Netiquette

Rule 1: Remember the Human

Those are real people out there. Ask yourself, "Would I say this to the person's face?" If the answer is no, rewrite and reread.

Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life

Be ethical. Don't believe anyone who says, "The only ethics out there are what you can get away with." But if you encounter an ethical dilemma in cyberspace, consult the code you follow in real life. Chances are good you'll find the answer.

Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace

Netiquette varies from domain to domain. When you enter a domain of cyberspace that's new to you, take a look around. Spend a while listening to the chat or reading the archives. Get a sense of how the people who are already there act. Then go ahead and participate.

Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth

You are not the center of cyberspace. Don't expect instant responses to all your questions, and don't assume that all readers will agree with -- or care about -- your passionate arguments. Before you copy people on your messages, ask yourself whether they really need to know.

Rule 5: Make yourself look good online

If you're spending a lot of time on the net and you're shaky in spelling and grammar, it's worth brushing up on them. Know what you're talking about and make sense. Finally, be pleasant and polite.

Rule 6: Share expert knowledge

Sharing your knowledge is fun. It's a long-time net tradition. And it makes the world a better place.

Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control

"Flaming" is what people do when they express a strongly held opinion without holding back any emotion. Netiquette forbids the perpetuation of flame wars -- series of angry letters, most of them from two or three people directed toward each other, which can dominate the tone and destroy the camaraderie of a discussion group.

Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy

Of course, you'd never dream of going through your colleagues' desk drawers. So naturally you wouldn't read their email either.

Rule 9: Don't abuse your power

Knowing more than others, or having more power than they do, does not give you the right to take advantage of them.

Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes

When someone makes a mistake -- whether it's a spelling error or a spelling flame, a stupid question or an unnecessarily long answer -- be kind about it. If it's a minor error, you may not need to say anything. If you do decide to inform someone of a mistake, point it out politely, and preferably by private email rather than in public. Give people the benefit of the doubt; assume they just don't know any better.

SOURCE: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html