Disclosure: I am an aficionado of both dogs and cats, and a proud cat owner, and this post is in no way intended to slight either species.

Have you ever wondered what the secret code is, in social media? Are there certain universal rules that apply to online communities, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and everywhere else?  Yes, I believe there are certain universal guidelines that should be followed.  And I've summarized them in handy list form below:

Be a Dog

Be friendly and accessible
When the doorbell rings, go running up to see who's there
Listen attentively
Be grateful for any attention
If you mess up, apologize and go back to playing
Focus on trust and loyalty
Give love without any expectation of return
Lose all self-consciousness
Hang your head out the window for joy

Don't be a Cat

Don't wait for someone to come over and pet you
Don't think you're the cutest one in the room
Don't be fascinated with your own reflection
Don't barf hairballs in public
Don't blame the dog for your messes
Don't go chasing every shiny object that's tossed in front of you