Basic Netiquette Rules for Bloggers

1. Identify yourself:
   • Begin messages with a salutation and end them with your name.
   • Use a signature (a footer with your identifying information) at the end of a message
2. Include a subject line. Give a descriptive phrase in the subject line of the message header that tells the topic of the message (not just "Hi, there!").
3. Avoid sarcasm. People who don't know you may misinterpret its meaning.
4. Respect others' privacy. Do not quote or forward personal email without the original author's permission.
5. Acknowledge and return messages promptly.
6. Copy with caution. Don't copy everyone you know on each message.
7. No spam (a.k.a. junk mail). Don't contribute to worthless information on the Internet by sending or responding to mass postings of chain letters, rumors, etc.
8. Be concise. Keep messages concise—about one screen, as a rule of thumb.
9. Use appropriate language:
   • Avoid coarse, rough, or rude language.
   • Observe good grammar and spelling.
10. Use appropriate emoticons (emotion icons) to help convey meaning. Use "smiley's" or punctuation such as :-) to convey emotions. See website list of emoticons at http://netlingo.com/smiley.cfm and http://www.robelle.com/smugbook/smiley.html.
11. Use appropriate intensifiers to help convey meaning.
    • Avoid "flaming" (online "screaming") or sentences typed in all caps.
    • Use asterisks surrounding words to indicate italics used for emphasis (*at last*).
    • Use words in brackets, such as (grin), to show a state of mind.
    • Use common acronyms (e.g., LOL for "laugh out loud").
12. Be careful when dealing with e-mails from unknown sources
13. Do not reveal sensitive information online
14. What you post online stays online forever

• think twice before you publish or post it.
• will you still support your content over the years?
• could your content affect your personal or professional life in the future?