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.