Betty Parker's Rules of Electronic Engagement

Electronic etiquette--the proper use of electronics in today's wired connections.  That's my definition.  We have all the gadgets, and we know how to use them according to their technical purposes.  However, do we know proper etiquette when using our devices?  What's appropriate and what's not?  Although there are books that have been written on electronic etiquette, I have a few rules of my own about email, texting, Facebook entries, tweets, and voice mail that I think you might find useful.  Here are a few:

Emails:

1. Keep emails brief.  Use bullet points when appropriate.  Most people scan.  They don't read every word so don't waste your time.
2. Refrain from sending a gazillion emails in a day to any one person.  After the third or fourth one, they'll most likely stop reading them and something important may get missed.
3. If you want someone to respond to email because it actually is important, say so.  In the subject line, write in caps: IMPORTANT or ACTION REQUESTED or TIME SENSITIVE.
4. That said, try to refrain from typing an entire message in all caps.  Caps are often used for emphasis.  Therefore, people perceive that you are SHOUTING AT THEM!!!  SAME THING WITH EXCLAMATION POINTS!  STOP!!!

 Texts:

1. If you have to send more than three to get your point across, try dialing the number and speaking in person.  Sometimes you've just got to have person-to-person contact for clarity and detail.  Too many texts can be annoying--unless, maybe, you're a teenager.
2. Don't text and drive. You're already on the phone, eating a sandwich, flipping radio channels, chatting to someone in the car, putting on makeup, drinking (hopefully nonalcoholic) or thinking too hard.  Don't you have enough distractions already?
3. If someone calls you about something that requires your response, don't text them back.  They called you so call them back.  If they text you, then text them back.  But don't mix the two.  Your text sends the caller the message that you're not interested in talking to them in person.  Rude.

Facebook:

1. Remember that everything you put on your page shows up on everybody else's pages you friended along with a zillion other people they've friended.  Therefore, try not to clutter up other people's feeds with your every thought, picture, game request, shared item, and personal conversation with others.  Practice moderation.
2. Proof what you read at least once.  Sometimes misspelled words and incomplete thoughts are confusing and could cause problems if misinterpreted by the reader.
3. Just because Facebook suggests people you could friend because you have 14 mutual friends doesn't mean you should actually send a friend request.  Follow the LinkedIn model by getting introduced through a mutual friend.  Don't put people in the awkward position of having to ignore you because they don't know you.
4. Refrain from profane language, sexually explicit references and other crass content that everybody else can see.  Remember, not everyone wants to have filth in their face when they connect with you.

Twitter:

1. See Rule #1 under Facebook rules above. 
2. See Rule #1 above this one.

Voice mail:

1. Keep messages brief.  Leave the rest of the conversation for when you receive a return call.
2. Don't leave multiple messages a day.  Trust me, they most likely received your first one and most definitely your second one.  Don't clutter up people's mailboxes with the same message repeatedly.
3. If someone leaves you a voice mail, call them back.  Unless you're being stalked, badgered or solicited, it's rude not to return phone messages.
4. Use voice mail to take messages for you.  If you can't speak to a caller at the time, let the mailbox get it.  Otherwise, it's rude to interrupt someone who's with you in person to take a phone call that's not important.  It's also rude to take the call, then tell the caller to call you back because you're with someone else.  Let it go to voice mail.  That's what it's for.

Finally, unplug!  Get away from the electronics as often as you can and continue to build human contact.  We were created and designed to interact personally.  A gesture, a smile, soothing inflection and tone of voice, a handshake, a hug, the sound of laughter--all of these are what makes human contact the most beneficial way to relate today.  It's good for the soul.  Nurture relationships personally.  Electronics can't do that.  Many of us aren't that good at building relationships, and without taking advantage of the opportunities to improve, we won't.  An electronic device will never help us to fully accept each other with all of our differences and love each other with all of our faults.  In a world that makes it easy to hate, we can't afford to lose that human touch.