Internet not a jerk-free zone
Dear PropellerHeads: Every time I post questions to online forums, I get rude replies. WHY ARE PEOPLE ON THE WEB SO MEAN?!?!?!
A: Wow. Where to start. First, stop yelling at me. And did you look for answers in our previous columns before writing? At least you wrote to us and not to Miss Manners. What am I talkin' 'bout Willis? Keep reading...
As you've discovered, the Internet is not a jerk-free zone. Worse, the anonymity of the Web can turn off-line Dr. Jekylls into online Mr. Hydes. You can minimize hostile responses by following some well-established Internet rules collectively called eDecorum. Ha! I'm kidding - that would be stupid. They're really called netiquette.
For example, ALL CAPS IS CONSIDERED YELLING. Don't yell. It's rude, and on top of that it's hard to read. Also, multiple exclamation points are annoying - unless you're on the My Little Pony forum, don't write like a 13-year old girl!!!
Ditto question marks: It's either a question or it's not, unless you've invented some new grammatical construct called a SuperQuestion that I'm not aware of. These rules apply to emails and instant messages too.
Here's another one: Pretend you're the authority on fixing the copier at your office. Everyone comes to you for help, so you print up a list of common questions and answers. You call it - I don't know - Frequently Asked Questions, and post it next to the copier. But some co-workers ignore it and keep asking you questions THAT ARE ON THE LIST!!! Over time, your patience morphs into a desire to jam a fork into someone's forehead.
People who answer questions on forums enjoy helping others, but they've also answered the same questions over and over, and they, too, have posted a list of Frequently Asked Questions (called the FAQ) on the forum. Read that list. If you ask a question that's already been answered, you're likely to get a blunt reply. Just be glad you're not within forking distance.
If any messages are marked "sticky," read those too. They're usually responses to common questions and are "stuck" to the top of every page so you can't miss 'em. If the forum has a search feature, use it to see if someone's already answered your question.
Lastly, avoid off-topic posts. Asking a question in the wrong place is like interrupting someone else's conversation. Don't be an eHole - find the right forum or start a new thread of discussion instead.
Incidentally, some people (called trolls or flamers) post nasty comments to forums just to stir things up. These are called flames or flame bait, and are intended to start flame wars. Look for these on the forums you visit - they're mighty funny if you're not the victim. And if you are the victim, just ignore them to avoid "fanning the flames."
See www.albion.com/netiquette and wikipedia.org/wiki/Netiquette for extra tips, or www.dtcc.edu/cs/rfc1855.htmla more formal treatment with an extensive bibliography. Search the Web for "netiquette" or "forum netiquette" if you need more resources. SERIOUSLY, DO IT NOW!!!
When the PropellerHeads at Data Directions aren't busy with their IT projects, they love to answer questions on business or consumer technology. Email them to questions@askthepropellerheads.com or contact us at Data Directions Inc., 8510 Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. Visit our website at www.askthepropellerheads.com.