A WORD ABOUT INTERNET COURTESY

Although the Internet often feels huge and impersonal, your behavior will affect other human beings. There are a few ground rules based on the spirit of the Internet:

• Communication between computers means you're using the time and energy (bandwidth) of other computers whenever you logon or connect to a Website. Don't tax the system by careless typing of addresses, or by surfing areas you have no interest in, or by failing to logoff properly, or by using a foreign site when a domestic one is available. When possible, download at off-peak times; when a site gives you the option, choosing to download at a high "niceness level," creates the least amount of site slowdown for other users.

• Honor the time limits on a library computer during peak usage. Empty your e-mail regularly. Cancel subscriptions to Listservs and Usenet groups when your interest has waned.

• When visiting a Newsgroup, read the FAQs (list of Frequently Asked/Answered Questions) first; then "lurk" for several days to learn the acceptable behavior for that group before commenting. This way, you'll get a sense of the intellectual level of the conversation, the philosophy of the majority of users, and the treatment of newcomers.

• You may have heard of "flaming"--an abusive or sarcastic response to a posting on the Internet. Some groups accept, even encourage, such a tone; but many do not, and it's best to be sure which group you're in.
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