"Netiquette:" Email Etiquette for Leaders
Liz Thompson Grapentine
Oak Park, Illinois, USA
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 33 No. 5, August-September 1997, p. 84
Are you a fledging computer
geek Leader exploring email chat lists and The Leader Connection (TLC)?
Or are you a full-fledged citizen of cyberspace with your own Web site,
receiving email from mothers requesting breastfeeding help?
It's a brave new world out
there with many opportunities for Leaders to provide support, through
contact with breastfeeding mothers, and be supported, through contact
with other Leaders. Although some aspects of leading online may seem
confusing and strange, the good news is that common sense and your experience
as a Leader will stand you in good stead. Most questions about leading
in cyberspace can be answered by yourself- based on information readily
available to you as a Leader-or by contacting the appropriate support
person.
"Netiquette" or
email etiquette is a set of common sense rules designed to keep discourse
through email (be that a private exchange of messages or public posts
to chat lists) civil, polite and respectful. Any written communication
can be misleading, even between the most erudite of writers. Humans
depend on tone of voice, nuance of pronunciation and body language to
help them interpret conversations. Without these, a sentence that seems
perfectly innocuous to the writer may, to the reader, seem sarcastic,
funny or simply rude.
To avoid misunderstandings,
many devotees of email use emoticons (little icons made from punctuation
marks) to help the reader identify the writer's tone. For example, if
the writer fears that a tongue-in-cheek remark may be taken seriously,
she may add this symbol ;-) to her sentence. The winking smiley face
(turn your head sideways to see it!) lets the reader know that the writer
is just kidding around.
A list of emoticons is included
on The Leader Connection Home Page, reachable through subscription to
TLC's Email List [ed note: this is no longer available]
Cyberspace communication
requires a certain level of flexibility and forgiveness. Email readers
need to forgive when they are hurt inadvertently by another's words.
Email writers need to offer an explanation and apology when their words
are misunderstood. Just as Group co-Leaders use HRE skills, cyberspace
co-Leaders will want to keep HRE skills handy, too.
When a reader is offended
by a writer's words, direct private statements to the writer in the
form of an "I-message" will often get to the root of a misunderstanding,
bringing quick relief to both parties.
Many Leaders participate
on email chat lists, newsgroups or places on the internet like Parent
Soup Chats, all outside LLL. If she has identified herself as a Leader,
any statement made could potentially reflect on LLLI. Because information
is disseminated so rapidly on the Internet, one poorly chosen phrase
can really hurt our reputation.
"Hundreds of posts brimming
with HRE can be negated by one flame (heated, hurtful or disrespectful
words) when you are having a bad day," says Sue Ann Kendall, LLL
Web Site Manager. Choose your words carefully, consider waiting before
sending an emotionally charged reply and remember that you are, as the
LEADER'S HANDBOOK says, "the visible representative of La Leche
League," even on the Internet!
Just as in real life, Leaders
are sometimes unable to work out problems alone. When flames are thrown
among online co-Leaders, the help of a support person may be needed
to bring the situation back under control. Support persons for email
problems are the owners and list administrators of TLC: Sue Ann Kendall,
Kathleen Bruce and Cindy Smith.
Other breaches of "netiquette"
to avoid:
- Posting private email
to a public forum or sharing private email with others. For example,
if Lucy Leader sends a message only to Lisa Leader, Lisa should not
share Lucy's message with others unless she receives Lisa's permission
to do so.
- Sending attachments, files
or pictures to an email list. Please don't! These can crash (stop)
some internet servers, thereby inconveniencing thousands of people.
- Posting messages that
could embarrass Leaders or LLL. Remember that although TLC is a private
list (only Leaders may participate) internet security is imperfect.
Consider the public image of LLL at all times and send posts carefully.
- Posting messages that
could be libelous or slanderous. These types of messages put everyone
at risk for lawsuits even if the comments made have some basis in
truth. There is legal precedent set in several cases involving comments
on the internet.
- Using TLC instead of a
Leader's support system. TLC is not an official arm of LLLI or its
regional or local administrative units. Leaders should always consult
with their immediate support person if they have administrative questions.
Another issue that may arise
is Leader Applicant use of email and chat lists. Leaders need to keep
in mind that Applicants who are online seek connections with each other
in the same way they might use opportunities provided by workshops,
conferences and other LLL gatherings. They may compare experiences,
share concerns, ask questions and offer each other support and encouragement.
When you talk with an Applicant about sources of information, LLL's
support structure and "LLL truth and myth," you might paraphrase
the following:
Like attending conferences
and workshops, being online can give you many opportunities to make
contact with other Leader Applicants and gain a broader view of LLLI.
Keep in mind that just as information and misinformation about breastfeeding
can be passed from one mother to another, so can information and misinformation
about the application time, the leadership role or LLLI. When you
wonder about something you read or hear, I encourage you to bring
your questions to me and your Associate/Coordinator of Leader Accreditation
(A/CLA) so that we can find the answers together.
While difficulties happen
when Leaders are online, there are many more positive opportunities
for growth, support and encouragement. Leaders in cyberspace can touch
and help so many mothers. What a wonderful chance to enhance the growth
of breastfeeding worldwide! Let's make the best use of this new challenge:
using the Internet to bring Leaders closer together as well as bring
breastfeeding information and support to mothers.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:31:33 UTC 2007.
