To netiquette means to have network etiquette while online. This goes for any type of online communication between you and another person. Some people forget that just because they cannot see the person, that it really is a person on the other side of the computer screen with feelings and thoughts just like you. We need to netiquette all the time when we are online and this goes for online forums (sometimes called message boards), live chat, and even email. An online forum is a place where people can go to talk about something particular on a subject. Usually someone will post a topic and then people will post replies to the topic. However, not everything always goes the way you plan. Lots of time flamewars get started on these forums. This is because everyone is trying to voice their thoughts, and some people do not like what others have to say. Of course, to netiquette means that you do not post negative things that puts down other's ideas, even if you do not agree. Like my mama always said, “if you do not have anything nice to say, then do not say anything at all.” This is just showing some respect to other people. When you think of a way to netiquette while online, just think of how you would want to be treated. Say you liked a certain music group, and then someone came on there and bashed you and your band. Well that is going to make you mad, and if you did it to someone else then you are just spreading the hate. When you fight back with someone like that online, you are going to start a flamewar, and that is not something you want to do.

So you may be asking, what are the rules to netiquette? Well, I wish I could sit here and tell you all of them, but I cannot. This is because they change from online community to the next. Everyone has their own ideas of what netiquette is. I can tell you a few standers though, so you will have an idea on how to netiquette. First, you should avoid cross posting. Also, when you are on a forum, try to not have a big electronic signature. Not everyone's computer is fast as your's, and that may take their computer a long time to load a lot of pictures. Try and use unabbreviated English, because not everyone knows English well enough to be able to read abbreviated words. As you can clearly see, this means that there are a lot of different ways to netiquette. It is no surprise to me that there is a lot because it has been around since 1988. Remember to talk nice to people and you should be fine.

There are lots of way to netiquette while you are online. However, you just need to remember some of the very basic stuff and you will be fine. First of all, do not start a flamewar with anyone. If someone says something bad about you, more than likely the forum mods will fix the problem. If you start fighting back with the person, then you become part of the problem and they are going to fix you too. The last thing that you are going to want to do is get kicked off of a forum, because sometimes you can be banned for life, and that is something that is hard to live with. Also, try not to talk down to people, this is just going to lead to a fight. Treat people with respect, and you are good to go.