2- Anstey 
on Apr. 6 2007
DUDE, you have never been a problem at all. FORGET THIS. you are excempt 
(only because you did it anyways)
(only because you did it anyways)
- stephan
3- Leanne on Apr. 6 2007
My own ass is much softer these days, possibly due to that performance anxiety the Skin Loser mentions -- although it's largely because of a lack of back-and-forth. I don't see the point in leaving a comment and getting no exchange out of it. Maybe that's just me needing to be entertained, but a thanks is always nice. Or even a "sod off you don't know what you're on about".
Everyone likes to be appreciated, I guess.
Everyone likes to be appreciated, I guess.
4- EmilyRose on Apr. 7 2007
That is where I think the IM's and the general forum is missed. Though debate sometimes got heated, there was debate, and who doesn't love a good exchange of ideas. I miss that. One of the things that this type of atmosphere offers us is the opportunity to hear perspectives from all corners of the earth. That was mind shattering two decades ago. Too have that among poets, writers, well, imo, is a great gift. Again, I miss it.
5- Anstey on Apr. 7 2007
there is a general forum Emily.
- stephan
6- Laurie on Apr. 7 2007
I have been having problems posting from my work PC during the day. And I have always felt too inexperienced to provide any helpful critiques besides telling someone what I liked about their poem. I will try to do better.
7- Anstey on Apr. 7 2007
" I have been having problems posting from my work PC during the day. And I have always felt too inexperienced to provide any helpful critiques besides telling someone what I liked about their poem. I will try to do better. "
I really don't want to be a hard-ass about it. I just want people to post a bit more than 'Good job!","well done!","Nice Flow!","Love it!","This made me feel good."
Everyone is qualified to say they liked something and why they liked it. If you liked it because it made you remember your grandma, or the vocabulary interested you..it's all good. Just..give a reason.
- stephan
8- Leanne on Apr. 7 2007
What Stephan said.
"Inexperience" is actually a good thing in some cases -- it gives the writer the perspective of someone who's not enormously familiar with reading poetry and so it lets us know how it's received just on first impressions. We all respond in different ways. All we're asking is that you do a little analysis on why you've responded (or not) to the poem and put that in your comment.
It's not just good for the writer, it's good for the reader. It lets you know what it is about certain poems that grabs you. And then it's good for the reader's own writing.
So comment how you like, just do it with a bit of thought -- because the more "good job" comments we get without anything else to back it up, the more suspicious we become that people aren't really reading, they're just saying something to keep us happy.
"Inexperience" is actually a good thing in some cases -- it gives the writer the perspective of someone who's not enormously familiar with reading poetry and so it lets us know how it's received just on first impressions. We all respond in different ways. All we're asking is that you do a little analysis on why you've responded (or not) to the poem and put that in your comment.
It's not just good for the writer, it's good for the reader. It lets you know what it is about certain poems that grabs you. And then it's good for the reader's own writing.
So comment how you like, just do it with a bit of thought -- because the more "good job" comments we get without anything else to back it up, the more suspicious we become that people aren't really reading, they're just saying something to keep us happy.
9- Derma Kaput on Apr. 9 2007
"And then it's good for the reader's own writing."
I don't think that can be minimized. While it's sometimes hard to make an insightful comment, whether of criticism or praise, the process of finding words and a way to make them intelligible is also the process of sharpening your own mind and creative abilities. I love writing in the context of a forum because I think of it as a means toward becoming a better writer over all, while at the same time hopefully helping someone else who's on the same path. It makes me think about the process of writing poetry from every angle. And by thinking about it, then expressing those thoughts, my own ability grows just a little bit more.
I don't think that can be minimized. While it's sometimes hard to make an insightful comment, whether of criticism or praise, the process of finding words and a way to make them intelligible is also the process of sharpening your own mind and creative abilities. I love writing in the context of a forum because I think of it as a means toward becoming a better writer over all, while at the same time hopefully helping someone else who's on the same path. It makes me think about the process of writing poetry from every angle. And by thinking about it, then expressing those thoughts, my own ability grows just a little bit more.
1- Derma Kaput
on Apr. 6 2007