(It may be a good idea not to respond to them at all.)
YOU DON’T
Ever share private information such as your social security number, your birthdate, your banking information, or your home address with anyone online without your parents’ permission.
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Why
There are people out there who will use your information in ways that can lead to big trouble. You might think that answering an e-mail to get a free iPad is a great idea. Always remember that whenever you see something that seems too good to be true—especially if you see it online—it usually is. Use your head, so you don’t fall for these sorts of tricks.
YOU DO
Pay for the music and movies you download.
YOU DON’T
Try to steal movies and music without paying.
Why
Does anybody need to tell you why stealing is wrong? But even if that weren’t enough, this kind of theft could get your parents sued for a lot of money—and cause you to lose all your Internet privileges.
YOU DO
Use the Internet to learn things that can help you with your homework.
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YOU DON’T
Copy things from an online source and try to pass them off as your own work.
Why
There is a big word for this kind of stealing. That word is “plagiarism,” and it could mean earning an “F” if you get caught. (And you probably will get caught.) It could also get you kicked out of school for an honor violation. It is fine to use a reliable online source for research. Just make sure to take what you have learned and put it into your own words.
YOU DO
Respond in some way to friend requests on Facebook.
YOU DON’T
Have to accept every friend request you receive.
Why
You don’t have to accept friend requests from people you hardly know or don’t even know at all. All you have to do is hit the “ignore” or “delete” buttons.
YOU DO
Know there is a difference between sending a private message and posting a message on a wall.
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YOU DON’T
Post information on a wall that you don’t want a lot of other people to see.
Why
Just as you don’t go around broadcasting everything you say to everyone you meet, there are probably private things you want to say online. Always make sure you are sending your message to the people you want to receive it—and to nobody else.
YOU DO
Share photos and news on your Facebook page.
YOU DON’T
Share embarrassing photos of yourself and others with negative comments on your page.
Why
Once you post a photo, a lot of other people will see it; and you will probably never be able to take it back. Sometimes, however, a photo you think is funny can really be hurtful or insulting to another person. Think of all the embarrassing photos that have been taken of you. They may have seemed funny at the time, but how would you feel if someone posted them online for everyone to see?
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A gentleman does not use his computer to say bad things about other people.
A gentleman does not create an e-mail address that is in bad taste.
A gentleman does not do anything on the computer that puts himself or his family at risk. This includes talking to strangers and illegal downloading.
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Chapter 38
BORROWING AND SHARING
You’ve been hearing about borrowing and sharing ever since you were a baby. Your parents or your babysitter probably taught you that you should share your toys with others and that you should let your sister have some of the cookies, too.
As you get older, however, sharing your own stuff and borrowing things from other people take on a new meaning. That’s because some of the stuff you have now is more expensive than the toys you played with when you were little. What’s more, you now have stuff that has a lot more personal meaning to you. You have stuff that you plan to keep for a long time, and it’s important to you.
It’s likely that the things you’ll be asking to borrow from others will be more valuable, too. As you get older, when you ask to borrow anything, you will want to be more and more responsible. You will also learn that some people do not take good care of the things they borrow. If a friend has a history of damaging or losing your property, it is Okay to tell him or her no. In fact, it is the smart thing to do.
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YOU DO
Take care of anything you borrow (and that includes a book or a DVD you borrow from the library).
YOU DON’T
Treat another person’s property as if it isn’t worth much—even if it doesn’t seem very valuable to you.
Why
Your buddy’s old, worn-out catcher’s mitt might have a special meaning to him—a meaning you don’t know about. It may have been a gift from his grandfather, who used to play in the minor leagues. Think how bad you would feel if you lost something that was a gift from your grandfather—a gift that could never be replaced.
YOU DO
Know there are some things you should never share or lend.
YOU DON’T
Let someone borrow your property, just because you want them to like you.
Why
If a friend asks to borrow your favorite fishing pole—a fishing pole that cost a bundle and was a very special gift from your parents—it is Okay to say no, since you know it probably can’t be replaced. Likewise, if a friend asks to borrow your iPod when he goes on vacation for a week and you know you won’t want to be without your music for that long, it is Okay to say no. Although it is Okay to say no, you must still say it like a gentleman. A gentleman would never say, “No, you can’t borrow it. I’m afraid you will break it.” A gentleman would simply say, “I’m sorry, I can’t lend my fishing pole. It was a gift from my parents.” And that is all you have to say.
YOU DO
Accept someone else’s decision when you ask to borrow something.
YOU DON’T
Whine or beg when someone tells you no.
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Why
Begging is never cool. Pleading, “But I promise I’ll take good care of your iPod.
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