MiddleTalk Listserve

Netiquette

Netiquette is used to describe Internet etiquette. It is a set of guidelines for civil and productive online or e-mail conversations. MiddleTalk follows the following Netiquette guidelines:

• Keep conversation relevant to the purpose of the group.
• Keep acronyms and local jargon to a minimum. The "ABC program" in your school may not have meaning for others on the list who are from different states or countries.
• To respond to a single individual, send that person a private e-mail and do not post to the listserve e-mail address.
• Avoid sending messages that do not contain content. Response comments, such as, "I agree!" "Thanks" or "Good job," fill in mailboxes and become a source of frustration for subscribers. Send these messages via private e-mail.
• Do not send attachments to the list. The system will not accept attachments. Instead, send attachments directly to individuals who request them.
• Use a clear, descriptive subject line. Listserve discussions can have multiple "threads" occurring at the same time. A clear subject line will help other subscribers see the sequence of each discussion.
• When replying to a posting, include a short portion of the original message(s) in your response. Edit out content that does not directly apply to your reply. This spares other subscribers the burden of sifting through multiple repetitions of the original question or response.
• Use discretion when sending a text-heavy message to the list.
• If you are referencing another source (e.g., Web site, document, online file), provide the appropriate link or provide instructions about finding the source.
• Add the word LONG in the subject line of a posting that is more than a couple of paragraphs. This is a courtesy to listserve members who may elect to read lengthy postings at a later date.