Internet Etiquette: Diversity, Netiquette, Privacy and Respect

Respect and Diversity at the Seattle Colleges

"Respect for diversity is a core value of the Seattle Colleges. Our college community fosters an optimal learning climate and an environment of mutual respect. We, the college community, recognize individual differences. Therefore, we are responsible for the content and tone of our statements and are empathetic speakers and listeners."

Please read these two statements to discern what our instructors expect from distance learners.

• Netiquette : A Guide to Successful Internet Communication
  Written by: Diane Hostetler
  Instructor for: ENG 133 — Introduction to Drama

  One of the things that drama students learn quickly as they study the dialogue in scripts is that words can mean many things and that what we intend to say is not always what others hear. This is especially true of "online communication" where other students do not have the opportunity to see your "body language" and therefore have a greater possibility of misunderstanding what you truly mean. For those reasons users of the internet have come up with guidelines for net communication aimed at lessening the chances of miscommunication and perceived disrespect. Please, follow these guidelines in all your online responses and discussion groups.

  Respect all of those who are part of this learning community by:

  • honoring their right to their opinions
  • respecting the right of each person to disagree with others
  • responding honestly but thoughtfully and respectfully using language which others will not consider foul or abusive
  • always signing your name to any contribution you choose to make
  • respecting your own privacy and the privacy of others by not revealing information which you deem private and which you feel might embarrass you or others
  • being supportive in your responses to others in the class
  • being prepared to clarify statements which might be misunderstood or misinterpreted by others

  One good way to avoid problems is to reread your postings before sending them. Something written in haste may be misread.

• Netiquette and Privacy
  Written by: Val Donato and Sandra Looper
  Instructors for: FAM 180 — Special Topics for Parents of Young Children

  You are expected to abide by generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These rules include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • RESPECT
    The purpose of the Parenting Parlor is to provide opportunities for information management and exchange to benefit young children and families. This can best be done in an environment that supports open communication and honors the contributions of members of the community. (A group of individuals involved because of their interest in early childhood education...). We would like to suggest respectful exchanges as a basic ground rule. We feel that informational errors should be pointed out- respectfully (even if stated strongly...) Disagreements that honor the viewpoints of the various contributors are productive and can lead to new learning and understanding.
  • PRIVACY.
    Keep in mind not only your own privacy rights but others as well. Do not reveal any information that you deem private. You also have the right to substitute a different assignment (contingent upon instructor approval) if you are uncomfortable sharing the requested information.
  • BE CONSIDERATE OF GRAMMATICAL/SPELLING ERRORS
    Communicate your thoughts and feelings but do not toil with sentence structure and "perfect wording." We do not count off for spelling or grammatical errors, especially since there is no spell check in our on-line response box!
  • REMEMBER THAT HUMOR AND SATIRE ARE OFTEN MISINTERPRETED ON-LINE
    Communication is more than words so be prepared for some misunderstanding and requests for clarification.
  • BE SUPPORTIVE
    There are no parenting experts here and we are all still learning. Each of us is trying to become a better parent. Our job is not to judge or condemn or even praise, although genuine encouragement is a necessary ingredient. We are here to provide information, topics for a discussion forum, and to provide assistance in helping each participant develop her/his own unique parenting style. Reflection generally precedes growth. So reflect upon what is said, provide sincere comments, and hopefully, we will all grow.