Sep 02 2008
Be Honest But Not Obnoxious
A few times a year, an online student in one of my classes posts an unprofessional, rude post on the message board and excuses it with the phrase, “I’m just being honest.” When I remind the student of proper online etiquette (netiquette) rules, I will sometimes get a complaint about how I am stifling their personal viewpoints or encouraging cookie-cutter, boring responses from students. Don’t I want differing perspectives?
Well, of course! However, the issue with rude or unprofessional message board entries is not with the student’s opinion itself, it’s with the tone and attitude conveyed. Students should feel free to disagree and to entertain unusual/divergent opinions with their classmates, but there is a way to share those opinions in a professional manner that is not condescending or obnoxious to your peers.
Be honest by all means, but don’t be mean and rude to your classmates.
Tips on Putting Your Best Foot Forward in the Student Forums:
- Avoid calling a project or a student’s ideas a “waste of time.” This is one of the most obnoxious phrases a student could use in the forums, and it makes you look really narrow-minded, haughty, and pompous.
- Don’t play the victim. If you’re instructor or classmate mentions you’re your entry might have been a little rude, avoid acting as if the world is against you. Take a moment of self reflection and see if perhaps your phrasing might have been taken the wrong way. If you’re still confused, ask them to clarify so you can better understand what might have been misunderstood.
- If someone else is rude to you, ignore them. You can also alert the instructor, who will likely speak to the offending student privately. Engaging in an online battle is counterproductive and will just make you look bad as well, even if you’re right.
- Sarcasm doesn’t always work well on the message boards. Just remember, something in print often comes off harsher than a verbal exchange. So sarcasm can really look rude or mean. If you’re going to use it, know that you’re taking a risk.
- It’s not about having thin or thick skin. Avoid telling someone to build thicker skin. Communicators in professional environments have a responsibility to consider their audience and to do their best to convey ideas in a manner that’s professional and polite. Telling people to just take whatever you throw their way is not a best practice in the professional world.
