Online etiquette

ONLINE ETIQUETTE
On this page, you will find information about the Internet etiquette, or netiquette. The netiquette is a set of guidelines on how to behave online. If you ignore these guidelines, you can easily damage your online reputation.
Note that in addition to these general rules, various services such as e-mail lists, social media and the University of Helsinki have their own specific rules.
Be yourself: always log on to your services with your own username and password. In most services, the use of another person’s ID is prohibited, and identity theft is an act punishable by law. If you leave your computer, even for a short while, lock your workstation so that nobody can access the open services under your name.
Be polite when writing e-mails: when used correctly, e-mail is an effective means of communication. When sending email, you may be tempted to say something it that you will regret later. Do not write anything that you would not be willing to tell a person face to face. Do not send jokes or inappropriate messages to people you do not know personally.
HEy Prof!!!!!!!111
doncha jus love my assignment!!! <3 <3
Cheers raymond “ray” keskivarsen
Your e-mail or other messages may end up with unknown persons by mistake, so be careful about adding personal information to messages. Take the receiver of the message into account as well: the colloquial tone of a message sent to a friend can be completely inappropriate when addressing your university teacher! Please remember that there are some unwritten rules about e-mail messages, e.g. writing in CAPITALS is interpreted as SHOUTING!
Respect the recipient’s inbox: do not burden the recipient’s inbox unnecessarily and do not forward chain letters. Before sending attachments, consider whether they are really necessary and whether the recipient will be able to open them. Your e-mail may be one of hundreds of messages in the recipient’s inbox, so do not expect an immediate answer.
Be considerate in online discussions: if you participate in discussions, be polite and do not disturb or offend others. Make sure that your message stays on topic. Disturbing or offensive users may be tracked down later, even if the discussion has been anonymous. In case of a problem, contact the site administration.
Take care of information security: Keep your passwords in a safe place where others cannot access them. Never divulge your passwords to other people! Make sure you do not send or reply to virus mail. If the message title or the name of an attachment looks suspicious, delete the message without opening it.
Know what you are agreeing to: there are services on the web that you have to register for. Read the sign-up instructions carefully and make sure you understand them before agreeing to anything. Do not say yes, unless you understand the question.
If a service requires registration and asks for your personal information, think carefully what information you want to disclose about yourself. Be especially careful in giving out your e-mail address to avoid becoming flooded by spam (junk mail). Also, be extra careful when sending credit card details online!
Be critical: bear in mind that there is no publishing threshold on the Internet, so anybody can publish almost anything. Not all information found on websites is true or accurate. If an offer or service sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Particularly dubious are e-mail messages that advertise significant financial benefits or medicines that may be illegal in Finland or dangerous to the user.
The web has a long memory: do not forget that everything you write in an online discussion, e-mail message or on your own page can be read many years from now.
The law and the web: Everything that is illegal is illegal on the Internet as well.
LAWS AND REGULATIONS
The Internet allows for unprecedented freedom of communication, but the freedom comes hand in hand with responsibility. For example, the author of a website is always responsible for the contents and legality of the site.
Libel and defamation: do not post online false information or insinuations about a person that could cause damage, suffering or contempt. In other words: do not publish online any defamatory material or anything that you would not be willing to express in any other context and be prepared to take the consequences. Also, do not post online any information, insinuation or image of a person that could cause damage, suffering, or contempt.
Copyright and trademark law: do not distribute on the Internet any material – such as music, text, photographs, drawings or trademarks – to which you do not own the rights. Unauthorized distribution and use of such material may lead to legal consequences.
Confidentiality of communication: according to the constitution, every citizen has the right to privacy in their communication with others. The legislation also applies to e-mail and all electronic communications. Therefore, do not open e-mails addressed to other recipients without the express permission of the recipient!
Do not disrupt the operation of the data network: intentional disrupting or overloading of the data network, data transfer, e-mail and other online services is prohibited.
Hacking: intrusion into or unauthorized use of an information system – even if no damage occurs – is a criminal offence which in the worst case can lead to a jail sentence. The mere attempt of intrusion or unauthorized use is punishable.
Creating and spreading viruses: creating and deliberately spreading viruses are punishable offences.
Do not send e-mail advertising: do not use e-mail for marketing purposes unless you have permission from the recipients. It is illegal to send automated mass mail to individual persons. However, sending information to companies, your clients or friends is allowed. Even in these cases you should remove the recipient’s name from the distribution list if they so request. You can make the recipients’ names invisible to others by entering them in the bcc (Blind Carbon Copy) box.
Keeping a register of persons: if you collect personal information from the web or people visiting your home page (e.g. by asking them to register), you must comply with the provisions of the Personal Data Act.
Child pornography: distribution and possession of child pornography is illegal regardless of the format of the material.

Manners
Almost everyone understands that there's a reason for etiquette guidelines and rules for good manners. After all, most parents start teaching polite words and phrases to their children early in life. They know that they're giving their children an advantage that will carry over into social, educational, and eventually professional situations.Throughout their lives, people face behavior rules and the consequences of ignoring them. Schools have written rules that they expect students and teachers to obey. Employee handbooks are loaded with policies of etiquette and showing respect to coworkers.
Why Have Good Manners?
Without proper etiquette, society would be a mess with free-for-all behaviors that would have rude people dominating those who care about others. People would say whatever is on their minds, regardless of how crass it is. Forks would fly, and elbows would rock tables in restaurants and homes. Diners would be grossed out by people who speak with their mouths full of food. 
Most parents don't want to contribute to bad behavior in society, so they teach etiquette to their children at a very young age, starting with saying "Please" and "Thank you." They encourage their kids to share and not be selfish with their toys, and then as they get older, they progress to some of the more complex manners concepts, such as how to properly introduce someone and how to make a good first impression. 
Most people remember having to listen to etiquette rules over and over throughout their childhood before leaving the house. Whether they were going shopping at the grocery store or to a friend's house for dinner, parents repeated a long list of what was expected.At the time, it may have seemed redundant. But once they become adults and start having their own children, they understand because they now do it. As adults, most of us still care about having a social life. Ignoring proper etiquette guidelines can leave us off the guest list and have people running the other way when they see us coming.

Professional

There are certain expectations of how a business person is supposed to act in a professional environment. If you follow the rules, you're perceived as someone who knows what you're talking about. However, if you don't, you may be laughed at and possibly even ignored. In the long run, bad manners at the office may cost you a promotion, or worse, your job.
Benefits of Good Manners
Having proper etiquette is essential in all aspects of life if you want others to respect you. Here are some of the many advantages of having good manners:

1. 
   Being nice at home sets the stage for better behavior. Your children watch how you react to various situations, so parents need to set examples and have good manners. If you are polite to them and consistent in following proper manners guidelines, they are much more likely to do the same.
   
2. 
   Professional manners get positive attention. Skills on the job are important, but knowing how to do the work isn't the only thing expected of you. Following the etiquette rules at work will help you earn respect and possibly even contribute to promotions and raises.
   
3. 
   Being kind to customers increases sales. Show your customers your good manners by speaking to them politely and giving them an opportunity to express their needs, and you are more likely to earn their future business.
   
4. 
   Being polite to your friends will keep them calling. When your friends know you care enough to have good manners with them, they are more likely to include you in activities and events.