Digital Courtesy

Digital Courtesy should be a mandatory class for anyone responsible enough to have an e-mail account. My suggestion to make this required coursework in which the students would practice proper techniques with their teacher until they are deemed "digitally courteous." Here is a sample course outline:

Digital Courtesy 101

1. Be concise and to the point
2. Answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions
3. Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation
4. Make it personal
5. Use templates for frequently used responses
6. Answer swiftly
7. Do not attach unnecessary files
8. Use proper structure & layout
9. Do not overuse the high priority option
10. Do not write in CAPITALS
11. Don't leave out the message thread
12. Add disclaimers to your emails
13. Read the email before you send it
14. Do not overuse Reply to All
15. Mailings > use the bcc: field or do a mail merge
16. Take care with abbreviations and emoticons
17. Be careful with formatting
18. Take care with rich text and HTML messages
19. Do not forward chain letters
20. Do not request delivery and read receipts
21. Do not ask to recall a message
22. Do not copy a message or attachment without permission
23. Do not use email to discuss confidential information
24. Use a meaningful subject
25. Use active instead of passive
26. Avoid using URGENT and IMPORTANT
27. Avoid long sentences
28. Don't send or forward emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist or obscene remarks
29. Don't forward virus hoaxes and chain letters
30. Keep your language gender neutral

Image by dampeebe via Flickr

31. Don't reply to spam
32. Use cc: field sparingly

source: http://www.emailreplies.com/

Repeated failure to abide by etiquette rules should result in immediate revokation of digital privileges, or at the very least the function of "send" being disabled from the e-mail/cell phone client.

Or revert to dial-up, whichever is most painful to the offfender.

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