Be Nice Or Leave–The Urgent Need For Netiquette

The Internet is a wonderful place. Or at least it can be. It’s hard to imagine what most of us would do if it vanished tomorrow.

From instant weather and stock reports to e-mail to Facebook. I don’t even get lost anymore thanks to the handiness of GPS.

But Cyberspace can also be a hostile place. A place where cowardly fools can masquerade as intelligent analysts of all things social and political.

A place where anyone who can combine even rudimentary words can be called a blogger.

My wife and I ran into one such type lately and we will keep the details at a minimum here. Suffice it to say, the individual brought great insults and torment to my family, as well as broad insults to the listeners of my show.

Where do these people come from? Why would you spend huge chunks of your day insulting people in message threads? Maybe because it’s easier than making logical arguments?

I have a philosophy on my Facebook and Listener Club pages…be nice or leave. My wife even has a sign stating as much in our own home.

It’s a good motto, isn’t it?

So be nice out there. We don’t have to always agree. But to resort to personal attacks that come out of NOWHERE is what is making the Internet a less and less pleasant place to be with each passing day.

There is a general lack of etiquette in our country today. So it’s no surprise that there is a sad lack of “netiquette” in Cyberspace.

It’s something some people need to work on. Like not eating with your elbows on the table and saying THANKS when someone holds the door open for you.

I’d love to have you join me on the Internet at club.foxacrossamerica.com. Just be nice or you will be asked (or even TOLD) to leave.

Thanks for understanding. And thanks for practicing good manners…on and off the Net.