The Rules of Google+ Hangout

The Rules of Google+ Hangout

1st Rule: You join, contribute to and talk about Google+ Hangout.

2nd Rule: You do not talk badly about Google+.

3rd Rule: If others are talking when you are joining in you do not disturb, you introduce yourself in the chat window.

4th Rule: Only short hallo or goodbye

5th Rule: One topic at a time. Other topics, questions and URLs in the chat window.

6th Rule: No background noise (mute yourself), no muting of people who are talking.

7th Rule: Google+ Hangouts go on as long as they want to – join in or leave any time.

8th Rule: If this is your first time at a Google+ Hangout you have to have audio and video to show who you are.

by myself as parodied from The Rules of Fight Club.

Few points on the above-mentioned Rules of Google+ Hangout:

For the last few days, I had the privilege to experience some wonderful Google+ hangouts and their atmosphere. As a strong advocate of Google+ I find this experience really inspiring and I hope that shortly general public will start using them too (even though it might generate new challenges for Google+) or at least stop disliking them at least. Now, I have seen two great posts about Google+ hangout etiquette, so the rules above are based on what I have heard, experienced, learned in live events combined with written up materials and my personal feelings about G+. 

Originally I wanted to post about G+ hangouts ethics (modern ethics mind you, so this might change the moment I press “publish”!) in the context of Voice Social Media Breakfasts, however, I think I would start from a completely wrong angle. I will post on more structured hangouts separately. Let me just quickly explain each rule in more detail:

1st Rule: You join, contribute to and talk about Google+ Hangout.

Google+ Hangouts community WANTS you to join in, so make the most of it! We are waiting for you out there! Go to gphangouts.com, hangoutcanopy.com or simply start your own hangout and let others join in! Once you’re in do contribute and show yourself – it’s nice to have input from everyone. Of course some of us want to listen first, some hangouts are designed around a theme and might expect you to be a more passive audience but generally, your active audio and video participation is seen as a nice gesture. Oh and yes – do talk about hangouts!

2nd Rule: You do not talk badly about Google+.

Tools come and go. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn change. Some Google tools stay, others go. We do not know what is going to happen but we have this great technology allowing us to connect in the most intimate way with an amazing community, so I think we could skip slagging off Google+. Take this discourse elsewhere – obviously, if we are here, on G+, it means something to us;)

3rd Rule: If others are talking when you are joining in you do not disturb, you introduce yourself in the chat window.

Joining in might be tricky but you will get used to it. Come in and say hi, but do not hijack the main topic of discussion. Like anywhere else online or off-line give yourself time to catch up with the course of discussion and give others time to finish. Trust me, you will be asked to introduce yourself. In the meantime, you can say hi and type few words about yourself in the chat window.

4th Rule: Only short hello or goodbye.

Do not explain joining or leaving too much – it takes time and disturbs the conversation flow. “I need to go. Bye”+*wave* or a note in the chat window does the job. For more sophisticated goodbye version look up this collection;).

5th Rule: One topic at a time. Other topics, questions and URLs in the chat window.

Conversations in a larger group on G+ hangout are spontaneous but they only work if you do not cut in, manage the change of topic or simply take it out of the chat window. It’s OK to talk @ someone there and discuss another topic while few people converse on video. It’s more than OK to share URLs in the chat window for reference.

6th Rule: No background noise (mute yourself), no muting of people who are talking.

Make sure you have a cam and mic before you join a hangout. If you are joining in from a loud place, on a mobile or for any other reason have background noise – mute yourself and explain it in the chat window. If people in your room start a chat with you, we do not need to hear it. Oh, and if you need to put your pyjamas on, there is also a video mute option – use it, please. You will see that occasionally you will be muted by others – only if you do not realise that you are causing noise. Muting people just because you do not agree with their points is not funny and might result in blocking you out.

7th Rule: Google+ Hangouts go on as long as they want to – join in or leave anytime.

The very core idea of Google+ hangout is to talk freely, to “hang out”. I am sure we will see more structured hangouts but generally, this particular option on G+ is used to connect so there is no need to plan it too much. You can simply join in anytime and no one will get offended if you leave. Saying that the same applies to you – do not get offended if someone joins in or leaves your hangout;)

8th Rule: If this is your first time at a Google+ Hangout you have to have audio and video to show who you are.

Time to time it’s OK to mute your mic or video if you think the noise will disturb others or if you have technical issues. On many occasions, you might want to listen to the content of a Google+ hangout but please remember that if you do so (unless this is how the hangout is designed) you are taking up a space of someone who might be keen on joining in and contributing. So make the most of your participation. If it’s your first hangout with people in the room do introduce yourself. If it’s your first G+ hangout admit that it is your first time. You will receive a lot of support.

These are my initial impressions about behaviour on hangouts. This goes up on G+ now for public review.