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Alan's List of Internetiquette Rules

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

Here on Active Brain we are fairly civil to one another, but on many other sites, (such as those that rhyme with Pillow, & Foolya as well as others), they seem to be a little bit of the Wild Wild West, with little, ineffective or no moderation at all.

Commenters and questioners are often subjected to, how shall we say, colourful language, sarcasm and outright attacks by semi-anonymous posters, with little else to do but hang around waiting for their next victim while hiding behind interesting double-entendre Icons and Screen names.  Since many of these internet sites don't require any true identification, we've all seen participants who's method of disagreement tends to be insults and harassment, and then ducking back behind their anonymity.

I thought it might be appropriate to post Alan's List of Internetiquette and guidelines for a happy, happy internet playdate.  So, without further ado, here are "Alan's rules for InternetPlaytime".

• COMMENTS
   When commenting, try to add value to the conversation.  As tempting as it is to respond with "yeah... I agree", it's better to add some explanation such as "Yeah... I agree... This is the best explanation of dual-agency I've seen in print, and Alan is an internet God".  In fact, I really like that language, feel free to copy & paste it, and simply replace the subject matter with whatever is being discussed at the time.

• SALES PITCH
    As tempting as it might be, please try to avoid the "Hard Sell".  The Internet is the place for buyers and sellers to find you and learn about you.  They don't want to wade through your listings in post after post.   They aren't here to hear to you say "Call me, pick me, choose me".  Be a valuable member of the community.  Add value to conversations, give reliable responses, and be the voice of reason. You won't ever have to say "Call me"... buyers and sellers will beat a path to your door.

• DISAGREEMENTS
   It's inevitable that there will be disagreements with some who are posting.  Feel free to disagree, but try to do so 'respectfully'.  Y'all remember respect, don't you.  It's that method of conversation that we used to have when we had to have conversations face-to-face.  If you wouldn't feel comfortable saying something to their face, in front of you own mother... then perhaps you ought to try to reword it... hmmm?
    If you find someone breaking the sites rules... please don't be "confrontational"... flag them, and let the site handle it.  Don't worry, the readers are smart enough to recognize a show-off, or bully, when they see one.  Please don't feed the trolls.

• COPYRIGHTS
   We all know you're clever.  Not to mention incredibly good-looking, but try not to make yourself look even better by copying and pasting someone else's stuff, and passing it off as your own.  It's so easy, today, to find plagiarism on the internet, and you can rest assured that someone who's perusing your comments or your blogs will undoubtedly check... and when they identify that you "stole" that incredibly highbrow paragraph from Chaucer, they're going to "out" you, and you'll feel very much the fool.  Just don't do it.
    You also open yourself (and Active Brain, or whatever platform you're currently using) to a potential lawsuit, and a whole passel of expenses (that's right... I said "Passel").  Ask Lenn Harley...she'll explain further.

• ETHICS AND ACCURACY
    As Realtors (and Real Estate Agents), when talking about Real Estate, we have an ethical obligation to be accurate and honest.  And be very careful when commenting about Real Estate practices in states other than the one you practice in.  The rules change dramatically from state to state.  If you comment, be sure you know what you're talking about.

• SPELLING
    Most sites (Active Brain included) have spell check.  Please avail yourself of its functionality.  It takes only a few moments, and is so, so helpful.  I don't automatically discount the comments of those who have the occasional misspelling, but when there are multiple misspellings per paragraph, or even per sentence... it sure does slow down my enjoyment of that post.

• PARAGRAPHS
    For those of you who like to wax on, and on, and on... please try to break up your verbosity with paragraphs.  I don't really care if you use them properly or not... just break it up visually, so we don't have to slog through a single 4,000 word paragraph.  If you really feel up to it, add some graphics... it makes your post that much more appealing, and readable.  It makes us think that you actually gave some thought to your post, and you care what people think.

I'm sure there are lots and lots of "rules" that I haven't addressed.... care to add?

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate
Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments (105)

Tina Gleisner
Home Tips for Women - Portsmouth, NH
Home Tips for Women

OK, your ideas prompted me to write my own post, Netiquette for Online Conversations

Jun 13, 2010 04:16 AM
George Burgess
RE/MAX Heritage - Pittsburgh, PA

Appreciate the post. I read many more posts than I respond to, and I often say no more than thanks for the good post when I do not have more to add. If someone is going to take the time to post something that is of use to me, the least I can do is say thanks. No way to tell if someone is doing it for points or not. I really appreciate your efforts. Thanks

Jun 13, 2010 05:33 AM
Bret Nida
Era Teachers Inc - Reston, VA

Great post!  The key is to speak as if your client is standing right next to you.

 

 

Also,can we add using an updated agent picture within the past 5 years? :-)

Jun 13, 2010 05:45 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Erica - always a nice touch that shows some respect for your readers!

Tina - nicely done.  Happy to be your muse.

George - and this was a nice "multi-word" thank you... thank you.

Bret - I addressed the issue of "old agent photos" in this post, about a week back.

Jun 13, 2010 06:04 AM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

That's a re blog for me! I like the spell check one. I have tried to improve on that and just remember to hit that button. Darn. I just saw there is one for comments, too!

Jun 14, 2010 01:16 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Cheryl - yep, there's one for comments, too!

Jun 14, 2010 01:24 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Excellent real, Alan. It seems you have covered all the bases thoroughly. Unfortunately there are many who really OUGHT to read this but will miss it.

And I imagine some offenders will but will keep on doing what they do...spam commenting, plagiarizing, and the like. The best we can do is continue to educate and remind folks.

Jeff

Jun 14, 2010 03:20 AM
Lisa Ludlow Archer
Live Love Homes-Keller Williams, Charlotte, NC Ballantyne Area - Waxhaw, NC

Alan,

its kinda like "if ya can't say anything nice, dont say anything at all" that I still say to my kiddos.

Have a blessed week!

Lisa aka Allstarmom3

Jun 14, 2010 03:35 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Jeff - you're right... many who need it, won't recognize themselves.

Lisa - it's a saying that applies.

Jun 14, 2010 03:58 AM
Kate Wheeler
Country Homes and Land Murphy NC Realtor - Murphy, NC
CCIM - Murphy NC Real Estate for Sale

Alan, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post - and the comments as well.  Perhaps next time you could do your version of the Ten Online Commandments... 

Jun 14, 2010 08:29 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Kate - don't give me ideas like that... hmmm... thou shalt not...

Jun 14, 2010 11:24 AM
Team Honeycutt
Allen Tate - Concord, NC

Nicely done Alan.  While I enjoyed the post, I'm still a little confused about this dual-agency thing...

Jun 14, 2010 04:37 PM
Anonymous
andrearre

thks-- good post and I agree I have seen some pushy/ugly stuff out there.  I think we all need to be reminded on how to handle all these various websites we are participating in. 

 

Jun 14, 2010 05:36 PM
#99
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Team Honeycut - maybe we can have a private dual-agency tutoring class.

andrearre - consider us "reminded"

Jun 15, 2010 01:42 AM
Bill Travis
Captain Bill Realty, LLC - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner

Is this what you're talking about?  :-)

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Jun 17, 2010 02:02 AM
Larry Story ALC
Total Care Realty - Greensboro, NC
Beneath it all is the Land, Covering all of NC

Alan,

Not sure what Bill was trying to say here but glad you posted this as one of your top ten.  I did miss it the first time around.  As far as the "passel" of lawsuits no explanation needed from Lenn she gave me one a couple of years ago about a picture.  I have never forgotten either. 

Jan 03, 2011 01:47 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Bill - holy samoleons... yes, that's what i'm talkin' about.

Larry - she's memorable, no?

Jan 03, 2011 01:56 AM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Alan I'm going to have to quit my day job so that I can manage you on the comedy circuit.  Nothing is funnier than real life experience.

Jan 03, 2011 02:18 AM
David Popoff
DMK Real Estate - Darien, CT
Realtor®,SRS, Green ~ Fairfield County, Ct

Alan, I agree with you and the etiquette points as well as you are describing how to write a good ActiveRain post, esp. with the paragraphs, accuracy and copyrights.

Jan 04, 2011 06:49 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Charita - okay... but I'm gonna have to ask you to cut your commission in half... just like everyone asks me.

David - thank you.

Jan 04, 2011 08:15 AM