h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The first thing to keep in mind, when in virtual communities like this, is:

Treat everybody as if there's a real person on the other side of the connection. Who knows, they might actually be real

You get all sorts of cool rules that come out of that, like, speak (or write) clearly and don't get into the l33t hax0r speak... or even, treat them with politeness, don't assume they know everything, and try to see their side of the story. Works wonders for me.

Yes - I have read two rules that sum it all up, so I am just repeating and summarising here:

Re: behaviour:

Don't take offence, don't cause offence.

Re: language:

Tolerate typos and mistakes in others, but not in your own postings.