Five Rules To Follow When You’re Mingling Online

You don’t want the world to think that you’re an idiot or an asshole. It’s hard, because it’s so easy to convince people online that you are in fact a terrible human being. However, I bring to you a solution!

Phillip’s five rules to follow when you’re mingling online:

1. Never be an asshole when you’re saying hello. Save that for when you know each other better. Introductions are best served with flattery and a demonstration that you’ve been paying attention. Let them know that you’ve been reading/watching/listening long enough to “know” them.
2. Everything you type into a comment box, upload as a video response, reply with in a message board, tweet on twitter. . . everything you say online sticks around for-ev-er. Keep that in mind each and every time you think that it might be a good idea to be an asshole.
3. Remember to check your spelling. If you’re going to poke fnu ta ohter people thne speel it write. ;) Seriously, a mistake here or there with spelling errors or use of the wrong word will make you look like an idiot. . . and that’s not really what you want. You’re not an idiot, right?
4. Don’t ask them to do something for you. Don’t ask them what you can do for them. Say, “Here’s what I’m going to do for you.” After all, that’s what everyone wants to know. The only thing they are generally worried about is what the time spent with you will get them. That could be information, enjoyment, publicity, gear, or whatever. As long as that something is made clear you’ll have their attention.
5. If you’re going to criticize something as if it were a mistake, then first make sure that it is a mistake and not a stylistic choice. Treating style as error only points out that you didn’t get it and didn’t bother to try. Looking like you don’t get it (because you don’t) is even worse than spelling something wrong.

If you keep these rules in mind when mixing and mingling with folks online then the chance that people will think you’re an asshole will be greatly decreased. You’ll have them all fooled, just like me, and if you don’t tell them then I won’t either. ;)

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