Netiquette. Etiquette on the Internet.

The term Netiquette refers to the general norms for the correct use of the Internet. A complete version in English exists The following rules are some of the norms of Netiquette applicable to DIAA list.

General norms of discussion:

• Information dissemination that is not related to the objectives of this list is totally prohibited. In other words, although DIAA list is moderated, the messages are not filtered--published or edited--before being sent to all of the members. The administrators reserve the right to cancel the subscription of any member should the case be a serious violation of the basic rules of courtesy or Netiquette.
• It is recommended that each new participant be made to know other list members by means of a concise presentation.
• The DIAA list is not a promotional tool. Therefore, sending promotional information without the consent of the moderators of the list is prohibited.
• One must be careful with humor, sarcasm and other types of language that can offend other participant list members. Emotivity is an important part of each debate, and each person has his/her own style to write up and to present/display his/her ideas.
• Each member must be identified clearly (name, last name, professional title, country of origin) whenever s/he sends a message to the list. Normally, an electronic mail program allows an individual to use a company/signature automated at the end of each message.
• In addition to the content, be careful with your spelling to maintain a reasonable level of professionalism for this discussion list.
• If you use ideas, commentaries or any material that is not yours, please indicate the source and the origin.
• Be careful with the use of abbreviations and acronyms. Please be kind enough to explain the meaning (is not necessary to repeat the complete names; it is only necessary to write the complete name the first time).
• Be careful with the use of capital letters. In the Internet, TO WRITE IN CAPITAL LETTERS means to shout and must be used with much precaution.
• Be careful with the use of abbreviations representing emotions, commonly called EMOTICONS. The most common and accepted abbreviations are the following ones:
  : -) A smile (side view); in the same way…
  : - ( A sad face
  ; -) An eye wink.
  :-0 A surprised face, etc.
• Technical Aspects: http://www.rediris.es/mail/gt/mail-mime/tr/estilo.es.html

• One of the basic rules of discussion on the Internet is to say something interesting as soon as possible. Don't forget that in this mass media, readers can easy and quickly erase a message and move on to another one. So we request the following whenever you send a message to the list:

1. Use descriptive titles in the subject heading of the message ("SUBJECT"/issue). This will serve as indication for the members on the content of each sent message list to DIAA. In other words, as a reader, you will be able to choose what message to read and which not to need. Stated differently, you will, on a daily basis, have the option to individually erase or open all the received messages.
2. Be brief so that you maintain the attention of the reader. In other words, avoid writing long paragraphs or lengthy messages. This forum of discussion is not a place where one can publish personal studies, complete theses, and/or documents. If you wish to share extensive information and release it to the public, please send a summary to the list (for example, the results of a scientific study) and offer the members the possibility of sending (via personal means) the plain text to them.
3. Do not add attached documents ('Attachments') to your message. These are prohibited. Do not attach images or cards of any type when you send a message to the DIAA list. Should this be your intention, send only a summary and simply offer the possibility of sending it individually.

• When responding to sent messages on the list:

1. Never change the subject ('SUBJECT' of the message to which you are responding, so that the logic of the discussion can be easy maintained and understood by all members. In the head of the message, the letters 'RE (i.e., ' REPLY') should appear following the title of the original message. For example, if you are answering a message on the 'Inter-American Water Day the subject of the message would have to say 'RE: Inter-American Water Day."
2. Do not include the original message (that is, the message which you are answering), since--if all members repeat each message before answering--the size of each consecutive answer to a message on a specific subject will grow exponentially. If necessary, repeat some basic information so that the reader can put the message in context. For example, it is recommendable to repeat the question you are answering.
3. The Network is technically administered by an automated program that redistributes messages sent to all DIAA list members. Therefore, it is possible that at times the sequential logic of the answers to a message is lost. For example, it is possible you may receive several similar answers to a question, or you might receive a response to a question that already has been answered. In this regard, all messages are read relative to a particular subject before being answered. Frequently, simple questions are responded to within a short period of time.
4. DIAA is a public forum. Thus, "one-to-one" discussions should be avoided, (at least merely resorted to in exceptional cases) so that the dialogue is of general interest. If the answer is of a personal nature, please send your message by using the personal email address of the individual regarding the issue.
5. It is a customary form of courtesy in lists like this one, to personally thank those of a public forum (in cases where one receives many answers) to the list from people that responded to a question.

 Other Advantages of the Distribution Lists

• Messages are received in a direct manner into the mailbox. It is not necessary to look for the information, as is the case with web-type applications.
• Distribution Lists, because they are public, always have one or several administrators or moderators who can take actions before events weaken the forum.
• Distribution List Members can always know who read its messages.
• New Distribution List servers optimize the user mailbox load with style options such as: INDEX, NOMAIL, digest, etc.
• Servers, like Listserv, implement tools that stop and prevent the massive distribution of messages sent to many lists. It tracks messages with "undesirable " content and eliminates them.
• Servers such as Listserv implement algorithms to optimize international traffic.
• Distribution Lists constitute the most suitable tool for important work groups, discussions, debates or subjects read with regularity.

Source: Conceptos básicos sobre las Listas de Distribución

With Kind Regards,

Paulo Cézar Pinto
Eng. Paulo Cezar Pinto