Practicing Chat Room Etiquette

1. Take the time to read the guidelines or FAQ. Guidelines and frequently asked questions exist for a reason. You need to understand that there are different types of chat rooms that cater to a variety of people and you want to be sure you are following the rules in these avenues.

2. Introduce yourself from the get-go. One way of practicing etiquette in chat rooms is by introducing yourself immediately from the moment that you enter. This will make the people in the room feel open towards you. You can state your age, gender and general location.

3. Address people appropriately. Online chat rooms can get confusing sometimes. This is understandable as they can become filled with dozens of people all at once. Avoid adding any confusion to the conversation by addressing people appropriately. For instance, if you are posing a question to a certain user, it would be helpful to type his or her handle prior to the question (i.e. PunkRocker360: What is your favourite TV show?).

4. Let other users weigh in on the conversation. The reason why conflicts arise in many chat rooms is because some people only think of themselves or consider themselves as the star of the show. When you are in a room, remember that there are other people present and that you should give everyone a chance to talk. Do not dominate the conversation or engage in an extremely personal conversation with one person in a public forum.

5. Do not engage in prolonged arguments with rude users. The thing about chat rooms is that anybody is free to join them. It is inevitable that at some point you will encounter somebody rude and irritating. The best thing to do in these scenarios is to report such users to the administrator or to the host. If there is no host or administrator, it is advisable to exit immediately. Getting into prolonged arguments with such users often leads nowhere and will only leave you drained and annoyed.

6. Do not make any inappropriate, offensive or violent comments towards other users. There is a proper time and place for everything. Most chat rooms were created in order for people to have a good time and get to know one another. Do not disrupt the conversation and ruin the atmosphere for everybody by saying things that make them uncomfortable or make them angry.

7. Try lurking. If you are unsure about what to say or how people converse with one another, it would be a good idea to lurk and get a feel of what the atmosphere is like. Remember that you do not have to say anything until you feel ready to. Saying nothing at all is better than saying the wrong thing and offending somebody.

Many online chat rooms come with rules and regulations that need to be strictly adhered to. If these are not followed, this can lead to getting blacklisted or banned.

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