Catalog of Internet sins

Shane Nickerson's "Tricks to Successful Internetting" is a 15-point list of Internet attitudinal sins -- vices that we all indulge in more often than we like to admit. It's uncomfortable reading, but should probably be posted above every computer in the world.

1. When in doubt, ARGUE! Being right matters.
2. Hate everything.
3. Saw it already. Funnier the first time.
4. FAKE.
5. Did he died?
6. Make fun of something someone else loves because FUCK THEM!

Tricks to Successful Internetting (via Wil Wheaton)

(Image: Duty Calls, XKCD)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Freethinkersanon Christopher

Although it would be preferable to get an objective opinion I’m pretty sure I’m only guilty of nos.1 and 11 on a consistent basis. I used to be guilty of no.12 as well, but gave up because I recognize that sometimes even people who can’t spell can still make valid arguments. Also sometimes the reason for the poor grammar is sometimes the commenter’s first language isn’t English, which doesn’t need to be harped on.

Not that I’m proud of being guilty of only two of the listed sins. In fact I think I may be guilty of no.11 right now.
signsofrain

Be sure to post when you’re tired, hungry, depressed, paranoid from too much weed etc…
- timquinn
  
  who told you?
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  You forgot drunk.
welcomeabored

**sound of crickets chirping**

http://soundbible.com/295-Summer-Crickets-Chirping.html
vonbobo

I had know idea!
oldtaku

I’d say something about getting really drunk and rageposting, but I think that’s how Gawker gets the articles with the most hits.
- ldobe
  
  Someone should sell a breathalyzer peripheral that won’t unlock the browser unless BAC’s below .08
  - http://www.youtube.com/user/Freethinkersanon Christopher
    
    Google already does. Or at least did.
    
    http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1849897,00.html
- Tyler Good
  
  I know-ish (more friend of a friend) mobutu sese seko (penname, blogger for gawker). I can confirm that this is basically his process.
Just_Ok

Anybody else expect the mouseover to work?
xzzy

Almost guilty of #15, but I ain’t doing it. Nope.
mappo

By juxtaposing this list with that xkcd comic, you’re committing #3.
timquinn

Maybe the best thing about these fora is that everybody gets to try out lame arguments and attitudes and dispose of them with embarrassment. It is sharpening our communication skills. pretty sure, yup.
Shane Simmons

Can I link to this on the next LOL RELIGION post?
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  I don’t know; can you?
Nadreck

As Miss Information once put it:
Q – Someone just posted that Star Wars was made by Quentin Tarantino. What should I do?A – You must correct this erroneous information instantly; especially if you know that it was produced by Woody Allen. Probably no one else will notice and who knows how many innocents could be mislead by this lie!Q – I just read a long, long thread on a mailing list and find myself in complete agreement on the consensus reached. How best to signify this?
A – Remail the entire thread to all participants after appending “Me too!” to the end.

Q – I have a 50 MB powerpoint presentation that I’m not sure is just right. What’s the best way to get feedback on it?
A – Email is the application of choice for all interactions on the InterWebs – regardless of length. Mail it to 100 of your closest colleagues for commentary. Be sure not to clutter any subsequent revisions with version numbers and remail them all to all thread participants.
- AnthonyC
  
  I once made a ppt presentation - about 20 slides – and was flabbergasted to find it was 131MB. Still no idea why. Saved it as a pdf and it shrank to 3MB. No joke.
xian

Look at how far we’ve come as an internet species… FIRST! was not even on the list.
dmc10

I see no problem with #14 :)
Lurking_Grue

LAME.
eviladrian

I come on Boing Boing to read about springs and new developments in spring technology, what does this even have to do with springs, coils or rubber bands?
(a.k.a. Wired Commenter Syndrome)
http://twitter.com/muddi900 muddi900

Alternative version of number 6; “Taking things personally because someone dislikes something I like. FUCK YOU STOP DISLIKING THINGS I LIKE!
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0la5DBtOVNI
  - http://twitter.com/muddi900 muddi900
    
    Well according to the internet, it’s the opposite; it’s not okay to dislike things, and we will just be dicks about it.
Philboyd Studge

Was that sarcasm? I love that sort of thing!
onepieceman

3,4,8 and 12 aren’t bad are they? What’s wrong with trying to increase the quality of material on the internet (apart from the futility of it)?
http://www.facebook.com/kevin.b.sullivan Kevin X. Sullivan

This list has been very helpful, I am already very skilled at the internetting but even with my vast experience there are a couple really good points on this list that I haven’t really been utilizing to their maximum potential. This should help me kick it up to the next level.