Tech Etiquette Tips

Natalie: Welcome to a special edition of Loaded, we're off for the holidays, but we still have a show for you. We have a great production team here in New York, but even the greatest mix of people can still get on one another’s nerves. We often get lengthy discussion about something we like call gadget etiquette. These are basic manners when it comes to respecting someone else’s digital privacy. Now, I won't say who the biggest offenders in office are most of the time. Nevertheless we thought it would be funny to compile a list of our favorite gadget etiquette rules. Enjoy. Instant messaging keeps you connected with all your contacts. It’s really hard to separate your work contacts from your personal contacts though. That being said, be respectful of others and don’t hover over co-workers in their work space, read their emails or instant messages over their shoulders, not cool, here’s what I mean. Wilson: Hey Sheryl. Sheryl: Hey what’s up? Wilson: How you doing? Sheryl: I'm okay. Wilson: Oh, you're talking to Rich. Hey, tell him I said hi. Sheryl: Okay. Wilson: You know, I’ll type it. Sheryl: No its okay, I can type it myself. Wilson: Okay. Sheryl: Do you need anything? Wilson: No. how is that video coming along? Sheryl: It’s good. It’s good. It’s coming. Wilson: Okay. Sheryl: You have something to do? Male: No. Natalie: Here's another one, picture etiquette. If there's one thing we can take away from the internet, it’s that the line between public and private is a thin one. Please thing twice before you take and post pictures online. Be careful about drunken pictures tagging on Facebook and MySpace. Post pictures as if your parents or your boss are viewing them because in most cases, they are. Another one of my tech peeves gadget snooping. Remember when your teacher told you to keep your eyes on your own paper? The same is true on electronics. Unless it’s explicitly said by the rightful owner, it is not okay to go through a person’s media device whether it be an mp3 player, phone, digital camera, or anything. I get at least a dozen in a week and if you're anything like Wilson Tang, well, see what I mean. Wilson: Hey Mark, how's it going? Mark: Yo, what's going on? Wilson: How's it going? Hey, cool pictures. Why didn’t you send me these pictures from the party? Mark: What pictures? Wilson: Oh dude, this is. Here you go man, I think I shouldn’t look at that one. Mark: Thanks. Wilson: Oh man, who is this chic? She is ridiculous. Natalie: Rude. Wilson: Hey man do you get those graphics? Mark: Yeah. They are right here in the folder titled graphics. Wilson: Cool. Mark: In the folder titled graphics. Okay? Wilson: Alright. Mark: Alright. Natalie: Now for music, specifically in iTunes. We all have our guilty pleasures when it comes to music. I know Mark Licea sometimes wants to murder me when I go on one of my show tunes kicks. Now most people may not care, but those of us with frequent guilty pleasures like Beyonce or Celine Dion, we’d like you to ask permission before doing any iTunes snooping. Finally we should talk about hygiene. Not everyone is as neurotic about Purell as I am, that’s why I do not like lending my personal gadgets that I carry with me every day and press to the delicate skin on my face. Here are some of the ways in which this really gets on under my skin. Mark: Can you take a look at this real quick, I'm going to get some water. Wilson: Yeah, sure. That’s really in there. Mark: Yo. Wilson: Yeah, this is great. Alright, take care. Mark: Wilson Tang. Wilson: I’ll talk to you soon. Hey, Natalie, sorry about that. Natalie: So gross. That does it for today. I hope you enjoyed our gadget etiquette special. Surely you are not an offender of any of these things. But if someone in your life is, you can discreetly forward them the link to this episode. All kidding aside, I hope you're enjoying your holiday, I'm Natalie Del Conte with Cnet TV. And you’ve just been Loaded.