Objectives

For the time being we are also using this directory to include information on evaluating information from the Internet and particularly authenticating web sites.

Definition

Class Notes

• The notes for this class were provided from Florida Atlantic University:
  The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette by Arlene H. Rinaldi of Florida Atlantic University. The original site for this material disappeared around the end of summer 1998. What is shown now is my back-up material, with the hope that one day Arlene will re-emerge with a revived set of pages. I have an original e-mail note from Arlene giving permission to use her pages.
• EQ Test: This e-mail contains 10 common errors that weaken the message's effectiveness. How many of these errors can you flag? (From e-write, with permission.)
• A set of pages from Albion.com that includes THE CORE RULES OF NETIQUETTE, and a Netiquette Quiz are very informative.
• Netiquette from Primeline (2001/03/30)
• "Acceptable Use Policies" for K-12 schools in Virginia provides a great deal of information about not only specific school district implementations but also guidelines for developing similar policies. A growing list of such guidelines is also available here.
• Origin of the term "spam" to mean net abuse, by Brad Templeton.
• "Ethics and the Governance of the Internet" is the subject of an IFIP (pdf) report of a workshop that suggests that national societies need to review their codes of ethics/practice/conduct with respect to the impact of the Internet, but falls short of recommending that legal remedies for governance be implemented.
• One of the newest of concerns that is related to Netiquette is the question of employee's use of networking services while at work for personal purposes:
  • eSniff.com - a service that provides unrestricted Internet access to all employees while still retaining complete control of the network. Effectively ends all non-business activity without intruding on anyone's right to privacy.
  • "Many companies monitor workers' Web-surfing habits", by Jennifer Beauprez, Denver Post Business Writer, March 13, 2000.
• Netiquette: The Art of Online Etiquette from Gemstate.net.
• Besides making sure that we are considerate in our use of the Internet and its facilities, we need to maintain an open mind about its content. More than one person has been led astray by believing everything they find on the net.
  • For example, Pierre Salinger was somewhat embarassed in later 1996 when he took it as gospel that flight TWA 800 was downed by a missile according to a web page. Look carefully at what you find and check out its authenticity before using it as your source.

  • Virginia Tech reference services provide a guideline for looking at net content, and provide excellent examples of bogus pages.

  • A recent example is the report of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center on the validity of on-line medical information.

  • P.O.V. magazine lists what it considers to be the best 100 web sites. The worst of the web is a separate web site!

  • Widener University, Wolfgram Memorial Library provides a web page on "Evaluating Web Resources" by Jan Alexander and Marsha Ann Tate (Last accessed 99/10/22)

Class Projects

Examination Questions

Readings

• "E-mail Fosters Misunderstandings at the Office", By Sarah Schafer, Washington Post Staff Writer, Tuesday , October 31, 2000 ; Page E01
• The cartoon strip "Sally Forth" had some interesting views of Netiquette between Sept. 11 and 16, 2000.
• Stevenson's Anti-Spam Web Site
• "Online Research Ethics Lacking" By Anick Jesdanun, AP Internet Writer, Friday , September 15, 2000.

  LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Don't get too comfortable with your online support group. A researcher may be lurking, recording your outpourings in the name of science. In fact, a researcher posing as a member of the support group may be posting comments simply to observe the reaction from participants.

• The code of conduct for the American Teleservices Association (i.e. the Telemarketing industry) is a prime example of codifying "Netiquette".
• Research Foundations on Successful Participation of Underrepresented Minorities in Information Technology: A Cyberconference - Guidelines for participation (last accessed 99/10/12).
• "New Weapons for the Fight Against Spam" by Jesse Berst, Editorial Director, ZDNet AnchorDesk, 99/09/30.
• The Internet Addiction Test - check your own level of addiction!
• "University reacts to racist e-mail - Investigation into incident ongoing" by Nina Cassidy and Anuj Gupta, Contributing writers, The Stanford Daily, 2 june 1999.
• "President Gerhard Casper and Dean of Students Marc Wais condemn `deplorable' e-mail; police launch probe", Stanford On-line, 2 June 1999.
• THE POWER OF THE INTERNET - On-line consumer complaint sites are having an effect! One such site is related to "Dunkin' Donuts". If you know of others let me know.
• Guidelines needed for e-mail users, by CAMILLE WRIGHT MILLER, Roanoke Times, January 24, 1999.
• Law Spanks Spammers, by Wendy R. Leibowitz, The National Law Journal, Monday, March 8, 1999.
• Va. Bill Targets Some 'Junk' E-Mail, by Jean Mcnair, Associated Press Writer, Washington Post, Wednesday, February 24, 1999.
• E-mail can make you fat - New York Times, 2 Feburary 1999.

  Spam wars have become an interesting activity during the summer of 1997:

  • Crusader Conducts Spam War -- Inter@ctive Week, May 19, 1997.
  • E-Mail Spamming countermeasures: Detection and prevention of E-Mail spamming-an instruction booklet from the US Department of Energy.
  • UUnet Upgrades Anti-Spam Policies -- Inter@ctive Week, August 6, 1997:
    The article says in part:

    "Last week, a group of unknown Usenet administrators programmed a 'cancelbot' to kill all news messages coming from the UUnet network. The move was a retaliatory strike against a heavy flood of unsolicited e-mail to newsgroups from UUnet's system."

    In fact, the Roanoke Times reported on Saturday, August 9, 1997, that the war against UUNet was being led by Dennis McClain-Furmanski, a graduate student at Radford University.