By no means am I the expert on internet intricacies, but I do want to pass on a few simple rules of etiquette.

Firstly, we all know that once you put anything on the internet, you can’t take it back, or “you can’t unring the bell.”  I have mentioned this several times before, so whatever you put in an email or text is written in stone.

Secondly, edit your email for grammar and punctuation.  Texting is more casual and accepting of typos especially if you have auto correct.  We all have sent crazy texts because we didn’t take the time to read them before sending.  You certainly don’t want people thinking you are not smarter than a 5th grader. Also, don’t send an email or text in all caps.  Keep your message short and concise and avoid too many attachments in your email.  By the way, don’t get caught up in chain letters, no matter what good luck it says it will bring you.  They don’t work!  The person starting the chain letter is doing it to get email addresses from wherever he can.  If you think everyone on the internet is honest and wants to be your best friend, wake up!  There are more underhanded scams than you can ever imagine.

There are several other rules I could pass on, but in my opinion, one of the major rules of email and text etiquette is to ANSWER!!!  When you get an email, or a text for that matter, it would take a second to send the word “okay” or “fine” or “sure.”  But to ignore the sender is like answering your door, not saying anything and slamming the door in your visitor’s face.  Sending a one-word response would be to acknowledge your receipt of the correspondence.  To ignore it is inconsiderate and very unprofessional.  It’s common courtesy and will also not leave the sender wondering if you fell of the end of the earth. That reply button was put on your email for a reason, so use it.

When an email is addressed to a group, the “reply to all” button should be used only if your response is an important part of the conversation to the group.  If you want to respond to a particular person in the group, do not send your email to everyone.  We hit ‘reply all’ way too much, so ask yourself who needs to receive the information you’re sending and only send it to those individuals. 

Think twice before you send emails and texts.  Remember that bell!