussion group gets you started off on the wrong foot and can ruin what might be otherwise be a beneficial exchange of views. Or another “for instance”... for bloggers, “check the spelling and grammar of your blog posts.” Instead of just blasting out something on the keyboard and hitting submit, take a second and read your entry back to yourself. Make it easy for your reader to follow what you have to say. And yes, I've been guilty of this one far more than I'd like to admit.

I would expect some readers to quibble with particular entries, such as “don't use VoIP unless you need an immediate response.” Depending on who you're calling and what the situation is, VoIP might be perfectly acceptable. Or the one that states “only create a blog if you really need one.” Yes, there are far too many abandoned blogs out there, as well as too many that discuss things that no one cares about. But how would you know if you need one unless you give it a try? But in my opinion, these “judgement calls” are few and far between, and the vast majority of the rules are ones that you should disregard at your own risk...

Good book, and one that you'll probably want to gift-wrap for your favorite troll or SHOUTER...

Thomas "Duffbert" Duff (Amazon top-100 reviewer)
Reviewed on Duffbert's Random Musings and Amazon.com