Netiquette Guide for Keypals

Email relationships may be single-purpose or for no particular purpose, long-lasting or short- lived, but the writer of an email message should always remember that, in most cases, a *real person* will be reading that message.
We offer below a few suggestions to help writers avoid offending or annoying people. We also offer some safety measures to keep in mind as a precaution against the few undesirables who unfortunately exist in many communities, including the online community, today.

Be respectful and tolerant of others online. Not everyone holds the same beliefs. To enjoy the diversity of the Internet you will need to learn how to listen and respond to people as respected equals. Be polite.
Never assume that your email is private; others may be able to read or access your mail. Never send or keep anything that you would object to seeing on the evening news with your name attached!
Do not type in CAPITALS. This is the net equivalent of shouting.
Do not attach long signatures to your letters. Some people pay for their email according to the length of the messages and while they probably enjoy the body of your message, they may not appreciate a long, fancy signature containing ASCII art and/or philosophical offerings. Ask them!
Never give out personal details, such as addresses or phone numbers, to someone you know only through email correspondence. They may not be who or what they appear to be.
When meeting with online friends for the first time, children should always have an adult with them. Even adults should take a trusted friend with them. A group setting is also preferable to an intimate one.
The most basic rule for both adults and children when on the Internet is: if you do not like what you are reading online, stop reading it. This includes personal email messages. Children should tell their parents if they receive email which makes them uncomfortable. Any further messages from the offending person need not even be read; simply delete them unopened. If the offending person is writing from a school account the school should also be notified.

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