…as taught by the inimitable Merlin Mann:
A short course on surviving the web:
- Everything’s amplified. Except subtlety.
- Say things you believe are true.
- No one understands; no one cares.
- Never explain yourself.
- Apologize less; think more.
- Avatars aren’t people; people aren’t avatars; “friends” aren’t friends.
- Everyone thinks you’re talking to them. Seriously.
- Distinguish attacks against people from attacks against one person.
- Assume everyone is alone, drunk, and a little heavier than they’d like.
- Never argue in public. Fucking never.
- When in doubt, take it offline.
- Filter, filter.
- Embrace “hypocrisy.” It drives critics crazy.
- Remember who your (real) friends are.
- Remember who you are.
- Remember you can always stop. Anything. Any time.
- Never make lists of rules.
(Link)
So. Damned. True. And far better articulated than I ever could have managed. We all need reminders like these sometimes. The Internet is really damned amazing, but it’s not real life. Things work differently here and I think it does us good (well, I know it does me good) to be reminded of that fact. This world in here is supposed to be a tool to make life out there better. I think we lose sight of that fact, sometimes. (Well, again, I know I do.)
