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I wrote this up to send to someone privately, but it occurred to me other people might benefit from it. Plus, I'm sure other people have good advice to add to this:
If you're not used to posting online, you have to remember it's different from a face to face conversation --no one can see your face, or hear your voice, so it's hard to tell when someone is joking, or how they want something to be interpreted. A lot of times that means people end up feeling insulted by something that would be harmless humor offline. It also means you should give someone the benefit of the doubt if you think they are being rude to you.
Always reread a post before responding to it. Since it's right there in black and white, it's embarrassing to misquote and/or misunderstand someone, because everyone can see that you've done it.
Try not to repeat yourself, because people often read all the things you've said all at once, so they end up seeing the same thing 3 or 4 times in a row.
Something else I always try to remember about Columbus Underground in particular --it's read by thousands of people who never post, and what gets posted never goes away. So although it feels like a private conversation among a small group, it really is more like being interviewed on television or in a newspaper --you want to present your public self, not your private self.
I think we all forget all the rules from time to time, but remembering them makes for a better experience for everyone.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.