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Often web users forget all about common courtesy once they get online. They seem to forget that they are interacting with other people with feelings just like their own, not soulless computers.
It’s important to make the effort to ensure you are coming across as polite online. Facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and gestures convey what we’re saying more than our words do in face to face communication. None of this can be seen in online communication, making it easy for others to take our digital words wrong, so we have to find other ways to express our intentions online.
I’ve noticed that we Americans seem to be among the most brusque and impolite Internet communicators. The nicest emails I receive are from the British. Perhaps we should remember the “ugly American” label we wear overseas and combat that globally via the Internet.
Here are a few reminders on Internet courtesy:
Email:
- Respond to emails promptly
- Use a greeting at the beginning
- Make sure the tone is friendly, not brusque
- Make use of emoticons if appropriate
- Use spell check - it shows you care
- Sign off in a friendly manner
Making Blog Comments
- Leave a comment that is thoughtful and shows you read the post
- If you disagree with the poster, express it politely; don’t stoop to name calling or other nastiness
- Don’t take advantage of the blogger by using their comment section for free advertising
Responding to Blog Comments
- Respond to every commenter - Blog Comment Tip: Respond to Comments or Risk Losing Subscribers
- If the commenter criticizes you, be gracious about it - your readers are watching you
Forums
- If you use an avatar, you’ll be judged by it. Do you really want to be the humping dog?
- You can get into a spirited discussion without being rude; in fact, you’ll sound smarter if you’re calm and courteous
Spending a little extra time and effort to treat others well online will garner good will, more business, and you’ll live happily ever after. 
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Tags: blog comments, blog replies, email, forums, online courtesy
8 Comments
@SeoDiva ~ I think that these are great tips. In regard to blog comments, it is true that people will leave nasty comments that they would never dream of saying to someone’s face.
Great post
@Ryan - thanks! That’s the problem with online communication - we’re not looking at anyones’ face, and we forget there is a face on the other side of the screen.
Superb tips! Especially about disagreements. Whether you’re disagreeing or being disagreed with, keep your cool…..show intelligence not school yard stupidity.
Since my blogs are for beginners, these will have to be added to tips (with courtesy of course
)…they seem to be the easiest offended due to lack of experience and thin skin 
Dennis Edells last blog post..Blog Comment Tip: Respond to Comments or Risk Losing Subscribers
Oops speaking of being gracious, I forgot to say thanks for the link!
Dennis Edells last blog post..Blog Comment Tip: Respond to Comments or Risk Losing Subscribers
@Dennis - thanks! It’s hard to stay calm when someone insults you online, but when you take the high road it pays off - been there, done that.
BTW the article of yours that was on your Comment Luv link on one of my articles is what inspired this article LOL!
I figured as much which is why I thanked you for the link!
Now, insults and disagreements can easily be two totally different animals.
If it’s in my comments, I look at it long and hard to really tell if it’s a *spirited* disagreement or just a mean insult only intended to start trouble.
The latter just gets deleted, unless I’m in the mood for some well placed passive aggressiveness to out him/or her and still come out on top.
If it’s a public forum, then there is no choice but to take he high road and hope it dies quickly…..you have to be really good with the passive aggressiveness on forums to come off well
Dennis Edells last blog post..Blog Comment Tip: Respond to Comments or Risk Losing Subscribers
Thanks to the article, Now there is more reason to comment than ever before! Everyone should participate. I am incorporating what your wrote to our project!
@Education Blog - I tried to leave a comment on your blog, but was unable to do so. Are you going to open up comments? An .edu link is always nice to have