Over the weekend, daydreaming of seeing once again Spring and the water lily peeking up at me in the park, I decided on an early spring cleaning. While dusting the bookshelf, a book stood out that I had read way back when I first decided to become an online chatter (talk about the eternal geek). Called Netiquette by Viginia Shea, written in 1994, and subsequently distributed over the internet, it talked about how to act and react in this new communication medium.
If there were ever a group of girls (and Dan of course) who did not and do not need to read this book, you at The Coffeeshop are them. However, we all know folks from our Lit Days and other chat sites, who could benefit greatly from Ms. Shea's words. Shown below are The Core Rules Of Netiquette (the excerpts are elaborated on in great detail and I think one of the reasons I am sharing this is Ms. Shea's fantastic insight into what social networking has become.
1. Remember the Human
2. Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life
3. Know where you are in cyberspace
4. Respect other people's time and bandwidth
5. Make yourself look good online
6. Share expert knowledge
7. Help keep flame wars under control
8. Respect other people's privacy
9. Don't abuse your power
10. Be forgiving of other people's mistakes
I was struck bythe common sense rules of above and wondered why so many choose not to follow them irrespective of whether they ever read the book. And then I said wow, the girls at the Coffeeshop use their words and pictures to convey so much more then just putting down information on a keyboard. What is said and shown here is a belief and thought process that what we say here matters, and our passions come through on a daily basis. Be it Saffy showing us her geographic roots or Liss showing us some new exciting images, and others leading us through a personal journey or helping recall events like Black History month and forgotten artists,it is exciting to me to share with all of you.
Whenever I sign in here, I sense the camaraderie and togetherness that is rare in social settings of any kind. Though represented here are different geographies, , lifestyles ages, professions and interests, the common thread of "something" is there. When we chat electronically, all we see is a computer screen; no facial expressions, gestures or tone of voice, just lonely words; but certainly not here. Thank you for letting me share with you....................
5 comments:
Wow Sammie. You are absolutely 100% right on the money. For me the Coffee Shop has been a way to share what provokes my thoughts. I'm certainly glad you can be a part of something such as this.
I do recall my lit days, most know (SarahWaters) but few know Kimmie. This Blog has really enabled me to feel a sense of family and like you said camaraderie.
A well said post Sammie:)
I have not read the book Sammie, or been a "lit" person from old days as some members refer to themselves or each other as, but find the information you shared to be right on the money in terms of what is most important to responsibly bear in mind. Thank you so much for posting this. Sometimes limited feedback makes it difficult to determine whether what is shared reaches or touches anyone. So I thank you for also demonstrating affirmation of that.
Great article Sammie. I agree completely with not only what you said, but of Kimmie and Camille. I remember good times in lit, when Saffy,Wanda,Liss,Lauren,Jess, Mary and many others were there.
Those people always made it fun, and made many laugh, including myself.It was obvious after being there around such people that you got back what you gave.
The members that have come here, and the new members, have done much though, to keep the Things new, much like lit was.
No-one is more delighted that you share with us than myself Sammie and that’s before we get to folk music and Notting Hill. Thank you for a fascinating read. It was particularly poignant for me as it reminded me how once Jess and I tried to do something similar when we wrote the ‘Lit Guide’. Did you ever see a copy? I must dig it out. It has so much of Jess in it. We too were trying to say just as Virginia Shea before us that we should all adhere to the same standards of behaviour online that we follow in real life, although that could be doubtful in some instances. We also tried through the Guide and the Blogs and of course Jess’s website to try and build a community of out of what were often disparate and desperate people. I am deeply touched by your view that we have achieved a camaraderie here. I have not had a particularly good month on-line and your words have done a lot to lift me ……….thank you.
Thank you girls, for both your comments here, and a serindipitous momement yesterday when Kimmie and I caught up with each other on sharing the latest surgical techniques in acute care hospitals.
And Saffron,your words are proof postive that in the Coffee Shop, symbols on a keyboard are not just lonely words placed on a computer screen.
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