Timely Advice about the 'Net

Contributor's note: This was a tiny pamphlet I picked up in my travels and typed it in...

The Internet can be a very cool place for all.

There are places to see, friends to make, things to learn, and good times to be had. But sometimes it's good to get advice from people who've been there -- you know, the pioneers. So here are some helpful tips and ideas -- from people like you - - to help you get the most out of your Internet travels.

Choose something you like to do.

The Internet is a wonderful spot to explore. The best place to start is something you like -- and one of the best ways to find what you like is to head toward a search engine, like Yahoo for all (http://www.yahoo.com/) or Yahoo for kids (http://www.yahooligans.com/). From there, you can type in subjects and categories that interest you, and Yahoo will give you a list of sites to choose from.

Some things are your business.

The Internet is a great place to share your thoughts, ideas, and insights into a whole lot of things. But, it's also a place where some things should not be shared. For example, it's a very good idea not to reveal your age, your fullname, your address, or your phone number to anybody you meet on-line.

Be polite about mail.

And for that matter, about everything else. The e-mail capabilities of the Internet -- and the on-line services that interface with it--will open up a whole new world for you and your friends...the ones you have now and the ones you'll make on-line. But here are a couple of things to keep in mind: Try to keep your mail message brief -- especially if you're writing to someone who receives a lot of mail. Also, remember that the same word can mean different things to different people, so choose your words carefully. When the person on the receiving end reads your message, you won't be there to explain what you really meant. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM TYPING IN ALL CAPITALS, this signifies that you are rude, and no one likes that. And don't forget to check your e-mail regularly; people hate waiting days of weeks for a response.

Learn how "onliners' talk on-line.

When you talk to people in person and they say something funny, laughing is the natural result, and you can see and hear it. In on-line chat areas (such as SWIS) where no one can see or hear you, different kinds of shorthand and vocabulary take place. For example, did you know BRB means "be right back", LOL means "laughing out loud" and IMHO is "in my humble opinion"? There is also a sideways kind of visual shorthand. For example, :-) is a smiley face, :-( is a frown, :-O is a look of surprise. It's fun to experiment with the keyboard and see what expressions you can come up with.

Take advantage of what's out there.

There is more stuff going on over the internet that you can imagine, and the whole thing is moving so fats that it's hard for even seasoned Interneter to keep up. Bit don't sweat it. Think of the Internet as a huge public library: You can go right to the sections you want, and learn about what you like -- or you can wander around and discover things unseen and places unheard of. And there are all kinds of search programs for you to use. You'll find more than 250 Internet search engines that will locate all kinds of information -- from your favorite band, to the environment, to stock quotes, and everything in-between at Search.com (http://www.search.com/)  or dogpile.com

Explore with your friends.

One way to have fun with your friends is to sit down at your browser and --well, browse. Bounce ideas around with one another, follow links and see where they lead, participate in chat areas to meet new people. For young folk, you can start by going to Youth Central (http://youthcentral.apple.com/), an interactive community in cyberspace created FOR kids and teens BY kids and teens. Here you'll find all kinds of discussion boards to begin your exploration.

Don't be afraid to ask for help.

The Internet can be intimidating at first. But there are lots of people you can ask for help: your parents, your computer lab instructor, your teachers and school counselors, or the local propellorhead. Most of all have fun!