fanfictioncritiquegroup

Adorelo posted a very lovely video that's a sticky in this forum which you should also check out, but there are a few other things that should be mentioned when it comes to posting etiquette.

Let's start with general posting and communication before delving into things more specific to the board. What I mean is, these are things that translate over to any form of written communication, such as emails, IMs, and any message board postings. And remember, asterisks (*) mean check the note down on the bottom for clarification on the point.

First, there's written word. IM speak really only belongs in IM chats. This means that things like "idk", "lol", "omg", and "brb" (and I know there are others) should not be used within message boards and emails*. Writing out your words also eliminates the awkward moments of people having to ask for clarification on what some of the abbreviations in your posts mean. It also cuts down on misconceptions, as "idk" could mean "I don't know" or "Illusions dominate kings."

Secondly, there's capitalization. WRITING A SENTENCE LIKE THIS IS ESSENTIALLY LIKE YELLING IN A FORUM, IM, OR EMAIL*. Capitalizing a single WORD or PHRASE is emphasis, but sometimes can be seen as overly critical or snobby. Context of the sentence, coupled with the message as a whole, helps someone determine what you're getting at.

Which brings me to my next point. Reread what you write before you post and/or send it. Once it's out there in writing, it can't be taken back. Because I like using TV examples, in the NCIS episode "Twisted Sister," Sarah McGee emailed her ex-boyfriend threats to kill him, which comes back to bite her when he actually is murdered. Granted, this is an extreme case, but it highlights the point.. Once you say something, it can't be taken back.

Also, rereading your message helps you to not offend people. While you may say, "Shut up!" to a friend and it be benign, writing "Shut up!" in a forum is taken as rude and offensive. No matter how well you know the members of the forum, you never know how they're going to read what you wrote. Written words are read differently by everyone who reads them. While you may not think your post is offensive and your joke is tasteful, other people may not.

This brings me to my next area- getting along with others. Everyone has a different view on things, and a different way of reading things. You're not always going to read everyone's post the same way. If you have an issue, please talk to that person in private rather than calling them out. The only way to make a slightly uncomfortable situation worse is to make it a mainfare. Try talking things out, because it could be as simple as not reading the emotion behind the post right.

As we say with critiquing, reading things out loud can help you understand how other people may read it. If you read it aloud and can see how someone would interpret it with an attitude, make changes so as to not offend people. It's all about being respectful in your posts.

Respect. The golden word. The golden rule- do unto others as you would wish to have done unto you- applies to messages just as it does to everything else in life. If you wouldn't want someone saying it to you, don't say it to someone else.

Remember your audience. Not everyone comes from the same background, so use discretion when posting. Especially with this forum, where we have some younger posters, watching your language is extremely important.

Speaking specifically with this forum, I want to go back to respect. This is the most important thing with this group: respect. We all take turns displaying our stories, our prides and joys, to our peers to be evaluated and critiqued. Respect is key in this. Saying something like, "your story sucks" is highly disrespectful. If you wouldn't want someone to say that about your story, don't say that about someone else's story.

Feature etiquette: Posting with features is expected. That's why they're there. But posts with a bunch of emoticons, three videos, seventeen colors, and 34 links is just a little excessive. Use the features in moderation.

The most important things to remember are respect, consider your audience, and rereading your messages. Emotion is not conveyed through the written word, but through the interpretation of the written word, which means everyone reads into it to see what you're thinking. Misunderstandings happen because everyone interprets the tone of a post differently, as they try to understand what you're thinking. And, lastly, remember that these work for all forms of written communication, not just here on this particular board. These can help you with your everyday written communications everywhere.




*Some of these depend on what you're doing. Personal emails between you and your close friends have a different etiquette to them than emails to professionals and companies.