Business Netiquette How to mind your manners when conducting business online.

In many ways, the Internet is like a Hollywood portrayal of theWild West: Occasionally, groups of outlaws ride through town, theirsix-shooters blazing, and no one wears the sheriff's badge.Most of us "townspeople" want to stay on the right sideof the law, but it's not easy--especially if the rules andregulations are not clearly spelled out. And until we get our factsstraight, the best way to conduct business online is to obey theGolden Rule: to treat others in the same way that we would want tobe treated.

This column is the first of two devoted to Internet etiquette,ethics and law. This month's column discusses how smallbusinesses can communicate effectively online using"Netiquette" (short for Internet etiquette), the set ofinformal rules that governs online communications. Next month'scolumn will cover the laws of the Internet, including privacy andintellectual property.

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