Netiquette

Netiquette or "network etiquette" are rules of common courtesy for communicating on the Internet. These are based on RFC 1855.

DO's

1. DO make your message clear and understandable. Make sure the subject line (email) or title (web page) reflects your intent. If your message is short, people are more likely to read it. If you are sending a reply to a message or a posting, be sure you summarize the original at the top of the message, or include just enough text of the original to provide context.
2. DO use appropriate language for all online communication. Your words and content represent you. Don't use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS - it's equal to shouting or screaming.
3. DO read over what you are going to send or post at least once, just as you would proofread a paper you submit. Once you submit your work, discussion, or email, you cannot change what you have written.

DO NOT's

1. DO NOT send spam or forward chain letters. These are abuses of Texas A&M University resources and a waste of other people's time and resources.
2. DO NOT assume that you are anonymous and isolated from accountability for your actions on the Internet or the Texas A&M network. Be aware that all systems on the network are capable of logging your activities and creating profiles of your use of the system.
3. DO NOT assume that email is secure, unless you are specifically use some type of encryption. If you wouldn't put something on a postcard, don't put it in an email message.
4. DO NOT flame people through email. Flaming typically consist of trashing another person through email or netnews postings to large groups in an attempt to "win" a disagreement. This behavior leads to more of the same type of conduct and often ends in "Flaming Wars". This could lead to complaints about the "Flamer's" behavior to the home organization.
5. DO NOT scan other systems or IP address domains without proper authorization. Scanning uses automated programs to either probe a system to determine what types of services are being operated, or scan IP address ranges to locate systems and services. This is interpreted as an attack and results in many complaints to the Security Officer.
6. DO NOT assume that anyone will think that spreading malicious code such as a Trojan Horse program or a virus program is a joke. This can be a very serious problem and will be treated as such.
7. DO NOT spoof your tamu.edu IP address. Spoofing is trying to appear as someone else. There have been reports of users inside the Texas A&M network attempting to make surreptitious connections through other network systems to disguise themselves from persons and systems on these other networks. This is not the same thing as being anonymous through the use of a nickname.

For more information, please see the Texas A&M University Acceptable Use Policy.