Forums are a relatively new invention. They allow people from across the world to communicate in a safe and friendly environment. However, due to recent events here, this is becomming little more than a pipe dream. The relative newness of the forums has left a hole where there is no universal proper etiquett for them. In this essay I intend to establish that universal etiquette.
Now I know what the reader is thinking. How could a 19 year old kid know anything about proper etiquette? What is his right to tell us that? While there is still a lot for me to learn, but I do know the difference between right and wrong. I do know that people have feelings and that there is a real person behind every screen name. It seems that a lot of people have been forgetting this concept recently.
I originally had three subheading for special rules but the message was to long. I will place them in a secondary post to this under the same subject thread. I know that I am not site admin so there is no need to point that out to me. This also doesn't just apply for here but for every message board. I ask the reader to carefully concider my words before jumping on them and tearing me apart. I do not intend to start controversy with this paper. I only want to establish some ideas that need to be noted. I know a lot of this stuff has been said before but now it will be set in stone. Let us now discuss my rules of forum etiquette.
Common Rules:
This is where the problem is. It seems a lot of people don't fully understand basic rules of etiquette.
The first problem deals with the two big forum taboos. Politics and religion. When I was little my mother always told me that I should never talk about politics or religion in open company as they are sure to start a fight. There is a time and a place for that. That being politcal debate and church respectively. Remember that there are people with different views than you. There are liberals and conservatives. Communists and fasists. Christians, Buddists, Muslims, Jews, Hindi, and everything else. The two things are very sensitive issues so steer clear of them.
The next major problem is the issue of sameness. There has been a lot of bigotry here lately. Mainly sexism. All peoples are treated equaly under god and the law. It doesn't matter if they are male or female or of a specific ethnic background. When I was in school the golden rule was and still is that you treat others in the same way as you would like to be treated. We should be put under a veil of ignorance. This is what political scientists refer to as being the case where you do not know your standing in society. You don't know if you are male of female or whatever. Other people appear the same way. Treat them the same way as you would like to be.
We also need to remember to be polite. There are a lot of rude surly people who seem to take offence to everything and dish out a lot of rude comments. There is that golden rule once again. It applies here as well.
Respect other people's views. Listen to other people's views. If we don't society will remain closed off. You don't want the world to turn into an Orwellian 1984 society do we where nobody is heard and its a sin to speak your mind. If we do not listen to others we will never get the full story and we will never improve ourselves.
Lastly I'd like to deal with some general issues. First off a joke is a joke. Unless its particularly lued or racist there is no need to put it down or censor it.
Remember not to flame people. If you have an argument be prepared to back it up. Don't go "your wrong, no your wrong, no your wrong" back and forth. That is just ignorant.
That is all I have to say for now. If you have something you would like to add to this feel free to do so. If you find something wrong with this, please do not IM or email me. Post it here so everyone can see. Someone else may agree or they may not. As I said above, please think of my words before criticising them. There is a lot we all need to learn if. If we follow these simples rules, I feel confident that we can all go back to being a friendly bunch.
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