Poetry Forum Guidelines

Then don't critique, just post you enjoyed it or something of that nature or post nothing at all. You have no job and nobody expects you to critque. Not everyone is cut out to be able to. Its only polite to respond, especially if you expect any responses to yours. (reap what you sow kinda thing)

This is a public and open forum and alot of people appreciate good constructive critcism. I think its bullshit to have to say to critique or not as that is usually a reason many take their craft publically as well as "putting it out there." If you are not open to suggestions or able to take any criticism you should think twice about posting in a public forum. Maybe a journal or a homepage would be more suitable.

LOL! Good thing Scott and KAA(..wtf was his sn...lone_wolf?) isn't still around as they were extremely blunt at times and could be quite rude about it. We occationally get a few characters on here that are rude, the this is crap, why do you post this shit type that say absolutely nothing constructive. (that tamponfooey guy)

 

All I'm saying is that everyone posts for different reasons and everyone reads with different intentions. If everyone makes their intentions and desires known, there is no need for guidelines. It's really more simple than people are making it out to be. Is it really that much work to type "critiques welcome" or "no suggestions, this one's a finished piece."

Just for example: sometimes I will post a poem that I'm working on and ask for suggestions of what elements might enhance it. Other times I might post a finished piece solely to share it with other people. One day I might read just for enjoyment and on other days I might be in my "mentor mode". When you set up specific expectations, it can deter people from participating.

Finally, I'm also a pretty firm believer that doing things out of politeness or expectation is not the best reason. If I read a poem and I think it was terrible and beyond reconstruction, I'm not going to say, "I really enjoyed that," and I wouldn't expect or even want anyone to do the same for me. I'd rather not lead people on or be lead on myself. I find it hard to believe that others would rather hear something nice than the truth.

 

By the way TrippinBTM, I absolutely adore the image in your signature. It's beautiful.

 

I never REALLY consider my poems to be finished. There's always room for a tweak or two.

 

You're right Angel, and nobody expects anyone to conform or adhere to suggestions in a sticky. But suprisingly enough, we have ended up with many people that show no common sense or courtesy over the years and then want to bitch about it. They actually start bitching, whiney, complaining threads about it all.

Nobody certainly expects anyone to say they like something they don't and I don't believe anyone suggested that they do. I however don't see anything wrong with being at least somewhat polite. Since when did having manners/ being polite get to be so frowned upon? You evidently would like people to show politeness. Isn't that what would have to happen for them to show any reguard for your wishes (ie;I want suggestions or just read and enjoy, don't critique) to your posts?

Do you see a problem with having a few suggestions on a sticky? After many years here I personally feel that they could be of some help and evidently, since I didn't start this thread, I'm not the only one. Kinda odd that you do since you just joined and this is the only activity you have had in this forum but if you see where there would be a problem with one sticky post that deals with all these things that seem to constantly come up over the years, please let me know why exactly.

 

Obviously there's nothing wrong with suggestions; free speech, right? But when you put guidelines in a sticky, it's basically a rulebook with a different name. And no, I guess I don't expect politeness from people by telling them why I make a post. I see it as a difference between being polite and being respectful.

Also, I mean no offense or disrespect, but seniority on a forum doesn't make your opinion any more valid. I have been on public forums for a long time. They aren't all that different from one another and the same basic principles apply.

It's simply that when each person wants something slightly different from everyone else and even something slightly different each time they post, isn't it easier to simply state your intentions for that post rather than come up with a generalized standard, however loose it may be?

Also, TrippinBTM, you've given me a fine example. You say that you never really finish a piece. However, I do. So if I post a finished piece and you post a non-finished piece, our desires for responses will obviously differ. If people grow accustomed to responding in a certain way due to previously set guidelines, both of us could end up getting something other than what we wanted. On the other hand, if you say, "critiques welcome," while I say "please no critiques, I'm just sharing." Chances are we will both get what we wanted, with an unpreventabe exception from time to time.

 

They wouldn't be guidlines, they would be suggestions that would hopefully ward off problems and complaints that seem to continually crop up around here. And no, it isn't a rulebook with a different name just a way to deal with the above mentioned. I am in total agreement, that I DO NOT want there to be a set of rules in here to post by other than post as you feel like it.

I agree, senority doesn't make my opinion more valid, just that maybe I see what things are repeated here regularly that you haven't had the opportunity to as of yet. We get alot of kids in here that have never posted anywhere else and then get dissappointed, angry and upset and don't know why nobody responds. The suggestions merely point out why they may not be getting the responses they want. You or I may not have expectations but alot of people come in here with some. Maybe there ought to be the addition of " you may not be getting posts because nobody wants to say they don't like it"

Also, as you can see, there isn't a sticky and I merely made some suggestions for a "Suggestion" sticky.

Oh yeah, yer right, there is a difference between being polite and respect. Usually someone has to earn my respect, being polite however is just treating someone in a decent manner.
_________________
Main Entry: po·lite

1 a : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of advanced culture b : marked by refined cultural interests and pursuits especially in arts and belles lettres
2 a : showing or characterized by correct social usage b : marked by an appearance of consideration, tact, deference, or courtesy c : marked by a lack of roughness or crudities <polite literature>
synonym see CIVIL

Main Entry: 1re·spect

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin respectus, literally, act of looking back, from respicere to look back, regard, from re- + specere to look -- more at SPY
1 : a relation or reference to a particular thing or situation <remarks having respect to an earlier plan>
2 : an act of giving particular attention : CONSIDERATION
3 a : high or special regard : ESTEEM b : the quality or state of being esteemed c plural : expressions of respect or deference <paid our respects>

 

Eh, I say if the kids expect something, let them be disappointed

And thanks for the definitions, but I already know what they mean. Haha.

Well this is a tired subject. Somewhere in there it changed forms and became something different than what it was. I need to dig up some of my poetry to post but I moved semi-recently so I need to locate my book. Writers block lately so nothing new.

 

Thank you all for sharing. I feel honored to be present.
How many threads should be stickied to allow room for current posts?

 

I love passionate discussions.

 

It has been a while, yet the principles here are still valid topics.

 

Just one thread with suggestions and one that people can post to in case they have a new suggestion too...I forgot the suggestion of the single thread to basically journal poetry for the more prolific writers instead of flooding the forum every other day.

 

have you guys noticed that the only people commenting *here* are those of us who have been around awhile?!

i mean, i dont come around so often anymore, but when i do i read and comment on just about all of them, then post one of my own...its just a matter of respect and good manners.

 

oops...haha...someone else did notice! oh boy....

 

In my deepest opinion after thinking about it for a while, I really don't see a problem with people posting multiple poems or keeping a thread with there poems in it. Its all creativity its all sharing and we should feel so lucky to have the grace of wonderful young and old writters. I find it to be a great sense of aspiration when I read others poems, it makes me feel wonderful to know people are so inspired to write to there hearts content. I also feel that its important to remember that poetry is always available on these threads, that if you take a particular interest in someone words then you can look up there posts and comment on there work which will revive that work and people will get to enjoy it all over again. Its a wonderful process, enjoy it!

Blessings
Standingdeer

 

crumbs how did these become stickies? does that mean we have mods now?

 

No clue how this was picked...I thought a new one was going to get written.

 

I feel like if someone wants to read a poem, they will read it; there is no use getting angry if yours doesn't get responses....I don't. I only had four on one of mine, but hey, that's four people that read my work and enjoyed it, you know?

 

I think its important to look at the relationship we have with things, to me this forums is nothing but a thing that I enjoy, I have not attachments to the outcomes that filter throught this place. Not everyone feels motivated to write a responce because they don't feel they can. Not everyone is driven by the same force in there life. Some are shy, others are out going. We are all different, so when you have a place like this you have to expect it all, and not take it to heart. Non attachment. I wish everyone to continue to share, that is what I enjoy most.
Bless

 

Yes, it's not ego tistical to put up a lot of work in one place....becuase writing is an art that has alot of 'mass'

it also depends on how 'done' you are with the poem. If it's just great as you see it, then you might be posting simply to share what you wished to say.

If you are trying to develop your style, you may be more likely to specifically ask for feedback, or post just the one poem, becuase you want it to be scrutinised and in my case, im cuurently experimenting with style, and havent found one thats most prevaiant, or 'stick' so i usualy post the one poem, hoping for feedaback based on what extent the message has 'come through'