The moderators at Screen-L recently received a post advertising an auction on eBay for some film scripts. This raises an interesting policy issue for something we couldn't have foreseen when we began Screen-L in 1991: Should advertisements for Web auctions of film/TV-related materials be permitted? On the one hand, Screen-L has always permitted postings from commercial entities. E.g., film/TV publishers/distributors/magazines who wish to announce new materials are allowed. So, there is some precedence for advertisements on Screen-L. Moreover, an auction site such as eBay can be a good source for off-brand film/video equipment (e.g., super-8 projectors) and film/TV memorabilia--which can be useful in the teaching/research of film/TV. If a Screen-L subscriber posts a search for such material, would there be anything wrong in someone saying, "Oh yeah, you can find it on eBay--auction #xxxxxx"? On the other hand, auction sites can encourage naked opportunism, commercialism, and consumerism. Is this something Screen-L should tacitly endorse? And should we distribute and thereby promote, e.g., someone selling a pristine one-sheet of WILD WILD WEST (which is truly a colossal stinker of a film, incidentally). As moderators of Screen-L we firmly believe that LESS moderating is BETTER moderating and we tend to err on the side of leniency, but we are guided by the wishes of the Screen-L membership. (The poster of the eBay ad was not a Screen-L subscriber, by the way.) So. Your thoughts on Screen-L distributing Web auction notices? Feel free to post your opinion to [log in to unmask] or to me personally. Normally we don't distribute messages ABOUT Screen-L ON Screen-L, but when it comes to policy issues we think it's important to have a general, open discussion. -- Jeremy Butler Screen-L Moderator [log in to unmask] ScreenSite http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite Telecommunication & Film/University of Alabama/Tuscaloosa ---- For past messages, visit the Screen-L Archives: http://bama.ua.edu/archives/screen-l.html