More in A Question about Poets and Poetry.
A Question about Poets and Poetry.
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Comment inspired from Derma Kaput
I honestly didn't feel real defensive, so much as demanding. I think DK is spot on, it was funny, but, for once, I was trying to be serious -- so i tried to bring it back to that. Anyways.
The real breakdown of the analogy, which I haven't really wanted to bring up because it's jut about complete, is that carpenters are paid for their work. Average Joe Accountant working in his basement workshop is generally not considered a carpenter no matter how good he is at it, because carpenter is a job. Joe isn't going to go on the street and say, "I'm a carpenter, he'll say I'm an accountant and my hobby is woodworking" or something like that.
I think we can safely say, Poet is not a job.
The reason I don't think a straight out question works well in this case is that, particularly on a writing site (no, not we're not really just a a poetry site), is not about pretension but prejudice. We are all passionate about our beliefs, and that makes me really happy and viciously proud to know you folks, but at times it means that discussions end before they even begin.
By somewhat divorcing the principle from the practice, the discussion continues and we touch on a slightly deeper understanding. All of us are able to take some of our bias and set it aside as we ponder the detached dispassionate scenario, then try to apply it to what we care about.
I admit, it certainly has its flaws, but on the other hand I don't think pretense is one. Particularly as it was clearly labeled so as to bring the metaphor back to real subject at hand.
One of the greater subjects that I'm touching on here is really the importance of knowing how to use the tools. The complete lack of interest in knowing them at all frustrates me in dealing with a lot of poets.
I don't get frustrated with what people don't know, but I with what they don't' care about. To extend an already ruined metaphor, it isn't the horrible carpenters building crappy birdhouses that are the problem for me, it's horrible carpenters building crappy birdhouses calling them amazing-wonderful-perfect-birdhouses whilst disparaging others building birdhouses and either insulting those who try learn to use the tools properly to build their birdhouses, making excuses why they don't need or want to use the tools, or calling the tools stupid and too difficult to use.
The real breakdown of the analogy, which I haven't really wanted to bring up because it's jut about complete, is that carpenters are paid for their work. Average Joe Accountant working in his basement workshop is generally not considered a carpenter no matter how good he is at it, because carpenter is a job. Joe isn't going to go on the street and say, "I'm a carpenter, he'll say I'm an accountant and my hobby is woodworking" or something like that.
I think we can safely say, Poet is not a job.
The reason I don't think a straight out question works well in this case is that, particularly on a writing site (no, not we're not really just a a poetry site), is not about pretension but prejudice. We are all passionate about our beliefs, and that makes me really happy and viciously proud to know you folks, but at times it means that discussions end before they even begin.
By somewhat divorcing the principle from the practice, the discussion continues and we touch on a slightly deeper understanding. All of us are able to take some of our bias and set it aside as we ponder the detached dispassionate scenario, then try to apply it to what we care about.
I admit, it certainly has its flaws, but on the other hand I don't think pretense is one. Particularly as it was clearly labeled so as to bring the metaphor back to real subject at hand.
One of the greater subjects that I'm touching on here is really the importance of knowing how to use the tools. The complete lack of interest in knowing them at all frustrates me in dealing with a lot of poets.
I don't get frustrated with what people don't know, but I with what they don't' care about. To extend an already ruined metaphor, it isn't the horrible carpenters building crappy birdhouses that are the problem for me, it's horrible carpenters building crappy birdhouses calling them amazing-wonderful-perfect-birdhouses whilst disparaging others building birdhouses and either insulting those who try learn to use the tools properly to build their birdhouses, making excuses why they don't need or want to use the tools, or calling the tools stupid and too difficult to use.
by Anstey on Mar. 6 2008