Web Etiquette

n the last month or so, I’ve gotten in some trouble with friends who misinterpreted what I had written to them. That got me thinking about web etiquette, which is really a specific form of written-word etiquette. I usually write in the same way that I’d speak. It turns out this is a bad idea.

I found an excellent article by Bob Selden about this at lockergnome.com. I use much of that article to convey my point here.

One of the things Bob points out is how much people rely on visual and audible cues in conversation to understand the meaning of what is being communicated to them. In any type of written word, that variable is lost, opening the floodgates of potential interpretations of what you’re trying to say.

Consider the following sentence:

“You didn’t give me the report”.

I interpret this as accusatory, though it may not have been meant that way. Maybe “the report”, is a laborous task that the writer doesn’t want to recieve, and is grateful for not being given it. It may very well be an accusatory statement, but without the malice behind it that a reader might believe.

For those of you who’ve been to college, I’m sure you can come up with some textbook examples of ways to make sure that your point is taken verbatim. However, that relies on the concurrent thinking of the reader. By assuming that using well documented rules of writing will ensure your message is accurately received, you assume the reader is abiding by the same rules.

Quite frankly, that can be a big leap.

The flip-side of this discussion is, if you believe someone offended you in something they’ve written, take the time to be sure that they actually have. This may sound defensive, given the point of view I’m writing this from. However, I honestly believe that unless you know someone is being rude or inconsiderate to you, give them the benefit of the doubt.

Some things are, usually, more certain cues that you are, in fact, being persecuted by someone

• All caps writing (YOU DIDN’T GIVE ME THE REPORT)
• Foul language (You didn’t give me the d@$% report)
• Superlative statements (You never gave me the report)
• Excessive punctuation (You never gave me the report!!!!)

In short:

• Before you write: think about it (re-think if you need to)
  • If someone’s feelings can be hurt by what your writing, they probably will.
  • If what you’re saying can be taken out of context, take the time to write each of your statements so that it cannot.
• Before you react: think about it (call someone if you need to)

The following links have some information well worth reading:

http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/windows/2006/03/28/email-etiquette-whats-the-missing-link

http://online.uwc.edu/Technology/onlEtiquette.asp

http://www.cadence90.com/wp/index.php?p=2793

http://www.cafemama.com/etiquette.html