Netiquette

Respect each other and practice patience

The basics of online discussion don't differ much from face-to-face conversation, but respect doesn't always look the same to different people, so here are some things to keep in mind.

• Recognize that your experiences, values, etc. are unique and avoid generalizing. Strive to learn about experiences other than your own, and seek permission to ask questions about other people’s experiences: e.g. “Would you be willing to tell me more about…” Then validate and support the ideas, feelings or experiences of others. 
• All emotions are welcome, but be aware that your emotions may have an impact others based on their experiences. Be supportive of people who interrupt or respond to what is perceived to be hurtful or offensive jokes and statements. If someone is hurt by something you said or corrects the way you address or refer to them, take their feelings and preferences seriously.
• Above all, practice forgiveness: remember that this is a space where we are all learning and growing. 

Imagine the complicated, imperfect person on the other side of the screen

Online communication comes with more complications because we are missing many of the non-verbal cues that we normally get when speaking face-to-face, which is not limited to tones, expressions and gestures but also eye contact, posture, proximity, and even permanent and changeable appearance, all of which can influence how we interpret their words. When we encounter text on a screen, it is easy for us to reduce the individual to their often imperfectly expressed sentences and assume we know more about them than we do because we unconsciously fill in the missing gaps with the characteristics we see around us most frequently or stereotypes about the kind of person we think we are talking to. Be aware that it takes more effort to try to understand the person behind the words you are reading, so practicing some of the strategies in guideline 1 become even more important.

Be aware that you are what you write

Even if everyone practices guideline 2 diligently, please be aware that your text is going to do the heavy lifting  in representing who you are. Here are some things to keep in mind about the text you use:

• Be careful when using ALL CAPS because it will be interpreted as shouting, which is almost never appropriate in a college classroom.
• Likewise, do your best to punctuate and capitalize your sentences correctly, and check your spelling and grammar. When you post obviously unedited sentences, it signals that you didn't put much thought into your expression or response. In all college writing, practice professionalism. Developing professional communication habits will serve you well in the future.
• Be respectful of readers' time and attention: Use clear and concise language in standard fonts and sizes, and use emoticons judiciously - not everyone knows what they mean.
• Avoid using statements that require tone, expression, or gesture to communicate effectively, like sarcasm or even most forms of humor. These statements can be too easily misinterpreted and lead to unfortunate misunderstandings.
• Indicate that the person has been heard before you disagree. The best practice is to acknowledge what someone has said by summarizing your understanding of it before you respond. You might try these templates:

• • If I understand you correctly, you are saying that _________, but I don't see it the same way because...
  • Although I agree with where you are coming from on ___________, my experience with __________ causes me to think differently about....

Respect the (digital) space

There are certain codes that we absorb and abide by in the college classroom, and they apply to the digital classroom as well:

• Do not post spam, advertising, or inappropriate content. If you wouldn't say it out loud in class, don't post it to a discussion forum.
• Don't share personal information outside of the classroom that you learn about others in the classroom. The classroom is only a semi-public space because its population is regulated by enrollment. It is designed to be an environment for exploration and experimentation, but that isn't possible if people are afraid that what they share will come back to haunt them
• At the same time, oversharing can make people uncomfortable, and spreading gossip is unethical, so make sure that anything you share is actually yours to share, only share the essential details, and make sure it is relevant to the discussion.

Discrimination, harassment and bullying will not be tolerated

Students of Everett Community College are expected to follow a code of conduct. Please read the Civility Statement and the Nondiscrimination Statement found on pages 6, 7, and 8 of the Student Handbook (Links to an external site.)  to understand your rights and obligations.

Additionally, all faculty, staff, and students and staff are required by Title IX to maintain an equitable work and learning environment. Everett Community College, and anyone associated with it, does not discriminate based on, but not limited to, race, color, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, language, culture, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy or parental status, marital status, actual or perceived disability, use of service animal, economic status, military or veteran status, spirituality or religion, or genetic information in its programs, activities, or employment.  Prohibited sex discrimination includes sexual harassment. Members of Everett Community College, guests and visitors have the right to be free from all forms of race-based and sex/gender harassment, discrimination and misconduct.

If you feel you have been discriminated against, which includes behavior that makes you uncomfortable in the learning environment, or if you witness harassment or bullying online, please contact the instructor directly and immediately. Together you can decide whether or not you want the instructor to file an Incident/BIT report (Links to an external site.)  on your behalf. If you feel uncomfortable talking to your instructor, or if the conflict is with the instructor, then you can have your advisor submit the report, and you can ask to remain anonymous.

For ongoing systemic discrimination issues, you can file a Title IX report (Links to an external site.)  or contact the Title IX Coordinator at 2000 Tower Street, Everett, WA 98201, TitleIXCoordinator@everettcc.edu, or 425-388-9271.