| Here are some suggestions for improving the readability of your notes:
o Use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation
o Use both uppercase and lowercase letters
o Use narrow line width (about 65 characters maximum)
o Make paragraphs about five to seven lines long
o Keep the overall length of your notes short
o Use visual aids (like bulleted lists, hyphens for underlining)
|
| Make an effort to word topic and reply titles carefully. Remember that
these titles appear in directory listings and provide a means for
participants to locate your note among scores or possibly hundreds in a
conference. Curiosity aroused by cryptic titles may catch some cats,
but most people will be just as happy to skip a note as to ponder the
meaning of an obscure title.
VAX Notes lets you create titles of up to 63 characters. (Creative
writers can fit a complete story in that much space!) It is advisable
to be brief, but never sacrifice clarity for brevity. The title should
describe the contents of your note.
Of course, participants can agree on conventions to be used in titles
to facilitate gathering notes by title (for example, acronyms,
abbreviations, or uncommon words can be used as codes to identify notes
dealing with a particular topic), but unless such agreement has been
made, it is best to write titles that are easily understood and reflect
the content of your note.
|
| Facial Expression
-----------------
One of the greatest difficulties when communicating by computer is that
you often cannot tell if the author of a note is serious, joking,
angry, or being sarcastic because you cannot see the author's face. As
a result, users of computer-based conferencing systems have developed
patterns to represent facial expression.
Some examples of patterns are presented here for your consideration,
but you should enjoy creating some of your own. These patterns were
created using the colon (:), semicolon (;), hyphen (-), opening and
closing parentheses, the vertical bar (|), right brace (}), slash (/),
and the tilde (~).
:-) Joking or sarcastic face
:-} Fiendish grin
;-) A wink
:-( Sad or angry face
|-( Late night
Intonation
----------
Use all uppercase letters for when you want to SHOUT in your note.
Surround with asterisks a word you want to emphasize (like *this*).
Emotion
-------
A conversation that lacks emotion lacks vitality. While most people
cannot begin to conceal their emotions in a meeting, they can easily
create notes that are carefully controlled, reserved, even dull. Do
not be afraid to rant, protest, or pontificate in your notes -- just be
considerate enough to warn people that you are about to express an
angry or unsolicited opinion.
One way of signaling the boundaries of a tirade in your text is to use
some symbol, word, or expression before and after the text in question.
For example, you could surround an online rampage with <FLAME ON> and
<FLAME OFF>.
Using this technique, you provide a socially acceptable emotional
outlet for participants who might otherwise be discouraged from using
VAX Notes for fear of being misunderstood or unloved, and
simultaneously spare participants who have better things to do than
continually indulge chronic complainers.
|