Netiquette

As an author I spend a lot of time on FB and Twitter. Not only does it help me make friends with my readers, I’m a sociable sort who lives in a rather isolated spot.

However…over the past few months I’ve become rather fed up with the rudeness and uncivilized behaviour of some folks. I think my next publication should be “Netiquette – Social Media for Beginners”. I am sure such a book exists but many people haven’t read it.

I know I bang on about manners but if one treats social media as one would any gathering where there are invitees you know and total strangers, there isn’t a problem. You have something to sell? So do I, but I don’t just march up to folks I don’t know and say “See this!” while shoving my book up their nose. No sale, Mrs. Abraham.

Similarly it seems obvious to me that it is not polite to barge into someone else’s conversation and immediately start selling your product. Asking the host’s permission before showing off your wares would seem normal to me. Amongst some of us, we always share each other’s posts, it’s a bit of friendly help. Try that instead. You’ll get a lot further.

If someone makes a remark that you don’t like, complain to them, not the person on whose timeline the conversation happened! And for goodness sake stop “running to mummy” (complaining to FB) if you are rude to someone and they are nettled enough to use a slightly naughty word back at you.

If you are an author, you are in the hard world of publishing and marketing, so being precious and complaining all the time won’t make you any friends. Guess what? Those people have friends too, and word of mouth is the finest advertising – for good or ill.

We all make mistakes. The trick is to learn from them. Or perhaps I really ought to write that book!