Abby and Me » Netiquette

Special Series of Talks @ New York Public Library March 21st and 23rd

Abby — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 02:58:08 +0000

I’ll be presenting a mini-series of four lectures on computer-related topics at the centrally-located Mid-Manhattan Library March 21st and 23rd.

The first session, for the absolute beginner, will answer the questions: Why would I use a computer? What good would it do? How I can keep my identity – and my bank accounts – safe while online? What, how and why Google, Blogs and Facebook?

The first presentation in the series will be simultaneously translated into Spanish. It is described below for any Spanish speakers.

Desmitificar la computadora/Demystifying Computers – Monday, March 21, 2011, 10:30am-12:30PM

Abby Stokes, escritora y profesora de computación, aclarará los mitos de la computadora para principiantes, especialmente aquellos que nunca hayan tocado una. Ella responderá a preguntas tales como:

¿Por qué querría yo usar una computadora? ¿De qué me serviría? ¿Cómo puedo mantener mi identidad– y mis cuentas bancarias– seguras, estando en línea? ¿El qué, cómo y por qué de Google, Blogs y Facebook?

Encuentre la respuesta a estas preguntas y mucho más en esta presentación gratuita.

Presentación simultaneamente traducida al español.

Ubicación: Primer piso, Salón de programas.

What Can I Do Besides Send E-Mail? – Monday, March 21, 2011, 2:30-4:30PM

In my second lecture, we will go “beyond the basics” of computer demystifying and will discuss e-mail attachments, netiquette, and how to get–and stay–organized online.

How to Safely Surf the Internet and Find (Almost) Anything – Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 10:30 am-12:30PM

This lecture will cover how to get the most out of your searches online; safety, shopping and banking; and I’ll recommend websites for travel, health, finance, and more.

Social Networking–What the Heck are Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging??? – Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 2:30-4:30PM

This, the final lecture, will explain what everyone’s talking about when they bring up Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. I’ll also share how you can enjoy the benefits of social media without risking the loss of your privacy.

These programs will take place in the first floor program room at 455 Fifth Avenue between 39th and 40th Streets.

I hope to see you there or that you’ll pass the word onto anyone who might be interested.

Geez G-mail

Abby — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:55:42 +0000

When I’m asked what free web-based e-mail I recommend it is NOT Gmail. I know, I know. Your kids and grand kids are all over you to use Gmail instead of AOL. I agree that AOL is inconsistent and not as compatible with many handheld devices, but Gmail’s design is not particularly “user-friendly” (a misnomer when referring to anything computer). I would suggest Yahoo over Gmail, but I understand that your family has more influence over your decisions that I do.

So, if you’re going to take the plunge and use Gmail, let’s make it as “friendly” as we can by customizing it to meet your needs.

My first criticism is that e-mails stack on top of one another:

For a newbie what you see above can be conceptually confusing and, for those that have dexterity issues, this format is difficult to manipulate – it requires very good aim.

I hear you daughter snapping back that one could click on Expand All in the right sidebar. The problem with this option is that Google then presents the oldest e-mail on top and the most recent must be scrolled down to – not an optimal choice for someone just learning to scroll or who has memory issues. Rather than debate the good, bad, and ugly of Gmail, let me offer you a way to reformat the Inbox. This stacking is referred to as “conversation view.”

To turn conversation view off:

1) Click on Settings (top right)

2) Scroll down until you see Conversation View:

3) Click in the circle (aka radio dial) to the left of Conversation view off

4) MOST IMPORTANT – Scroll all the way to the bottom and click on Save Changes

I am asked regularly “How can I change the font to be larger on all of my outgoing e-mails?” This is a courtesy to the reader that most older users are more apt to opt for. It is an elusive option with Gmail, but it does exist.

To enable change font style:

1) Click Settings (top right)

2) Click the Labs tab (far right)

3) Scroll down to Default Text Styling

4) Click in the circle to the left of Enable

5) MOST IMPORTANT – Scroll all the way to the bottom and click on Save Changes

While you’re visiting Settings or the Lab tab, take a look around and see what else you might want to customize. Make a note of the original setting – in case you don’t like the change you’ve made, you can revert back to what it was.

For those teaching Gmail to an new user, be sure to really hit home that the arrow to the right of Reply is where the most common actions will be hidden – Forward, Print, Reply All, etc. Why did Gmail choose to hide these features? Mine is not to wonder why. Mine is just to show you how.

You’re capable of learning anything – well-designed or not. Just keep in mind when you think the problem is you, it’s more likely a thoughtless design choice. Take a deep breath and rise above it!

BCC: vs TO: for e-mail

Abby — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:10:40 +0000

For those of you that send e-mails to more than one person may I make a gentle computer suggestion? When you send a mass e-mail, do not input all of your recipient’s e-mail addresses in the TO: address box. That choice exposes all recipients to each other’s e-mail addresses – something I prefer not to have happen.

To avoid this, you can use the BCC: area to input addresses instead of TO: or CC:. BCC: means blind carbon copy. Any e-mail addresses in BCC: cannot be seen by any of the other recipients.

Some e-mail services require that there be at least one address in the TO: box. Why not type your e-mail address in the TO: box and then delete the e-mail when you receive it? That’s a good way to know if the e-mail went out and you won’t have exposed any of your recipients’ e-mail addresses to each other.

For more tips on netiquette take a peek at “Is This Thing On?” (BBC: p. 191, 236, 239).

Tidying an E-mail to be Forwarded

Abby — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:30:47 +0000

Are you receiving a massive number of forwarded e-mail jokes, petitions and chain letters? I know I am. What frustrates me more than an inbox full of impersonal forwarded e-mail is when those e-mails require me to scroll down and down and down before I get to the actual content, revealing incomprehensible routing information and all past recipients along the way. Rather than simply clicking on “Forward” and sending on all the gobbledygook, why not clean up the e-mail and send only the content you desire?

Here’s how:
1) Open the e-mail you want to send on to others.

2) Scroll to the bottom of content that you want to capture.

3) Place the cursor to the right of the last word of the text.

4) Depress the left mouse button and keep it depressed as you move up the text.

You’ll notice that the text will scroll down as you move up. This clicking and dragging is a tricky operation, but with a little practice you’ll get it. Do NOT release the mouse button until all of the desired text is highlighted. If you have gone to far up the text, keep the mouse depressed and move back over the highlighted text. This will deactivate that text.

5) Once the text is highlighted release the mouse button and click on the word “Edit” at the top of your screen.

6) Click on “Copy” in the menu that opened. The text you highlighted is now being held in the brain of the computer until you tell it where to place it.

7) Generate a new e-mail template. This is most likely done by either clicking on “Write”, “Compose” or “New Mail”.

8) Click inside the text box of the new e-mail to activate it.

9) Click on “Edit” at the top of your screen.

10) Click on “Paste” in the menu that opened. Bravo! Now you can now tidy up the text by deleting any unnecessary spaces or you can add your own text within the content that now appears.

11) Address the e-mail to whomever you want remembering to use the BCC feature to keep people’s e-mail addresses private.

Why not ask your friends if they want to receive forwarded jokes, petitions, etc. Keep in mind that a personal note from a friend is much more welcome than a bunch of impersonal e-mails passed on to many.