Netiquette & The Golden Rule

There is an overall principle that governs all actions and speech, online or off, and that is The Golden Rule: Treat others as you wish to be treated. It's a pretty simple life principle, really. It's nothing complicated about it, and it's not hard to understand.

The Golden Rule is taught to children around the world as a basic principle of good character, wholesome living, and peaceful co-existance. It is found in philosophy, including the ancient writings of Plato and Socrates. It is universally found in every major religion from the Greek and Roman religions, to the scriptures of Zoroastrianism (Dadisten-I-Dinik 94-5), Hinduism (Mahabharata 5:1517), Buddhism (Udana-Varga 5:18), Judaism (Talmud Shabbat 3), Christianity (Matthew 7:1), and Islam (Imam Al-Nawawi's Forth Hadith 13).

There is unanimity of opinion among many religions and ethical philosophies that each one of us should treat others in a decent manner. One result of this common ethic is the concept that every person shares certain inherent human rights, by virtue of being part of the human race. With this, it becomes evident that we are all equal in importance, and equally deserving of respect and common courtesy.

Netiquette is a contraction for Net Etiquette, an informal but widely accepted standard of proper behavior that is recognized as necessary and suitable for the common use of the Internet.

Netiquette is a matter of online common courtesy. In forums and newsgroups, it's easy to forget that you're interacting with real people. However, being in the habit of good and constructive behavior, the practice of Netiquette facilitates interaction with others in a constructive manner. Netiquette is a standard of common decency that brings about the orderly operation of many aspects of Internet life.

The principle of The Golder Rule is behind Netiquette. It is the application of equitable civility and ethical fitness. It has as its core, nothing more than the expression of common respect. Respect for others as well as respect for ourselves.

There are really no "rules" for Netiquette that defines exactly what to do and not do, although some have tried to write them. It is more the application of common respect and decency. The simple application of the principle of The Golden Rule makes any list seem inadequite, if not inappropriate.

It is more a matter of just doing it. When online, apply the principle of The Golden Rule. It's that simple.

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