Would you...

say it to the person's face?

Writer and Macintosh evangelist Guy Kawasaki tells a story about getting email from some fellow he's never met. Online, this fellow tells Guy that he's a bad writer with nothing interesting to say.

Unbelievably rude? Yes, but unfortunately, it happens all the time in cyberspace.

Maybe it's the awesome power of being able to send mail directly to a well-known writer like Guy. Maybe it's the fact that you can't see his face crumple in misery as he reads your cruel words. Whatever the reason, it's incredibly common.

Guy proposes a useful test for anything you're about to post or mail: Ask yourself, "Would I say this to the person's face?" If the answer is no, rewrite and reread. Repeat the process till you feel sure that you'd feel as comfortable saying these words to the live person as you do sending them through cyberspace.

Of course, it's possible that you'd feel great about saying something extremely rude to the person's face. In that case, Netiquette can't help you. Go get a copy of Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior.
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Comments (13)

Hi Stony wave
I'm definitely more rude in person than I am in email (whàt even mòre rude?? Yes, it's possible conversing ) grin
I call it being honest and direct, someone else might call it rude... most people don't like hearing an awful truth or aren't open for a view that's not their own.

Ofcourse I'm not deliberately rude or trying to hurt peoples feelings, but I can't be bothered with etiquette if it says I need to lie.

I do like Guy Kawasaki though, he has lots of interesting stuff to say laugh

Happy Friday wine
PS Would I rather snuggle up to a furry animal or a biker? hmmm Tough one cool
wave Sleepin,Weepin, Wow that rhymes.. nice.rolling on the floor laughing I guess one could also usue 'tact' instead of being unpolite, yes? When younger I think the fire blazes more easily. Nice to see you Sleeping.hug handshake
Yea I know what you mean,,,handshake
Stony, nice to see you too, rhyming and all laugh hug
You're right about using tact; for me it would depend on the topic as well as the person though roll eyes
And yes, we do mellow down with age... I tend to ask questions now, instead of criticising giggle
the problem is , what may seem very funny to us , maybe very hurtfull to someone else ...banana
Sleepin, yes I think you will understand these words: "Grysheid bring Wysheid" ... By the way whats the temp. there ?hug
Virgo, yes sensitivity differs from person to person, very true...thumbs up
Yes, I do understand and like that saying... I actually think I heard my Nana use it... a grootmoeders wijsheid laugh

The temp is very nice, it has been about 10 - 15 degrees last week, but very grey and drizzling. Hope spring will get here soon; I already bought some daffodils to brighten up my room.
How is it at your end?
hug bouquet
PE always had moderate winters with warm summers. Since global warming everything is upside down, at the moment very hot and humid with not even a breeze.
wave yash, yes its about Internet Etiquette largely.cheers handshake
Stony: Well, in my opinion you ok, well I think that you are just , OK, try this again...This blog is just a MAN....this read and re-read stuff wears a person out!!! laugh laugh
Then I'd simply just ignore it and move on to the next, I cud be wrong tho?comfort
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