Netiquette is short for "network etiquette." It refers to proper user behavior on electronic networks.

Your Responsibility to Others

When you post an article or send a message, think about the people you are trying to reach. Never forget that the person on the other end is human. Because your interaction with the network is through a computer, it is easy to forget that there are people "out there." Remember that people who may not know you well are reading your words. Try not to say anything to others you would not say to them in person in a room full of people.

Express your thoughts succinctly and they will have greater impact. Make sure that the article or message is easy to read and understand. Try to balance brevity with enough details to be understood when read "cold" by someone not as totally involved with the topic as you may be.

The subject line of an article or a mail message tells people what the article is about before they read it and is there to enable a person to quickly decide whether or not to read your article. Keep your subjects short and to the point.

Lobbying and advertising are not appropriate on the CFISD network. Such activities violate the CFISD Acceptable Use Policy.

Mail is addressed to the person or persons that the originator intended to read the message. Forwarding that message to others or including portions of it in responses to others is a violation of confidence between the originator and the original addressee. Be careful that messages you receive don’t have other messages below the one you received that were not intended for others. In writing a message that you specifically do not want to be forwarded, you should state that in your message.

Signatures should tell something about you, but need not be lengthy. The main purpose of a signature is to help others locate/place you. Every signature should include at least your complete email address and preferably your location in four lines or less.

Two styles of "signatures" would be appropriate:

1. Formal
2. Informal

Tammy W. Doe	Cy-Fair High School
English Department Chair	P.O. Box 123
Cy-Fair High School	Houston, Texas 77065
Tammy.Doe@cfisd.net	Phone: (281) 693-6789
	Fax: (281) 693-6788

An Informal style should have at least one’s name and location at a minimum. It should say the city or organization to let the receiver/reader put the person in perspective. It should be used when corresponding with those who may not remember just who/where you are:

It is inappropriate to include a long signature file like the first example above when corresponding with close friends and associates…and it is unnecessary. But, on the other hand, it is courteous to include information about your location and address.

Follow these steps to set up a signature, or tag-line, at the end of your electronic communication through GroupWise.

• Click Tools/Options

• Double-click Environment

• Click the Signature Tab

• Check the Signature box on the left

• Choose whether you want to automatically add the signature or have GroupWise prompt you before adding

• Type in an appropriate signature, including basic information about your location and address

"Flames" are messages or replies that express anger or might anger the reader. Expressing anger, being critical or criticizing others, or humiliating someone else is a flame or will cause flames. Correcting the spelling or grammar of others is not appropriate.