George Washington’s Rules of Civility

To accompany the conversations I’ve been reading lately about legal uses of content found online, I’ve been reading about how to be civil and respectful, too, while participating online.  I believe the legal stuff is important, but it’s pretty dry and contentious.  The etiquette stuff is more fun.  I stumbled upon  George Washington’s Rules of Civility.  There are 110 of them.  If I understand correctly, he copied them from a book as a child, some time before he was 16 years old.  The spelling is his.  Here are my favorites, some of which are quite applicable to online behavior:

12th Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs rowl not the Eys lift not one eyebrow higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face with your Spittle, by approaching too near him when you Speak.

50th Be not hasty to beleive flying Reports to the Disparagement of any.

3d Run not in the Streets, neither go too slowly nor with Mouth open go not Shaking yr Arms kick not the earth with yr feet, go not upon the Toes, nor in a Dancing fashion.

2d Speak not of doleful Things in a Time of Mirth or at the Table; Speak not of Melancholy Things as Death and Wounds, and if others Mention them Change if you can the Discourse tell not your Dreams, but to your intimate Friend.

35th Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.

70th Reprehend not the imperfections of others for that belongs to Parents Masters and Superiours.

89th Speak not Evil of the absent for it is unjust.

90th Being Set at meat Scratch not neither Spit Cough or blow your Nose except there’s a Necessity for it.

94th If you Soak bread in the Sauce let it be no more than what you put in your Mouth at a time and blow not your broth at Table but Stay till Cools of it Self.

105th Be not Angry at Table whatever happens & if you have reason to be so, Shew it not but on a Chearfull Countenance especially if there be Strangers for Good Humour makes one Dish of Meat a Feast.

109th Let your Recreations be Manfull not Sinfull.

110th Labour to keep alive in your Breast that Little Spark of Celestial fire Called Conscience.