Netiquette Primer: Part 2

Second Rule:  Don't abuse the caps-lock key, the bold function, or the italics function.

Text typed in either a large font or in all capital letters is the equivalent of yelling or screaming at a person.  Bold works to bring emphasis to a word or sentence, but becomes shouting if your entire comment is in bold.  Italics become hard to read if too many words are in italics.

Remember, moderation is the key to emphasizing your text.

Third rule:  Stick to the topic of conversation.

I cannot tell you how many times I've been involved in an online conversation when someone butts in and begins to rant about something other than what we're discussing.  First, while I like a well-thought out rant, I prefer if people join a conversation instead of just ranting.  Second, if you have such a strong opinion about a topic, write a blog post or begin your own conversation thread.  But it's rude to hijack someone else's thread for your conversation.

Fourth rule:  The Internet is forever.  So are any posts, comments, or pictures that you upload.

The Internet is comprised of several computers that act as servers, routers, and bridges throughout the world.  This distributed nature means that once you put something out there, you cannot delete the content with any certainty that there is no copy laying around somewhere.  Therefore, it's better to err on the side of caution when posting online because a flaming vent, while provides a temporary outlet for your anger, will come back to haunt you when you least expect it.