Don't attract attention

Often, someone will say something to you either through email, instant messenger, chat, a forum, or a newsgroup simply to push your buttons – to get a reaction from you. Don’t fall for this. This is often called flaming, and the battle can grow and grow until you’ve really made someone mad enough to want to damage your system, or come hunt you down to settle it in person – it’s kind of like road rage, and it can be dangerous. Some people take their online lives way too seriously, and they take everything that is said to them literally.

While you do have the right to express yourself and your opinions, do so with care – just as you would if you were face to face with the people you are talking to. If you were face to face with a rather large, muscular man, would you really call him a bunch of bad names, question his heritage, and refer to his family members in a derogatory way? Probably not. If you wouldn’t do it in person, don’t do it online. Pay attention to the rules of netiquette, and most people won’t bother you. Those that do bother you should be ignored, and put on your ‘ignore’ or ‘block’ list. That’s what those features are for. Don’t just argue for the sake of arguing. Make sure you don’t jump the fence and turn into the person who just likes to push other people’s buttons either – that is equally as dangerous.