My profile is like my FB living room, my own space where I control the ambiance. I know most of us feel that way.
But communication online can be tricky and sometimes annoying. I have written about the truly awful offenses commenters can commit and I will publish it, but this is about the smaller annoyances that we face every day on Facebook and elsewhere in cyberspace.
Some things to do before commenting on a post:
1. read the entire post. If there is an image with writing, read that too.
2. If there is a link, read the article.
3. Change comments to “all” and read those. Your take may have already been covered.
4. If you did not understand the post, google the words instead of asking the OP to explain it.
5. If it is specifically directed at an audience you are not part of, give it a pass.
6. If the OP has asked you not to make negative comments about the subject, don’t.
7. If you think you need to preface your remark with “not to be rude” or “with all due respect” rewrite it until you don’t need those words.
8. Troll check: reread your comment and look out for anything that smacks of trolling. Rewrite if necessary. One good method when in doubt is to ask a sincere question.
With all that is happening in the world right now and all the trouble, these rules may seem trivial. But are they?
Bad communication is at the heart of many of our problems. Etiquette is the art of making others comfortable and if being kind. And those are qualities that can heal our rifts. Online and in person.
Sometimes I think "Facebook etiquette" is an oxymoron...