Asklemmy

I remember being taught in school to apply source criticism, and that seems to have largely died as a concept.

This was back in the early 2000s...

I was taught to cite websites by using the date the page was updated. Now I'm lucky if web pages even have a date on them.

Most of them. Don't believe everything you see, don't give out personal information or real-life pictures... the usual.

Never trust anything you read on the internet

Sticking around and "lurking" for a bit before you try to engage with a new community, to learn the local etiquette before you make an ass of yourself. Or at least reading the rules as a bare minimum.

Never click an ad

Internet is a proper noun and should always be capitalized.

I'm old enough to remember reading about netiquette.

Don't get into stranger's cars, and don't give out your real name or number or address on the internet.

Now you do most of these things when you call an uber. 😅

"Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory" was both a lie (typically invoked to defend/justify bigotry, bullying, and such) and it also served to normalize people being assholes on the internet. "Perfectly well adjusted wholesome ordinary people chant nazi slogans when they log onto the internet, for real guys! It says nothing about their character as people because for some magical reason the internet totally has no connections to lived human experiences!"

I'm glad that the so-called rule fell out of use and the excuse rings very hollow for most people now. Also, I noticed that many "ironic asshole" comedians and entertainers from the "le epic trolling" era wound up being actual assholes that hurt people outside of the act. "Million Dollar Extreme" and Justin Roiland come to mind.