Commission Projects: Advising Technology Education Center (ATECH)
Mind Your Manners and Mingle With Style: Electronic Discussion Lists
Contributed by Anita Carter, Wayne State University
for the
Advising Technology Education Center (ATECH)
Benefits of Joining a Discussion List
- Networking with colleagues with similar interests
- Opportunity to elicit "best practices" from across the country and the world
- Opportunity to reciprocate, report your own "best practices" to others
- Meet online for mutual support and recognition
Ground Rules
- Read Your Mail Regularly
Letting messages pile up and fill your mailbox will result in messages being bounced back to the list owner. If you plan to be absent from the office for several days, set the "no mail" option on your discussion list subscription.
- Always Use a Subject Line
A subject line will allow recipients to scan their inbox by subject and choose which messages to read. The more accurate the subject line the more beneficial. When hitting the reply key, make sure that the subject line is still relevant. If not, change the subject line to reflect the new topic.
- Provide a Complete Return Address
A complete return address will allow your colleagues the opportunity to contact you directly if they want to continue the discussion privately via phone or mail. It should contain:
Your Name
Office Address
Institution
City, State
Phone
- Respect and Consideration for Colleagues
Remember your manners. Be courteous, even if you disagree with a colleague's position. Don't say anything electronically that you wouldn't be willing to say face to face. Also remember that the recipient won't have anything other than the written word to glean your meaning. Be careful of tone. Re-read your message before sending it.
- Learn the Basics of E-Mail at Your Institution
E-Mail packages and capabilities vary greatly among institutions. Become familiar with how it works at your institution with your e-mail package. Be sure you know how to respond privately to messages as well as replying to the entire discussion list.
Netiquette
- Get a Feel For the Tone of the List
Spend some time monitoring a discussion list for tone and the unwritten rules of the list.
- Download a Copy of the List's Files
Most discussion lists have files for directions for setting "no mail," responding privately, accessing archives and help files, etc. Make copies of these files for your reference.
- Shouting, Flaming, & Other No No's
Become familiar with the culture, rules, and language of the discussion list. Two very important items you should know are "shouting" and "flaming."
Using all caps when you type your message is called "shouting." Besides being very emphatic, it is also very difficult to read. Don't use all caps, unless you intend to shout. Again be reminded that you don't want to do anything online that you wouldn't do face to face. If you wouldn't shout in person, don't shout online.
A personal attack is called "flaming." Again remember your manners. You can disagree, but be considerate about it and take it off-line with a private communication with the specific person, not the list.
- Think Before You Respond
Think about what you want to say and compose your response. Read it carefully for meaning and tone before you hit the "send" key.
- Keep it Short, To the Point
Remember that your colleagues are busy people. Be considerate of their time. Keep your messages short and to the point. Long, rambling messages will not get your point across if your colleagues delete them without reading.
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Revised June 17, 2004
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