. . . much deleted . . . > I, too, have noticed an increase in the crankiness and intolerance > factors here on SCREEN-L. I hope it's just a phase SCREEN-L is > suffering through and not an indication of what's going to happen as > lanes are added to the Infobahn. > > > | Jeremy G. Butler - - - - - - - - - - | Internet : [log in to unmask] | > | SCREEN-L Coordinator | BITNET : JBUTLER@UA1VM | > | | > | Telecommunication & Film Dept * The University of Alabama * Tuscaloosa | It seems to me that the crankiness and intolerance on Screen-L -- which have, indeed, increased lately -- aren't the result of new members, on-ramps to the superhighway, or any other outside influence, nor do they seem that difficult to eliminate, presuming that folks *want* to eliminate them. I hate to sound like my own grandmother (well, no I don't), but it seems to me that commonsense manners are the key, even (or perhaps especially) in this new age of electronic discussion groups. This means that I should not presume that the person to whose message I am responding is a raving idiot, despite the fact that I may completely disagree with what he or she said in his or her message. Chances are, I don't actually know the poster personally, so rather than challenge the poster personally (not only with what I say but how I say it), I ought to direct my attention to his or her argument. Period. If I find something offensive, I can indicate that in ways that stop short of personal attack or insult. This doesn't mean that debate can't (or shouldn't be) lively, passionate, heated, heartfelt . . . merely that it should stop short of rudeness. Other lists manage it . . . so can this one. Alison McKee Department of Film and Television UCLA [log in to unmask]