RULES OF NETIQUETTES

Help keep flame wars under control

What is meant by "flaming" and "flame wars?" "Flaming is what people do when they express a strongly held opinion without holding back any emotion." (Shea,1994). As an example, think of the kinds of passionate comments you might read on a sports blog. While "flaming" is not necessarily forbidden in virtual communication, "flame wars," when two or three people exchange angry posts between one another, must be controlled or the camaraderie of the group could be compromised. Don't feed the flames; extinguish them by guiding the discussion back to a more productive direction.

EXAMPLE OF WHAT TO DO

Stay calm and professional: Respond with a measured tone, avoiding emotional language and personal attacks.
Focus on the issue, not the person: Address specific points of disagreement rather than attacking someone's character.
Use "I" statements: Express your perspective using phrases like "I feel..." to avoid sounding accusatory.
Acknowledge others' viewpoints: Show that you've heard their perspective, even if you disagree.

EXAMPLES OF WHAT NOT TO DO

Don't engage in personal attacks: Avoid insults, name-calling, or making assumptions about someone's character.
Don't use inflammatory language: Avoid using overly aggressive or provocative language.
Don't generalize or stereotype: Avoid making broad statements that could be seen as offensive.
Don't respond to every provocation: Sometimes, the best way to handle a troll is to simply ignore them.
Don't take things too personally: Remember that online interactions can sometimes be misinterpreted, so try to maintain perspective.