One of the most common concerns people voice about this medium
is the challenge of being limited to the written word.
However, there are limitations in all mediums. Have you ever said
something you wish you could take back? In this medium,
we have the benefit of thinking before we "speak"(post)
and committing ourselves to a statement that
is incorrect - or insensitive.

Just as our society has rules of conduct which govern our interactions
with one another in the face-to-face (f2f) environment, so, too,
does the virtual community have rules of conduct for our
electronic interactions. You are, no doubt, familiar with the word
etiquette - in the online environment we use the term
netiquette.

There are a number of things each of us can do to
enhance and improve our communications, whether they are f2f or virtual.
In addition to the content of the message itself, effective communicators are
attentive to tone of voice and body language (visual cues) in f2f interactions.
We need to also be attentive to those areas in our virtual interactions.
The fact that we are not in a f2f environment does not eliminate the need
for us to be mindful of the tone of our messages
("Respond to me as soon as possible" sets a different tone than does
"Please respond to me as soon as possible.") as well as their visual appearance
("PLEASE CALL ME" is viewed differently than "Please
call me").

Other recommendations include

• Staying on the original topic when replying a message posted.
• Using appropriate subject lines.
  As a conversation evolves, the subject may change and
  it is helpful if the subject line is changed to reflect the topic addressed
  in the message.
  
• Being attentive to editing your replies. If you're responding to a message,
  quote the relevant and specific passage or summarize it for those
  who may have missed it. Do not make people guess
  what you are talking about, especially if you are responding to a particular
  message.
  When you are replying to a long message, or sending a message
  by replying to the group's Digest, it is better to shorten it by deleting
  all the UNRELATED messages listed in the Digest.
• Maintaining professional and respectful dialogue at all times.
  Just as you shouldn't drive when you are angry,
  you should not send e-mail responses when you are mad at someone.
  Go ahead and type a response, but do not mail it until the next day.
  Chances are that when you come back later to read your response,
  you'll be glad that you did not send it.
  
• Upholding the standards of Honesty.
  . Never copy someone else's writing without permission or
  citation; always acknowledge your sources and remember the emphasis is
  on your learning and sharing:
  What do you think? What is your analysis? What examples can you
  offer from your own experiences?
  
• Avoiding ''I agree'' and ''Me too!'' messages.
  It is very frustrating to find lots of messages with very little substance.
  Remember that e-mail communication can be "labor-intensive"
  and that it takes time to read numerous messages.
  
• Avoiding the use of all caps. (IT'S LIKE SHOUTING!)
  You can do it occasionally for strong emphasis, but only for individual words.
  
• Recognizing that we are "talking" with one another, not "writing to" one another.
  Despite the fact all of our communications are in writing,
  it doesn't mean all of our writings are "formal" writing assignments
  and are, therefore, subject to the rules of written communication.
  Messages on the bulletin boards are conversation and are quite often informal
  (and prone to occasional grammatical, spelling and typographical errors).
  However, despite that informality, we should still make the effor
  t to transmit messages that are readable and understandable.
  
• Contributing your efforts to building a collaborative learning environment.
  As one of a professors instructs his students:
  "Be positive in your approach to others and careful about your words.
  Since we cannot see each other, it is hard to tell if you are bashful, bored,
  sarcastic, or just kidding. I expect you to be kind to one another and excel.
  You are not in competition for grades. Do not confuse winning a competition
  with meeting a standard of excellence. They definitely are not the same things
  here. Use discussions to develop your skills in collaboration and teamwork."