Computing Services



Research Computing Etiquette


Practices regarding the courteous and appropriate use of electronic communications have evolved along with the growth in popularity of the Internet. Educational and government institutions, Internet standards working groups, newsgroups, and concerned individuals have all contributed to the development of what has come to be termed "netiquette." This document provides an outline of those policies, and includes references to Internet locations where further information can be found.


General


The "Internet" or "The Net," is not a single network; rather, it is a group of thousands of individual networks that permit electronic transmissions to pass among them. Internet traffic may actually traverse several different networks before it reaches its destination. Therefore, users involved in this internetworking must be aware of the transmission loads placed on other participating networks.


As a user of the network, you may be allowed to access other networks (and/or the computer systems attached to those networks). Each network or system has its own set of policies and procedures. Actions that are routinely allowed on one network/system may be controlled, or even forbidden, on other networks. It is the user's responsibility to abide by the policies and procedures of other networks/systems. Remember, just because you can perform a particular action, does not imply that you should take that action.


General netiquette guidelines are published online as an IAB/IETC Network Working Group standards paper (RFC #1855) on network etiquette.


Rights and Responsibilities


Access to the internet provides users the ability to communicate with other users and access resources worldwide. Such unrestricted access is a privilege, and requires that individual users act responsibly. Users must respect the rights of other users, respect the integrity of the systems and related physical resources, and observe all relevant laws, regulations, and contractual obligations.


Additional References


Best Practices for Bear Accounts

Individual Sites:
Good explanation of general rules concerning the use of listservs, mailing lists, and discussion groups:
Lists of links and short discussions on netiquette:
Compilation of Frequently Asked Questions:
Questions?