SOCIAL MEDIA RULES
for MacGuffin Media forums

“Would the gentleman please get into the spirit of the proceedings?”—Auctioneer, North by Northwest.

The owner reserves the right to delete comments or ban persons who violate these rules without warning. Read carefully.

Discord, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and are owned and moderated by Joel Gunz, president of HitchCon and MacGuffin Media and publisher of The Hitchcockian Quarterly.

Our Values

We provide a safe space for people from all backgrounds and promote Meaningful Conversation, Love, Humility, Generosity, Respect, Listening, Open-mindedness and a Spirit of Service.

Our Ten Commandments

  1. Be nice. Try to make every day a good one. Remember to hydrate. Rude, offensive, snarky, sarcastic, condescending, bullying or trolling remarks will be deleted, their authors banned, or both.

  2. Apply Occam’s razor. Know the differences between fact, opinion, guesswork, knowledge and taste. Most online conflicts can be avoided by simply knowing which term best describes your thinking.

  3. Have a sense of humor. When tensions would flare up on the set, Hitchcock would remind everyone that “it’s only a movie.” If that’s good enough for Ingrid Bergman, it’s good enough for you.

  4. Think before you speak. Is your comment on topic? Would you talk this way to someone you met face to face? Or is it a reactive “hot take”? If it’s the latter, hit that backspace button.

  5. Keep an open mind. Show that you’re interested in the conversation by carefully taking in all of the comments. Before you disagree, consider the possibility that you’re about to learn something new.

  6. Assume good intent. Not everyone will follow these rules perfectly, but it’s worth believing that they mean well. 

  7. Admit when you’re wrong. There’s something about digital media that makes people want to double down on a rickety position. Don’t be like that.

  8. Know your audience. Is the person you're engaging with an expert or a casual fan? How can knowing that difference influence how you talk to them?

  9. Look for ways to agree. You might think the matte paintings in Marnie make for lousy special effects, while others think they’re swell. Nevertheless, they are magnificent paintings, are they not? 

  10. If you’re…

    1. A filmmaker or scholar: Your insights are especially valued, but don’t be a blowhard about it, e.g.: “I’ve been teaching film studies for 30 years and obviously blah blah blah…” 

    2. A movie fan: Don’t be anti-intellectual. If you believe a topic is overly analytical or highfalutin, this may not be the community for you. Scholarly discussion is our raison d’être.

About MacGuffin Media

MacGuffin Media exists for the serious study and celebration of Alfred Hitchcock, his art and artistry—and the role they play in world culture. By means of regular online events and a yearly conference, it hosts an ongoing conversation among film scholars, philosophers, artists and admirers. MacGuffin Media advocates for new critical and historical approaches to Hitchcock and through his work promotes the search for meaning in the 21st century.