Netiquette, or rules of conduct on the Internet

These days, most of us have access to the Internet. It is even necessary in the era of pandemics, when a good part of work and education has shifted to remote mode. Cinemas, pubs and galleries have closed, so we spend most of our leisure time online as well. We watch series, browse articles, comment on posts. Younger and younger children are getting tablets from their parents. But no one teaches us how we should behave while online.

The Internet gives a false sense of anonymity. We have the ability to publish any content. We feel impunity by insulting others. We don't care about spelling or phrases of politeness.

It is worth stopping for a moment, thinking and using the peculiar etiquette in force on the web - that is, netiquette.
It is not exactly codified, and breaking its rules is not systematically punished. The rules of netiquette derive from the general rules of decency that have long been in effect on newsgroups or forums. Let's recall a few of them.

Respect and culture first and foremost!

Don't "troll" (don't provoke or insult others), and oppose heit. Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. Express your opinion in a cultured way, do not push or impose your views and, as should be obvious, do not use vulgarities!

Correct spelling

Do you remember Polish language lessons from your school days? Writing letters, essays, dissertations. On the Internet, follow the same rules. Check your spelling. Even if you have a problem with spelling, most sites, communicators or programs highlight errors, correct them. Use correct punctuation, use commas and periods. When addressing someone, use capital letters. Use polite phrases in official messages, e.g. Dear Sir or Madam. Avoid the ABUSE of capital letters or so-called pIsAnIa FaLą. Do not overuse emoticons :) ;) ;P

Privacy even on the Internet

Don't make private material public. Don't share other people's texts or photos without citing the source. Remember that plagiarism is theft of property, subject to civil and criminal liability. When writing about someone, consider whether they will feel offended. Absolutely do not share with others private photos and materials sent to you, without the author's permission.

Don't make a mess

On discussion forums, use #hashtags and give posts short titles that relate to their content. Don't duplicate posts, check if your problem has not been solved before. Write concretely and clearly. Sometimes, instead of asking a question on the forum, it is worth asking "Uncle Google" beforehand. Don't flood, that is, don't litter websites with identical comments, links, don't advertise your site in this way.

Do not spam

It is unacceptable to send spam, i.e. unnecessary messages, so-called "lucky chains" and unscanned files that may contain malware and viruses. Stick to the thread of the correspondence. In addition, try not to send large attachments, you litter the recipient's mailbox with it. It's a good idea to forward larger files using cloud or hosting programs.

Reply to messages

No one likes to wait for a reply. Neither your friends nor your co-workers. Especially when the message is about something important. Communication should be fast and efficient. Check your e-mails at least once a day.

Obey the law

Do not publish illegal content, as defined by various laws like the Penal Code, Civil Code, Labor Code. These include content that: incite to self-harm or commit suicide, threaten other people, insult public figures, constitute insults and slander, promote alcohol and drugs, incite to commit a crime, reveal someone's personal information, contain vulgarities, insult other nationalities, religions.

Of course, these are general rules of netiquette. More specific ones will apply, for example, to remote meetings, including training courses and business meetings. But about that next time.