I found this was an important topic to cover because I personally see numerous harmful words being said anonymously that could be extremely hurtful to another child. It is important to teach children not to use words that they would not want to be called. Since we do not see an actual face, just a screen, it can be simple to say something you do not mean and not feel bad about it. As for illegal activity, children need to understand the consequences of such activity can lead to police involvement.  

This netiquette rule is critical for students to know because there are many websites in cyberspace, and not all websites will adhere to their needs. I also think parents and educators should be aware of this rule and use it to their advantage to potentially block websites they do not want their children or students to use. Students should be encouraged to share what they are seeking on the internet with their parents and teachers to ensure they are acting appropriately and safely on the internet.  

It is important to teach children how to look good online because an online attacker may come upon their online work and bully them. Although not everyone has perfect spelling and grammar, helping students learn to proofread will not only help them online, but also in their future writings as well. It is also important the students are checking for credible sources, so they are not spewing misinformation to the world. 

I chose forgiving others for their mistakes because at some point in life, everyone makes mistakes. However, it is the way we react that shows our true character. Not only is forgiveness an important quality to have in life, but also a critical characteristic in the permanent, online community. Tying into the first rule, adhere to the same behavior online that you would follow in real life, technology is becoming a part of our students’ cultures. Treating others the way you would like to be treated is a large part in forgiveness.