Chat Room and Posting Netiquette

A Solsbury Report

With all of the places to post and chat about PG on the Web, we'd thought we'd like to discuss some suggestions about good netiquette. Note that we wouldn't want to tell people what they can or cannot post: we believe in free speech. But for those who want to insure that peace reigns over the Web, they should at least glance over some simple guidelines.

And we know that every chatroom or message board on the web has it's share of jerks and twits. This page isn't for them. We know that jerks and twits do not care about netiquette. That's because they are jerks. And twits.

• Before asking a question on a newsgroup or forum, make sure you've read the FAQs and looked at any PG related homepage [shameless plug] to see if the answer is already posted somewhere.
• DO NOT POST OR CHAT IN ALL CAPS. IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE YOU'RE SHOUTING!!!!
• If you disagree with someone, fine, but please refrain from personal attacks. Questioning the parentage of a fellow webhead will not truly determine which is better, PG III or PG IV.
• If you post to a thread, stick to the topic of the thread. If you post on a message board, stick to the topic of the message board. If you think "Suggested Titles for PG Albums" is a great place to discuss your Martian JFK Assassination Theory, think again.
• Don't be a snob. No one wants to hear someone going on and on about how trivial everyone else is being in the chat room/message board. If someone thinks they're too good for the chat room, then why are they hanging around there?
• Remember: There's a special place in hell for those who spam on the Internet.
• To quote rraven: Keep criticism contructive.
• Don't bother with getting into web wars with jerks and twits. You're better off ignoring them. If you do have the urgent desire to fight back, try sending an e-mail first.
• Do not ask "When will the new album be out?" or "What are the tour dates for the upcoming tour?" when it's obvious that even Peter Gabriel does not know.

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