Here are the criteria I used in rejecting messages for SCREEN-L.
 
If something seemed to be on the borderline, I tended to let it
through--figuring it was better to be too permissive rather than too
restrictive.
 
1.  *Personal* attacks on individuals.
 
Healthy disagreement and differing opinions are welcome,
but when that disagreement turns into venomous insults
and hateful verbal assaults it will not be tolerated.
 
2.  Comments that have absolutely, totally, fundamentally
*nothing* to do with the study of film or television.
 
The study of film/TV is interpreted *very* broadly. E.g.,
it's fine if someone wants to discuss Vietnam War policies
and then at the end of his/her post ties it in with the films
of Oliver Stone.  But if a poster rambles on about the beauty
of the autumn leaves in Vermont this weekend (with no
reference to the semiotics of foliage in autumnal film/TV),
his/her message will not be distributed.
 
3.  Personal notes to individual SCREEN-L subscribers
accidentally sent to the group.
 
4.  LISTSERV maintenance requests inadvertently sent to
SCREEN-L.
 
If you are trying to UNSUBSCRIBE from SCREEN-L or
otherwise change your subscription, you must be sure to
mail your request to [log in to unmask], *not* to
[log in to unmask] (which is where this message was
sent).
 
To UNSUBSCRIBE from SCREEN-L, put the following message in
the first line (after the SUBJECT line and all the rest)
of a message addressed to [log in to unmask]:
 
UNSUBSCRIBE SCREEN-L
 
If you have problems unsubscribing, contact Jeremy Butler
directly:  [log in to unmask]
 
5.  Posts that duplicate information that has already
appeared on SCREEN-L.
 
If someone asks what "rosebud" was in CITIZEN KANE, only *one*
reply will be distributed.
 
6.  Posts that quote a large passage from a previous message only to add
a short comment.  (E.g., "Yes, that's right!")
 
 
 =====================================================================
  Jeremy Butler                                  [log in to unmask]
  SCREEN-L Coordinator                         [log in to unmask]
  Telecommunication & Film Dept. * University of Alabama * Tuscaloosa
 =====================================================================