The BSS listserv is a forum for our members to engage in political organizing, labor agitation, and academic discussion. We encourage you to share and advertise upcoming events, workshops, CfP proposals, and other material that will interest other members.

The listserv has many subscribers, whose politics and specific areas of scholarly interest vary along with the knowledge, experience, and values they bring to our discussions. The Black Sheep Society is a big tent leftist organization with members representing a range of political positions. We won’t and need not agree on everything. However, please remember that every list member is deserving of respect and one’s conduct when posting should reflect this basic fact. It is expected that subscribers will conduct themselves in a professional manner. Profanity is not welcome, nor are insults, pejorative slurs, or language that demeans or belittles other individuals or groups.  Harassment of other subscribers, on- or off-list, is inappropriate, and in some situations, illegal; therefore, subscribers who engage in such behavior will have their access to the list rescinded. As a rule, first-time offenses will result in a one-month suspension. However, the organizing committee reserves the right to immediately ban users whose behavior violates the list guidelines. Subscribers who have been suspended or banned will be informed by the organizing committee.

Please remember that a leftist orientation to Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies is what brings people to this list, yet not every post will contain a question or comment fitting neatly under that heading. If you are concerned that someone has posted something falling, in your opinion, too far from the central purpose of the list, do not write to the entire list to express your displeasure. Instead, first understand that there must be some amount of wiggle room on a list like this one, as there will be some differences in what subscribers expect to see here. If you are new to the list, please observe for a while to see how most members are using it.

If you must voice your opposition to the fact that a given subject has been raised on the list, please write directly to the list owners, as they will be in a position to take action, or explain why taking action is not warranted. The list owners can be reached by writing to: blacksheepsocialism[at]gmail.com. Although political discussion is welcome, please refrain from using the list as a personal soapbox, and remember to respect the rights of all individuals subscribing to the list.