The WebX Forum opens up wonderful opportunities to extend discussion outside of the classroom. But Web-based discussion can also raise problems unique to this method of communicating. It's all too easy to fire off a message that you later regret--one that you would not have articulated if you were speaking in the physical presence of your classmate(s) or one that was taken the wrong way because your tone was misunderstood.

Because of the potential for (usually unintended) abuse, experts have formulated what they call "Netiquette," or rules or etiquette for corresponding over e-mail or through Web-based forums.

Most of these rules involve common sense and common courtesy--the same rules that apply in the classroom. For example, feel free to argue your own position but treat your classmates with respect. Challenge ideas that you don't agree with and state your own convictions as forcefully as you want, but keep the arguments diplomatic and friendly and never attack the people who hold ideas different from your own. Our goal is a lively, friendly, and free (non-intimidating) exchange of ideas about topics that matter to all of us.

Because tone is very difficult to convey without visual and aural help, indicate tone in your message through "emoticons" (A.K.A. "smileys") or explicit cues [e.g. :) or "grin"]. Assume that your classmates are as well intentioned as you are; don't be quick to take personal offense over what is said. But realize, too, that people's feelings can be easily hurt. Without compromising your own stand or avoiding debate out of "Minnesota niceness," do express yourself with sensitivity to and respect for the emotions of others.

Other principles of "Netiquette":
Use the WebX Forum and the course alias (batch e-mail address) only for matters that concern your classmates. Most of the discussion should involve topics directly related to our studies this quarter. Occasionally you might e-mail announcements of happenings that will interest your classmates, but NEVER, EVER pass along chain-letters or "spam" (e.g., solicitations).

Be sure to check your message after posting to be sure that it makes sense, that words and names are correctly spelled (incoherent and/or illegible messages can't receive credit), etc. Use the WebX spell checker carefully, as it may change words it doesn't recognize, such as character ot author names.

It can be very helpful to compose your messages in a regular word processing program such as MS Word and then paste your message into WebX. This gives you as much time as you need to compose (WEbX will "time out" and delete your message after 60 minutes of inactivity), and also gives you better spell checking capabilities.

Edit messages to which you are responding. That is, quote relevant and necessary parts of the message, but cut out the rest so that your classmates don't have to wade through long passages and elaborate signature lines that they've already read.

For more information about "Netiquette," check out the following sites on the Web (return to WebX by using the "Back" button on your browser or hold down the Alt key and press the left arrow key <--):

UMD ITSS E-Mail "Netiquette"

The Netiquette Home Page

Netiquette

For a list of emoticons or smileys, try:

Internet Smileys....

For Dave Barry's hilarious alternative collection of smileys, go to:

USEFUL INTERNET EMOTICONS