here are the rules of forum ettiquette that were posted here a couple of years ago.

Rule 1: Remember the Human
Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life
Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace
Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth
Rule 5: Make yourself look good online
Rule 6: Share expert knowledge
Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control
Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy
Rule 9: Don't abuse your power
Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes

for elaborations:
http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html

Thanks, tsuwm. I, especially, need to hope that others will go by #10.

So basically it boils down to "Type unto others as you hope they would type unto you."?
Thanks Tsuwm, a reminder every once in a while is good for all of us.

Er--shouldn't that be Respect other peoples' privacy?

peoples' privacy?

Don't think so, Jackie. People is already plural, so 's makes it possessive. To me, peoples means nations or tribes or other such groups; people refers to individuals. Could be wrong, but that's how I see it.

Jackie said: Thanks, tsuwm. I, especially, need to hope that others will go by #10.

Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes

Jackie then said: Er--shouldn't that [ Rule 8 ] be Respect other peoples' privacy?

Me: Right on, Jackie , mistakes need tending. These ten rules are excellent rules for others...but not for thee, nor me. Right?

Ah, but it IS different if I'm pointing out a mistake made by somebody I don't know.

(back to language:)

Except it wasn't a mistake. As Nancy pointed out.

people's or peoples'

or could you just say "the privacy of others"?

In agreement with NancyK:

people's: Fine just that way.

Tangent: However, if we were writing about the peoples of the world, as in various, disparate cultures, we could speak about the peoples' mistakes, for example, in understanding each other. I enjoy using the word 'peoples' because it sounds incorrect though it can be correct. My joys are often idiotic.

Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes

"The privacy of others" doesn't work well in Rule 10:

"Be forgiving of the privacy of others." It's fun to try to pry the meaning out of that one! (gonold'--I'm just messin' around here!)

oops! (well, you should forgive people for their privacy, I suppose...if they...uh...nevermind!)