E-mail Etiquette Resistance

A healthy portion of onliners resist the concept of E-mail Etiquette as though I am sitting here just coming up with rules and regulations that they don't want to have to follow. I get nasty e-mail daily asking who I think I am to "ram this down people's throats" or "who made you queen of the Internet?"

E-mail Etiquette is simply online etiquette or as I explain it with my tag-line:

Using technology with knowledge, understanding and courtesy.

What is so wrong with that? Nothing. We live in a culture that is so busy thinking "all about me" that we don't stop to think of courtesies or considerations for others.

et‧i‧quette – noun

1. conventional requirements as to social behavior; proprieties of conduct as established in any class or community or for any occasion.


2. a prescribed or accepted code of usage in matters of ceremony, as at a court or in official or other formal observances.


3. the code of ethical behavior regarding professional practice or action among the members of a profession in their dealings with each other: medical etiquette.

Whatever you call it, Online Etiquette, Netiquette or E-mail Etiquette, it is simply understanding the technology in which you are participating and to take that knowledge to use technology properly with consideration and courtesy to others.

Those who think E-mail Etiquette can be disregarded, ingnored or trivialized are doing themselves and those they communicate with a disservice.