Lesson 4 - Images and Designs:
Everybody who uses the internet will at some point put up photos, artwork or pictures, they might even put up entire websites, like I do (see
www.heelstoboot.com for examples of my work) See? that right there was a good add.
The thing to remember is that a computer screen, even the newfangled liquid crystal displays are hard on the eyes, and that not everyone has as fast a computer or as fast an internet connection as you. If you have a gigantic bright orange furby with racial symbols on him, however funny you think it is, put up a warning and a link.
BIG pictures are bad, print resolution for images is 300 dpi, internet resolution is 72, if you scanned it in, resize if before you upload it. Trust me. To make sure, you can check it on any standard image editor, from MS to Adobe Photoshop, just view it at 100% zoom and resize as neccessary. 500X500 pixels is around about the largest size you want to go for forums and so on. For highly detailed work you need to use your own discretion.
Also, don't steal bandwidth, this is known as direct linking. For more info on that try
www.wikipedia.com.
Adult content can be appropriate at certain times, and as we all know the internet is the biggest porn library in the world, but in the way that it isn't appropriate to flash underage school kids, it's not appropriate to randomly post porn left right and center. Keep it in your pants and post a link with a warning if you truly can't resist. This applies to forums, chatrooms, blogs and anywhere that it isn't specifically stated that adult material is ok.
Things to remember -
- Big pictures = bad. Small pictures = good.
- Remote linking/bandwidth theft = bad. Uploading to your own server or relevant space = good.
- Adult Content with Link and Warning = good. Adult content posted directly = OH MY GOD MY EYES! WHERE'S THE BLEACH!
- Big bright flashy images = burnt retinas.
Lesson 5 - General Conversation:
In conversation you need to remember that there are people on the other end of the phone line. The fact that you don't have to look them in the eye does not mean that the standard rules of ettiquette do not apply. A lot of people trawl the internet looking for sex, and while I don't deny that this is happening, you'll find that the majority of people online really don't want to see a picture of your genitals or play with you on webcam. They also don't want to know about your sex life.
The standard rule of thumb, at least until you know a person better than you know the average bar of soap, is to say nothing that you wouldn't feel comfortable saying to a nun at your local church, or your dear old grandmother. Or that scary woman at the library. This is especially important on a forum like this, intended for business professionals.
Things to remember
AVOID -
Talking about your sex life or their sex life, they don't need to know and neither do you.
Personal or sweeping comments about race, weight, gender, the usual social taboos.
Your personal issues and problems (this includes asking questions like "do i look pretty?" "wanna see my photo?" "I want to die" "I cut my wrists"). If you want therapy, go to your local support group.
Don't make violent, gorey or generally unacceptable comments just because you think it's funny. You CAN be tracked down (this is easier than you think) and you CAN be arrested. Just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it won't. At best you'll get away with nothing more than a few viruses sent to your PC and your name added to some weird mailing lists, at worst you'll be arrested and end up in a cell next to a large hairy man who doesn't look like he's famous for being gentle.
Don't ask for personal information, the best you can expect to ask is gender, age and country of residence. Don't push for anymore, it's creepy.
Don't ask for photos. Seriously, it's creepy.
USE CAUTION
Sometimes jokes of a darker nature are acceptable but you need to be careful who they're with. If you're not sure, leave it out.
Certain conversation topics such as racial issues, gender issues and political orientation can be risky, conduct these with tact and avoid them if they become heated. This isn't to say don't engage in debate, just be careful.
Unless you have reason to believe that some one is interested in whatever project/business/etc you're doing, don't try to sell it to them, it's annoying.
Ok, that's it. If you actually made it through that small novela, congratulations. Let me know if you need any more questions.
If any of the terms confused you, try
www.wikipedia.com or
www.urbanslang.com (not ALL the terms on urbanslang are good to use, be careful)