Reuters has an interesting article today on an attempt to create an “etiquette bible” for social networking sites such as Facebook. Here are some of the “golden rules”:
1. You don’t have to make friends with people you don’t know. Think before you poke.
2. Wait 24 hours before accepting or removing someone as a friend. The delay will help you gather your thoughts.
3. Birthdays, engagements and weddings are not “virtual” events. Always send cards or phone friends when there is an important event.
4. Think before posting a friend’s photo what you would feel like if it was you.
5. Think carefully about your profile picture. Would you want it to be appearing in your local newspaper?
This reminded me of an earlier attempt to create a “blogging code” a while back. It poses the question of whether the Internet, specifically social networking dimensions, including blogging, requires a sense of etiquette and rules. The Internet is technically a free zone of thoughts, ideas, words and expressions. Regulation, whether in the form of government censorship and/or “controls” or personal and individual discretion, is and may always be a split issue. There will always be people who will rally in favor of it, and there will always be people who are against it.
My personal stance? Part me is always tempted to see a (bit) more regulated Internet, but then I remember that’s not what the cyber space is about. You have to enjoy both the chaos and the order that it brings. Even in that chaos there can be great beauty.
these are common sense.. anyone with general social etiquette and manners would follow them by default…
Yikes, I cringe at regulating the internet – there’s just no suitable body to get that one right at all.
I say let it rip!
This world needs as much intellectual chaos as possible to be able to refind goodness of souls, compassion and responsible behavior.
Speaking of this, I was recently blown away by learning that Sun Microsystems actually encourages its staff to blog. They even have blogging strategy and guidelines. (www.sun.com/aboutsun/media/blogs/policy.html)
I’m sick of it…i’m no longer pokable or addable as a friend. if you really have something to say to me send me a message i’ll add you if i like it. i’m considering deleting half the people who added me cause we share a family name…call me rude
I’ve made lots of friends and a few dollars with social networking.
Arabianmonkey just threw a palm tree at the black iris. Would you like to throw a palm back? Or hang arabianmonkey on the water tower? Or shake your black iris petals get in your truck and drive off? And no, arabianmonkey does not like bananas.
I agree with you!
I like the wait 24 hours one… I do tha anyway (out of laziness). But then again, ignoring is my default unless a) I know the name, b) They know at least 8 people I know and are female (sometimes not even then as I have no idea why someone would want to add me as a friend if we’ve never even met…)
And, I think BlackIris should toss pounds of pollen on ArabianMonkey :).
This monkey is staying on top of this tree – that pollen mommabean does not mix well with my hairyness….
[arabianmonkey is swinging on the branch waiting for the crowd to disperse and hoping these tomatoes don’t fall out of the pouch on anyone’s head]