Introduction
The article "Netiquette, or the social conventions of computer conferencing" by Gary Alexander, is a guide used by the T171 course, to promote an effective use of on-line communications in an on-line group learning situation.
The conference sequence below is supporting evidence from an extract of a First Class Forum discussion. Comments before each section seek to demonstrate some of the points raised in the article.
Example 1
This contributors perspective is that software advances will make skills in web design unnecessary.
Archive - July/August 06 August 2001 17:01:44 From: A Student Subject: the Future To: T171 Forum II Hi all - When I first enroled for T171, my ultimate aim in few years time was to become a pro. web designer. I'm now the proud owner of many books on HTML and Java. Now however I've changed my mind. A friend of mine showed me today a prototype piece of software that he and his collegues have been working on. It's a web editor that makes making a web site easy enough for anyone to use - and I mean anyone. Absolutely no knowledge of the code behind it is neccesary. It's simple and easy to use, and there's no fiddly uploading to a web server. It uploads itself and the upload is instantaneous. It means that joe public can now build and maintain their own sites with no expert knowledge at all. As long as they can click a mouse cursor over the OK button, they're sorted! My friend also said that he predicts that within 2 years with the help of similar software that is apparently now in the pipeline, companies will build and maintain their own websites as a matter of course without the need for expensive specialists. The web design market will be an extremely competitive one and there won't be jobs for all the people who are studying for it at the moment. In many ways it's similar to the advent of the motor car. When they were first introduced at the turn of the last century, they were the domain of the enthusiast who knew its workings inside out. Now of course we all use them, and have no need to know how it works and why. As long as we know how to drive, we've no need to know how the engine works. 'Whoops'! I thought. Time for a rethink! Anyone got any thoughts? A Student
Example 2
This contributor acknowledges the original message by quoting and then applies his own perspective. (PCP 3: Speak from your own perspective) He also offers advice and encouragement.
Archive - July/August 06 August 2001 17:28:33 From: Tutor/Moderator Subject: Re: the Future To: T171 Forum II A Student writes: My friend also said that he predicts that within 2 years with the help of similar software that is apparently now in the pipeline, companies will build and maintain their own websites as a matter of course without the need for expensive specialists. The web design market will be an extremely competitive one and there won't be jobs for all the people who are studying for it at the moment. Running the risk of sounding a little brusque, I think your friend is very wrong. Software which lets people construct fully functional websites with just three mouse clicks and absolutely no technical knowledge will, like the poor, always be with us. But no company serious about e-business would ever touch it. They get the pros in: it costs more, but then your website doesn't look like it's been put together by amateurs, and it will work!! Your friend also appears to be treating web design in a rather homogeneous way, as if there is just one sort of person, named "web designer". The fact is that a good website (at the commercial level), now involves many different people all with different skills. You need decent programmers and database people to get the company database talking to the pages (because if you don't offer some sort of value added functions like e-commerce, why will people visit it??), you need graphic designers to make it look good and to "theme" it, you need UNIX boffins to keep your servers ticking over, security experts to make sure that 12 years olds from California don't hack your site, and the list goes on.. 'Whoops'! I thought. Time for a rethink! I'd quiz your friend a little more, and if you are serious about working in or on the web, then start buying the papers and magazines which the professionals read. Once you get an idea of the jobs being advertised (they hardly ever say web designer), then look at your skills, look at what you are best at, and begin to specialise. Getting yourself a niche is the key to succeeding in a competitive market. regards ________________________________________ Tutor/Moderator ________________________________________
Example 3
My own reply. I have quoted from the original message, but not in my own words (PCP 2: Acknowledge before differing). I have offered my own, different, perspective. (PCP 3: Speak from your own perspective) What is not present is an attempt to show understanding of the originators viewpoint. This could be interpreted as an angry response as in the Avoid 'flaming spirals' section.
Archive - July/August 06 August 2001 19:59:25
From: Stuart D. Banner
Subject: Re: the Future
To: T171 Forum II
A Student writes:
In many ways it's similar to the advent of the motor car. When
they were first introduced at the turn of the last century, they
were the domain of the enthusiast who knew its workings inside
out. Now of course we all use them, and have no need to know how
it works and why. As long as we know how to drive, we've no
need to know how the engine works.
At the risk of sounding a little miffed, I would like to point that the
motor industry is alive and well.
I do not believe that knowing how to drive a car equates to what
goes on in the industry. Motorists need the motor industry and its
legions of designers, engineers, sales people, mechanics, parts
specialists etc. Vehicle breakdown and recovery specialists like
the AA, RAC, Green Flag etc would be non-existent if what you say
were true. Take a look at the motorway hard shoulders.
Take a look at the aerospace industry. The same applies.
That I believe will be the case with computing professionals in the
future. Software advances may very well make interfacing with
computers easier. However, it will not eliminate totally the human
aspect. IMHO.
Stuart
Example 4
This message provides extensive quotes from the thread as a whole. As such it runs against the section on Caution when quoting other messages while replying to them. There is no new content.
Archive - July/August 06 August 2001 22:06:15 From: Another Student Subject: Re(2): the Future To: T171 Forum II Tutor/Moderator writes: My friend also said that he predicts that within 2 years with the help of similar software that is apparently now in the pipeline, companies will build and maintain their own websites as a matter of course without the need for expensive specialists. The web design market will be an extremely competitive one and there won't be jobs for all the people who are studying for it at the moment. Running the risk of sounding a little brusque, I think your friend is very wrong. Software which lets people construct fully functional websites with just three mouse clicks and absolutely no technical knowledge will, like the poor, always be with us. But no company serious about e-business would ever touch it. They get the pros in: it costs more, but then your website doesn't look like it's been put together by amateurs, and it will work!! Your friend also appears to be treating web design in a rather homogeneous way, as if there is just one sort of person, named "web designer". The fact is that a good website (at the commercial level), now involves many different people all with different skills. You need decent programmers and database people to get the company database talking to the pages (because if you don't offer some sort of value added functions like e-commerce, why will people visit it??), you need graphic designers to make it look good and to "theme" it, you need UNIX boffins to keep your servers ticking over, security experts to make sure that 12 years olds from California don't hack your site, and the list goes on.. 'Whoops'! I thought. Time for a rethink! I'd quiz your friend a little more, and if you are serious about working in or on the web, then start buying the papers and magazines which the professionals read. Once you get an idea of the jobs being advertised (they hardly ever say web designer), then look at your skills, look at what you are best at, and begin to specialise. Getting yourself a niche is the key to succeeding in a competitive market. Take the advice of a pro like Moderator, he knows what he is talking about. As for this statement Now of course we all use them, and have no need to know how it works and why. As long as we know how to drive, we've no need to know how the engine works. Thats why we get ripped off when our car breaks down. ?:O) Another Student
Example 5
Here the originator expands on his original message. He thanks those that have replied to his original message. (PCP 1: Thank, acknowledge and support people freely)
Archive - July/August 06 August 2001 22:23:44 From: A Student Subject: Re(2): the Future To: T171 Forum II Hi all - perhaps I did jump the gun slightly in predicting the demise of the so-called web designer! 8-) However I had just witnessed a demo of the software which is v. impressive. As I said, it's still in development at the moment, but www.tekheads.co.uk have used it to good effect. I managed to knock up a good looking sight including graphics, links and address in 2 minutes. However all your points about client needs, security and e-commerce have been taken on board. Might just hang onto those dusty old HTML bibles for a while longer! Thanks for your input. A Student
Conclusion
The above sequence demonstrates that good netiquette is not easy. Careful thought and consideration is needed.
