Ruth, Kathy and Lydia have certainly given good advice, which is worth paying attention to. You have an unenviable position: new owner of an established list which has gotten out of hand and you want to restore some order but you don't want to drive off many as the list isn't all that big and if you lose too many the list may die. Fortunately, Eric has provided us with a great many ways to go at this. But the most important thing is that you make it clear to everyone that you will not tolerate misbehavior on the list (if the problem is foul language, mention it specifically). You will, guaranteed, be attacked personally, perhaps quite viciously, for it. As a bit of compensation you will get one or two thank you notes. The important thing is to get the list back under control, which means you will have to be firm, and let the attacks slide off. A thick skin is a woderful thing for a listowner to have. You can put people on REVIEW, set them NOPOST for a while, set the list to full moderation for a while as you establish the new order, whatever it takes. But, given the situation you describe, you are going to take a lot of flak regardless of what you do, and especially if you change things. Decide on what you want for the list and why you want it, announce it, stick to it, enforce it and be ready for the personal attacks. The list might die because the foulmouths leave, always a risk. On the other hand if they've taken over you haven't much to lose so you might as well go for it. Douglas Douglas Winship Hays County, Texas [log in to unmask] Secondary AUTOCAT Listowner MEDLAB-L