Conduct yourself with maturity

The use of computers and the network is a privilege, not a right. A privilege that may be temporarily or even permanently revoked at any time for abusive conduct. Such conduct would include placing unlawful information on a system, the transportation of copyrighted software from one site to another without the owner's expressed permission, the use of abusive or otherwise objectionable language in either public or private messages, the sending of messages that are likely to result in the loss of recipients' work or systems, the sending of "chain letters" or "broadcast" messages to lists or individuals, or any other types of use that would cause congestion of the networks or otherwise interfere with the work of others.

The most important part of network communication is the human part. Follow the same courteous standards of behavior online that you follow in real life.

• Know where you are in cyberspace
• Respect other people's time and disk space
• Make yourself look good on-line
• Share expert knowledge
• Help keep flame wars under control

EXAMPLE: In mailing list interaction

• Respect other people's privacy
• Do not abuse your power
• Be forgiving of other people's mistakes…unless, of course, you don't want them to be forgiving of yours.

Texas Tech publishes a "Statement of Humanity" in the Student Affairs Handbook. Take a close look at it. Its three main points are:

• Each person has worth and dignity.
• Bigotry cannot be tolerated.
• Students are responsible for their own lives.