Computer Advocacy

Responsibility in the Information Age

Samuel S. Bucholtz

In the machine-dominated milieu of the Internet, there is an unfortunate lack of social restraint, a tendency on the part of some to let go and behave as they never would in the offline world. The Internet is a fledgling society, and while a social etiquette has slowly developed, it is both unenforceable and often difficult for newcomers to learn. Another problem with the sudden addition of these advanced facilities is that people fail to fully understand both the power of these tools and the problems that can develop from their use.

A little common sense can help when approaching these problems. E-mail is probably the most basic, widespread and popular service provided by ACF. The first responsibility for users is to check it regularly. This might seem obvious, yet it is commonly overlooked by those who are new to the Internet. Consider that most people check their postal ("snail") mail once a day because there may be bills or date-sensitive materials that have to be handled immediately. The same applies to e-mail, so you should check it on a daily basis as well. This has become more important as many classes get designated mailing lists and teachers use e-mail to contact students. Once you develop the habit of checking, you may find that you do so more frequently, perhaps both in the morning and the evening.

The speed of e-mail has created the tendency in some users to expect rapid responses from others. This may seem demanding, but e-mail was designed for passing short and quick messages, not for long, complex collaborative efforts. It is usually easier to write a quick message right away than to wait until you can write up a long, involved response. On the other hand, do not expect instant replies to your messages. E-mail is fast, but it's not real-time communication like a phone call. You can, of course, encourage your friends and others with whom you correspond to reply with more alacrity or frequency.

E-mail users also have a responsibility to be civil. This does not mean that every letter has to use the standard business letter format, nor does it mean that you cannot express your feelings. It only means that you should try to think about what you are saying and what you really mean before you hit "send." Remember that although you are staring at an impersonal computer screen, there is actually a human being on the other side of that message. Avoid flaming (sending messages that are crude and use foul language) in both e-mail and USENET newsgroups. The reasons for this are simple -- the Golden Rule (Do unto others...) really is a good policy; it is easier, and usually more effective, just to ignore someone who is flaming than it is to respond in kind; and your meaning will be lost if people are angered by the flame.

Remember that you will never change a person's mind by insulting him or her. Better to not respond, ignore the flamer, and let him relieve his anger in a way that prevents escalation of the argument. In the end a flamer, like a petulant child, will give up if he feels he has no audience. Always remember that it takes less energy to delete a message than it does to read it.

E-mail is just one part of the Internet. Other services can be utilized more easily by following some simple, universal guidelines. The first and most important responsibility is honesty. When you post information on a home page or a bulletin board service, send a résumé to someone, or post personal information somewhere on the Internet, it is important to be honest. If you lie, someone may rely on you for a service or skill that you cannot provide. Everyone knows someone who has fudged his or her résumé to make it more impressive, but when posting to an impersonal location in cyberspace, there's a tendency to get even more outlandish. The Internet is like any other medium: GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out); however, because this is a social medium, that garbage can have a very personal cost.

Another responsibility is to keep yourself informed. This may sound exclusionary, but in fact it's fairly easy to do. Experienced netizens understand that the Internet is rapidly expanding, and that as a result many newbies continually enter the mix. There will always be more experienced people willing to help you out when you get stuck, if you ask politely. Remember, it never hurts to ask. This is one of the greatest features of the Internet. Where else can you get more than 10 million people congregating, asking and answering questions, and meeting each other? Also, utilize resources like FAQs (Frequently Asked Question lists), user groups like C@NYU, and service providers like ACF. All these resources are here to help you know what you are getting into, and they can help when you are stuck.

In closing, a suggestion. Use your freedom to explore the Internet and its vast opportunities, but also give back to the online community. The Internet has become so popular because it makes it easy for people to express themselves. Promote yourself and your interests, create web pages, join mailing lists, answer the questions of those newer than yourself -- become a valuable member of the community by participating.

Posted May 18,1998