Cyber-harassment or bullying — harmful or disruptive online behavior, including posting false rumors, threats (including reasonably perceived), offensive remarks, disclosing a victim’s personal information or personal attacks upon them, and pejorative labels or names (i.e. hate speech). This can also include internet trolling:  harassing in order to elicit a reaction, disruption, or for their own personal amusement. Cyber-stalking can also be considered harassment.

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Decorum. Decorum? Has decorum become a dying art on the internet and on social-media? I have often said to myself over the years that I probably would never have the need to implement, moderate, or enforce blog-etiquette or curb cyber-harassment on my public blog, despite writing openly on unconventional, taboo and controversial topics. I assumed that mature adults would simply move on if they found my subjects unappealing, or offensive to themselves. Moving along on the internet is incredibly easy to do and their choice not to stay or return equally easy. My “explicit” material is on a private blog, offered to curious readers only if personally requesting the admittance via going to my Lifestyle’s Memoirs home page and follow the two-steps. However, with some internet users that is not always the case. After 13+ years of blogging, the reach of the world wide web, and WordPress’ exceptional networking initiatives between bloggers, I think it has become necessary. Is that a good thing, bad thing, or simply cyber-users following the rising trend of online and social-media bullying-harassment? You decide.

Nonetheless, beginning Oct. 2nd, 2017, for my Commenters and Followers, hereafter are my expected Rules of Conduct:

1. Be respectful to others. If you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, then don’t say it online either. While it seems easier to say something hurtful or disrespectful without standing in front of them, remember that many online bloggers are real people with real feelings affected by words. Not everyone has impervious skin.
2. Be aware of strong language composition, all CAPS, and exclamation points. Read everything you’ve typed out loud before clicking. Written text can easily be misunderstood or misread. Be cognizant of multiple interpretations of words and sentence structure. Identify potential confusions before clicking.
3. Be careful and wise with your humor and sarcasm. There’s no need to avoid being funny/humorous; the world certainly needs lots of laughter! That said, make double sure you are being interpreted as being funny, not rude. Emoticons and smileys are helpful when conveying stark satire, sarcasm or humor. If you do not use emoticons, then type in parentheses your intended sarcasm/humor.
4. Yes, grammar and spelling matter. This would appear self-explanatory, however, poor grammar or spelling quickly leads to a minefield of problems and confusion. Articulating yourself is paramount when discussing serious topics; try your best to use correct grammar and spelling during those times.
5. Cite your sources when requested. Please specify when offering your personal opinion versus a specific source(s). If someone requests clarification on source(s), please provide this within a reasonable amount of time. Cumulative consensus on a subject, idea, claim, or concept carries much more weight and truth than incessant PERSONAL opinions.
6. Have a valid link to your valid WordPress or associated blog and profile. If the topic(s) being blogged about and subsequent comments on it are of a serious, significant nature like religious belief/faith, politics, legitimate history, etc., then be wise and courteous enough to voluntarily share your background, education level attained, life and/or work experience, publications you’ve made, etc, with a link to your own About Page with perhaps a CV, Dossier, or sufficient information about why you think you are competent to write and/or comment about it. In other words, if you want to be taken seriously as a possible knowledgeable, intelligent proponent or adversary of a topic, then at least have the integrity to try and openly, honorably volunteer your credentials and expertise.
7. Show attempts of patience and leniency. Not everyone is perfect 100% of the time. We all forget or neglect some common courtesies sometimes. When dealing with total cyber-strangers, make some effort toward patience and leniency. I like the 3-strike rule:  by the second infraction, a very concise, explicit warning SHOULD deter further inappropriate or disrespectful behavior. For imperfect humans, online conversations are much more tricky than face-to-face.
8. Show attempts of two-way engagement. In other words, sometimes or often ask others questions. Do not simply and repeatedly publicize your own personal beliefs, opinions, or rhetoric — utilize your own blog for those views — while ignoring other’s participation or engagement with you. Show your willingness to exchange ideas and consider alternatives; doing so does NOT mean you embrace them hook, line, and sinker. It is however, a show of respect.
9. Three Strikes, Into Time-Out. Not following these rules of conduct after two clear warnings from myself, warrants you being put into Comment-Moderation for review first until further notice or comment-approval, or you genuinely apologize (in a comment(s)) and demonstrate improved conduct. Most bullying, harassing internet Commenters have no intention whatsoever of behaving as a decent human being. They typically just go and create another new and different internet alias and continue their repulsive, indecent, pointless behavior. Que Será, Será, do not fret. Their internet IP’s can be tracked and permanently blocked as well. 🙂

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For today (Dec. 7, 2019), I think these are the simple 9-rules. I may find in the future a need to refine or (slightly?) modify them, but this will be the essence of expected conduct on my blog. I appreciate all efforts to respect them and others. Thank you.