Forum Etiquette: Get Facts Before Starting Arguments

I've noticed that on a lot of forums, people post their complaints, ideas and questions. This is a wonderful outlet to get your complaints looked at and to be given advice on and resolution to your complaints, share those ideas and ask questions. But first, people: Stop and think - for just a moment - about what you're typing out for others to read!

First of all, you can not really get infliction, or intent across when using a computer to make contact with other people. Be clear in what you are trying to say, listen and research things that may not be clear to you before posting a comment, question, or sometimes even your opinions. DO NOT go off on a tirade about this or that, without getting your facts, thoughts, or opinions clear in your own head.

When posting to a forum it is important to think about what is actually coming across in your postings. Stop and read your post out loud before hitting that submit button. If it doesn't make sense when your reading it aloud in your home or office, more then likely it is not going to come across clear to other users of the forum, and your point will be lost in translation so to speak.

Next important point to make here is that your education level, your beliefs, your thoughts all have the potential to be torn apart by hundreds of people. Of course everyone will not agree with you. Everyone is not going to have the same ideas, or beliefs as you do on certain topics. Be prepared to feel as though your facts are not straight. When in doubt back up your ideas, beliefs and so on with FACTS.

You have the worlds biggest library in front of you. You have unlimited resources at your fingertips. Use it! How you may ask. Do a simply search for your topic. Change the wording a few times to see what results you may get. Make notes about what you find, save the most relevent sites that have the answers that you were seeking. Reference those sites, leave links, and still be prepared for people to argue with you about your findings.

More then likely you will still have people out in the big world that think they know everything. There are some people that think that everyone else is wrong no matter what you do to prove your point or to prove your case. However, no one can argue and truly argue any other point if you have your facts. Get your facts, get them straight, and understand them.

As far as your background and education goes, all you can do is always conduct yourself with class, and always be prepared not to show your anger, agitation, or all around irratation to the other parties involved in the forums that you may post to. This falls back to reading out loud what you are about to post, make sure your spelling, grammar and so on are as clear, and as perfect as they can be.

Basically, keep your facts straight, keep your mind clear, check your self before someone else does and enjoy your forum postings. Keep all of the above information in mind when you are posting. Happy forum posting to all of you and best of luck with the people out there that refuse to research, and back up their facts, with real facts.