Pubdate: Fri, 10 Oct 2008
Source: DrugSense Weekly (DSW)
Section: Feature Article
Website: http://www.drugsense.org
Author: Mary Jane Borden
Note: Mary Jane Borden is a writer, artist, and activist in drug 
policy from Westerville, Ohio.  She serves as Business 
Manager/Fundraising Specialist for DrugSense

THE GOLDEN RULE

There is an ancient phrase that most of us know: Do unto others as 
you would have others do unto you. It's called the Golden Rule for a 
reason.  When applied, the best - golden - relationships, as a 
general rule, will result.  It represents the best of humanity and 
serves as the basis for human rights. People almost universally want 
to be treated with kindness and respect. If I treat my neighbor this 
way, perhaps he will respond similarly, for most people don't seek 
confrontation and conflict. At least not face-to-face.

Drug policy reform has flourished in Cyberspace. Until the advent of 
the Internet, those interested in this topic lacked an inexpensive 
means to communicate and strategize with one another. Further, many 
were separated by geographic distances, rarely, if ever, having the 
capability to personally interact.

The evolution of the Internet over the last decade, especially the 
growing availability of broadband, has given reformers the ability to 
quickly, easily, and inexpensively speak to one another, view 
Webpages, send text messages, and of course, exchange e-mail about 
drug policy in real time. However, geographic dispersion remains, as 
does the lack of in-person interaction. Instead of expressive eyes 
gazing back you, your visual interface becomes a cold computer screen.

Words can be both flowers and swords.  When words of praise and 
gratitude are expressed, the recipient grows and blossoms. When words 
are harsh and cruel, they cut and injure.

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) understood the potential 
of the Internet to induce both productive and destructive conduct and 
thus published RFC 1855 in October of 1995.  This document remains 
THE standard of social conduct - network etiquette or netiquette - on 
e-mail lists, newsgroups, networks, blogs, and forums. Please see: 
http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1855

Because we are rooted in Cyberspace, DrugSense understands the 
dynamics behind online communication. At about the same time as the 
IETF established RFC 1855 on netiquette, DrugSense was founded. We 
have grown with the Internet to now manage over 120 client Websites 
and oversee 180+ e-mail discussion lists, with very few problems. 
Almost all activists know and understand the Golden Rule. Most agree 
with the importance of treating both colleagues and the opposition 
with the utmost kindness and respect.

Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs), also known as Terms of Service or 
Terms of Use Agreements, have been crafted by many Cyberspace 
organizations to clarify netiquette, knowing that netiquette goes a 
long way toward facilitating proactive and productive inter-group and 
inter-movement communications.  These policies have their roots in 
RFC 1855 and often expound on it.

DrugSense's Acceptable Use Policy can be found at 
http://www.drugsense.org/pages/aup.htm.  This updated document spells 
out our general policy, mailing list guidelines, prohibited 
activities, and procedures to report violations.

As we state in the AUP, DrugSense believes that drug policy is most 
effectively advanced through "promoting a culture of ethical and 
lawful behavior, openness, trust, and integrity." This approach is 
key to credibly presenting our message to policy makers and the 
media. Netiquette is the application of the Golden Rule to 
Cyberspace.  We learned long ago that the Golden Rule enhances and 
improves communication, fosters human rights, and brings forth the 
best of humanity.  It is in the universal adoption of this rule that 
reform stands the best chance of ending the War on Drugs.
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