"Netiquette"
Netiquette
is the term for proper online manners. If you're new to the web, you
could be breaking all kinds of netiquette rules and not even know about
it. The most basic ones are: 1) Don't type in ALL CAPS while in chat
rooms or posting to bulletin boards; this is the online equivalent of
shouting. 2) Don't post "spoilers", messages that give away
the endings of movies, books, games or TV shows without warning the
reader about them first, usually in the heading of your bulletin board
post. 3) Don't use profanity or vulgar language unless you know you
are in an adults-only bulletin board or chat room; many sites have public
bulletin boards and chat rooms that are available for anyone to use,
but if you read the 'terms of use' for the site you'll usually find
that this is an offense that can get you banished from the boards and
chat rooms. 4) Don't "flame" other chat room or bulletin board
patrons by launching personal attacks against them or belittling their
contributions to the discussion; the anonymity the web provides shouldn't
be used as an excuse to abuse total strangers.
Abbreviations
What
the heck are all those chatters and posters talking about? This list
may clear up some of your confusion.
Emoticons
An
emoticon or "smiley" is a series of keyboard letters and symbols used
to simulate a facial expression. You'll find a substantial list of them
here.
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