Yesterday we set an all-time record for messages on SCREEN-L. So many were posted that we exceeded our daily limit of 50 and I had to unlock the list manually before any more were sent. This brings up a question I've been considering for some time: Should SCREEN-L be moderated? That is, should all messages be filtered through the SCREEN-L coordinator (Jeremy Butler) before they are mailed to all 417 subscribers? Before I would make a change like that, I would like to know the consensus of SCREEN-Litarians. Please let me know what you think, either publicly on SCREEN-L or privately at [log in to unmask] Here's a couple of pros and cons to get you started. Pro: 1. Elimination of inappropriate postings: Sign-up/sign-off requests Messages unrelated to film/TV Messages that are not germane to the >study< of film/TV-- which, in my view, includes postings which are uncritical comments on film/TV matters (e.g., "Uma Thurman's lips! Yow!") that are better served on other discussion lists such as CINEMA-L. 2. Fewer and more pertinent messages. Con: 1. Slight slowing down of the flow of discussion. 2. Big Brother Factor: The SCREEN-L coordinator's judgment as to what is and what is not "appropriate" would be final. No court of appeal would be available. 3. The inhibition of postings. When subscribers know that their message is going to be judged before it's posted they tend to get shy. | Jeremy Butler | | SCREEN-L Coordinator [log in to unmask] | | Telecommunication & Film Dept * The University of Alabama * Tuscaloosa |