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In this section we offer a few general guidlines, but check out the resources at http://www.abacon.com/compsite/conversation/netiquette.html for more information.
E-Mail Netiquette First, control the tendency to automatically forward messages to other Net users. Because electronic communication is so easily duplicated and shared, users can redistribute messages with a single click of the mouse. Of course, if a message pertains directly to the interests of an individual or group, you should send it along. Obliviously forwarding every tidbit that you stumble across, however, will only clutter the paths of others on the Net.
Also, be sure to provide relevant subject headings for your messages and never send a message without a heading. Because many Internet users receive dozens of e-mail messages a day, they rely on subject headings to sort and prioritize their mail. If you have information about a virus that affects only Macintosh computers, using a heading such as "Mac Virus Alert" will ensure that only those people who need the information will have to read the message. In general, try to select a subject heading that is succinct and encapsulates the message. If you come up with a clever or playful heading, be sure that it still conveys the gist of the message.
A final point of e-mail decorum concerns responses. Because replies usually duplicate the original message in the body of the response, it's possible for messages to contain large amounts of text. Rather than forcing your reader to wait while the message transfers or scroll through a lengthy duplication of previous messages, it is to edit or "snip" the original message. If a lengthy message concludes by asking "blahdie blahdie blahdie . . . who was that long-winded guy in Hamlet?," you can snip the "blahdie blahdie" and respond
>who was that long-winded guy in Hamlet? Polonius. And speaking of windbags . . .
There will be times when you'll want to provide a full record of previous conversations by leaving an original message intact. In general, though, you should respect the time, bandwidth, and carpal tunnels of other users and include only the most relevant parts of earlier messages in your replies.
Adapted from Connections: A Guide to On-line Writing