Do not Spam.
Do unto others as you'd have others do unto you.
Remember that there is another person with feelings
on the other end looking into a monitor.
Adhere to the same standards of behavior and
ethics online that you follow in real life.
Avoid Flaming.
Ensure time spent reading the messages you send
isn't wasted by the readers. (This applies to Joke Chains as well as
original messages.)
Don't include more information than you need to
get your point across.
Know the content of what you are writing about,
so you are passing on good information. Forwarding an e-mail about something
that you have not verified yourself is just gossip.
When writing a message, always check for content,
spelling and grammar mistakes before you send it.
Never type in all-capitals, because it's considered
SHOUTING.
Just as the contents of a person's desk, purse,
and mailbox are personal, so are the contents of their e-mail inbox.
Respect people's private online property as you would their physical
property.
Don't abuse power. Often you'll encounter people
less technically savvy than yourself. Just remember you'll encounter
many people who are much more knowledgable, as well.
Forgive Mistakes. Everyone was a Newbie
at one time. Be kind when addressing silly mistakes or questions. One
of the reasons that there are so many people on the internet without
any online manners is that they were never told.
How the culture of the World Wide Web developed this way is a long story,
but I might write an article about it if anyone is interested.