MODULE OF INSTRUCTION

Netiquette

What is Netiquette?
Netiquette, which is short for “Network Etiquette”, is the name given
to the set of rules and guidelines about how to properly behave online.

Formal Netiquette
Netiquette can be formal or informal. Formal Netiquette involves a
strict set of rules that are imposed by online groups like message
boards, chat rooms and social media sites.

The most common rules imposed in online communities are intended

to prevent actions and practices that are disruptive or harmful to other
users and the community in general. The following are examples of
such actions:

1. Foul language

This is a common rule in formal settings such as corporate and

academic websites. Like in real life, foul language is frowned
upon in such environments.

2. Spamming

As we learned in the previous chapter, a spam is an unwanted

and unsolicited message or email. Spamming is banned in most
chat rooms and forums because it takes up a lot of space and is
annoying to other users.

3. Bullying

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Recently, a lot of attention has been given to the act of bullying

and how to prevent it. Bullying is the use of strength or power
to intimidate someone into doing something that he does not
want or to make him feel bad. Cyberbullying is bullying that
is done using electronic technology.

4. Trolling

A troll is an unruly member who deliberately breaks the rules

of an online community. The most common acts of trolling
include posting inappropriate or banned contents, posting off
topic messages, and leaving sarcastic comments. These actions
are intended to disrupt the normal operation of online
communities.

5. Sock puppets

“Sock puppets” is the term used to refer to multiple accounts

that are used by the same person. Trolls use sock puppet
accounts to pose as different persons in order to advance their
agendas.

6. Flame Wars

Online discussions or “threads” may get out of hand when the

users who disagree with each other start getting emotional.
They may then post insults or threats against each other. This
incident is called a “flame war” Flame wars are harmful to
online communities because they cause a decline in the quality
of the topics that are being discussed. If allowed to persist, this
may destroy the integrity of the group as a whole.

Breaking these rules may result in a warning from website or group

administrators. An administrator or admin is a member who is tasked
with monitoring activity and imposing the rules. Admins usually have
the power to “kick” or revoke the membership of users who break the
rules and to delete posts that are deemed inappropriate.

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Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the practice of using someone else’s work as if it is

yours. It is quite common in the Internet because online information is
easy to locate and copy. In most cases, it occurs when someone uses a
quote or a part of a published work without mentioning who originally
wrote it and which publication it belongs to. Plagiarism is considered
as a fraudulent act and can be punishable by law.

Piracy

Piracy is the act of reproducing and distributing materials without the

owner’s consent. It is harmful because it denies the rightful owners the
proper compensation for their work. Ultimately, rampant piracy can
cause a stop in the production of original works because owners and
publishers will no longer have enough income to fund future projects.
Here are the most common types of piracy of copyright-protected
materials based on UNESCO’s World Anti-Piracy Observatory
(http://portal.unesco.org)

 Books

“Any unauthorised use of a copyrighted work, such as a book,

school manual, journal article or sheet music, represents an
infringement of copyright or a case of copyright piracy, unless
covered by a copyright exception. Piracy of printed works
affects both paper copies and works in digital format.”

 Music

“Music piracy includes both traditional unlawful use of music

and unauthorised use of music on on-line communication
networks.”

 Bootlegging is the unauthorized recording and

distribution of a live or broadcast performance.

 Counterfeiting is the “unauthorised copying of

the material support, labels, artwork and
packaging”

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 Film

Movies and TV shows are pirated either physically by making

and selling hard copies or virtually by distributing unlicensed
copies online. Making copyrighted materials available for
online viewing or streaming without the owner’s permission is
also an act of piracy.

 Software

Commercial software such as productivity tools and games are

also counterfeited by making and selling physical copies such
as DVD’s but the most common form of software piracy is still
unauthorized online redistribution.

Copyright

All the forms of piracy mentioned above are violations of copyright.

Copyright is the legal right to own an original work. Copyright laws
may differ in every country but in all cases, they govern the use and
distributions of original works such as music, film, literature and
drawings.

In the Philippines, the REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8293, also known as the
Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines or IP Code, protects
intellectual property. The IP Code lists 15 types of works that are
covered by copyright protection. This includes books, musical
compositions, drawings, and photographic works. (Source:
ipophil.gov.ph)

Informal Netiquette
Informal Netiquette is a lot like real-world etiquette. These are
guidelines that may not be imposed by law but are expected to be
followed by everyone. Many real-life etiquettes apply online. They are
usually simple common-sense actions that make social interaction

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pleasant for everyone involved. Here are some of the most useful
netiquettes that we can follow.

1. The Golden Rule

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This
saying seems to apply in any form of human interaction. Even
in the Internet, it is still a good practice to treat others with the
same fairness and respect that we expect to receive.

2. Act as you would in real life.

It is easy to be disrespectful online because there is no threat of

physical confrontation. Acting as if you are talking face to face
with the other person will keep you grounded and levelheaded
in your online interactions

3. Know where you are and act accordingly.

Like in real-life, our online conduct may vary from place to

place. Most online environments like social media and
recreational forums tend to be casual. In these environments,
informal speech and some teasing are considered normal.
However there are also formal environments like government
portals and university websites. In these settings, be sure to use
proper language and act courteously.

4. Respect people’s privacy.

Privacy is probably a bigger deal in the Internet than it is in the

real world mainly because it is easier to invade someone’s
privacy online. Avoid communicating with people in ways that
are intrusive or overly demanding.

5. Respect other people’s properties

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The Internet is a freeway of information but information is not

always free. Many online contents like music, videos and
writings are regarded as intellectual properties of their creators.
Like real-world properties, there are rules that govern the use,
sharing and reproduction of these contents. Illegally copying or
taking credit for someone else’s intellectual property is against
the law.

Mobile Device Etiquette

Mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets have become parts of
our daily lives. These handy gadgets have many useful features such as
Internet access, playing music, videos and games, taking pictures and
videos and of course making and receiving calls and texts. Their
compact and lightweight designs enable us to use them practically
anywhere. Mobile devices have certainly improved modern living.

However, using mobile devices also have negative effects. Listed

below are the practices that may lead to these negative effects and how
we can minimize or eliminate them:

1. Talking too loudly on your phone

If you talk too loudly on your phone in public places like

buses, streets, and restaurants, you may be disturbing to the
people around you.

The solution:

Speak softly. If the line is choppy and if the other part can’t
properly hear you, use other means of communication like
texting or email instead of raising your voice.

2. Making long phone calls

Like raising your voice in public, talking too much on your

phone can also be annoying to people who overhear your
conversation. It can also be bothersome to the person you are
talking to.

The solution:

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Keep your phone calls short and concise. Avoid small talk and
gossiping when making or taking calls in public places

3. Putting the other party on loud speaker

Although it is sometimes necessary when you can’t properly

hear the other party, putting him or her on speakerphone adds
more unwelcomed sounds to your conversation. Others also
often see it as vulgar and impolite.

The solution:

Earphones. Most mobile devices come with free earphones.

Use one if you have trouble hearing the person you are talking
to.

4. Using loud or annoying ring tones/notification sounds

While it is important to be notified when someone calls or

sends you a message, phone rings can sometimes be
unnecessarily loud. Also, people sometimes use notification
sounds that can be irritating or even unsettling to others such as
animal sounds, sirens or even gunshots.

The solution:

Normally, less than half of your phone’s full volume is enough

to hear it ring through your pocket or bag. If you put it in your
pocket most of the time, just set it to vibrate.

5. Playing music, videos, and games too loudly

We usually do these things to pass time and entertain ourselves

in public places. However it may cause frustration to the
people around you if you play music or watch videos in full
volume. Sound effects of games tend to be sharp and surprising
and can therefore be irritating to others.

The solution:

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Again, earphones will do the trick. Plug in and enjoy your

music, videos, or games in private.

6. Taking pictures or videos of live performances

This is a bad idea for 3 reasons. First, because you usually have
to raise your phone above your head to get a good shot of the
performance, you may be blocking the view of the people
behind you. Secondly, some artists do not want people to take
unauthorized pictures of their shows. Lastly, focusing on
capturing the moment on camera will cause you to miss the
enjoyment of watching it live without distractions.

The solution:

If you really want to take a video or a picture of a show, keep it

short and subtle. Make sure that doing so does not spoil the
experience for you and others.

7. Using your phone in cinemas

The light coming out of your device is intrusive and

bothersome to the other members of the audience. More
importantly, using your phone in a movie theatre may give the
impression that you are taking a video of the movie, which is
against the law.

The Solution

Refrain from using your phone in side movie theaters. Most of

all do not take pictures and videos of the movie being shown.

8. Taking pictures and videos without asking permission

Taking pictures and videos of other people and their properties

such as vehicles and pets may not be against the law but it can
be seen as unethical and rude.

The solution

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As a sign of respect, always ask for permission before taking

pictures of people and their property.

9. Using your mobile device while waiting in line

Though this is not always a bad thing to do, staring at your

phone while queuing can be distracting and may cause you to
hold up the line and be an inconvenience to others.

The solution:

It is okay to use your phone while waiting in line but make sure
to stay alert so you can readily react to people and things
around you.

10. Using your mobile device while driving

Not only is it dangerous for obvious reasons, it is also illegal.

The solution:

Don’t do it.

11. Using your mobile device while walking

Like when driving, looking at your mobile device while

walking will certainly cause you to bump into people or get hit
by traffic. It may also cause you to walk slower and get in the
way of other people

The solution:

Avoid doing this as much as you can. If you absolutely have to

check your phone while walking in a crowded place, stop in a
place where you won’t get in the way of people or traffic.

12. Wearing earphones/headphones while walking.

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This may seem like a common and harmless thing to do but the
sound coming from your earphones can impede your ability to
hear and act on signs of danger such as car horns, and
machinery and traffic sounds.

The solution:

When walking in streets, sidewalks, and other crowded places,

avoid using earphones that completely block your hearing.

13. Using your mobile device in social gatherings and

important events

Using your phone or tablet for extended periods of time while

in situations like group lunches, ceremonies and class
discussions is considered rude and inconsiderate because of
two main reasons. The first reason is that it takes your attention
away from the conversation or discussion. Secondly, it gives
the impression that you are not interested in the event and the
people involved.

The solution:

Excuse yourself and step away from the event or gathering if

you have to check your phone. In more formal settings like
meetings and classrooms, always ask for permission when you
have to answer calls or check your phone.

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