I'm sorry, I didn't realize I had to tell everyone their poems were good. I didn't realize I wasn't allowed to dislike anything. From now on, I'll suck everyone's proverbial dick so they feel better about their shitty little poems. The truth is, a self-respecting editor wouldn't publish that first poem in a heart-beat. And unless kids realize this, they won't strive to get better. How can they get better if everyone tells them their poems are good as is?
Now you're the one acting like a "silly teenager", turning everything around to make yourself sound like the noncomformist, radical individual you really are. Oh brother! There is absolutely nothing wrong with critique, as long as it's helpful and sensitive to the authors feelings. Who is saying anything about getting published here for chrissake? Get off your high horse there mister. I only commented on your patronized, rude tone which automatically makes the author jump on the defense and ignore your critique. That's all.
I'm not trying to sound like a radical anything. I just think it's ridiculous the excuses for poetry and critiques people post here. Sensitive to their feelings? I'm talking about the poem, not the poet. If they can't handle that, boo-hoo for them. Do I have an ego? Sure, of course I do. I see nothing wrong with that. Do I ride a high horse? Maybe. But remember that this is the internet and the personas we hold here rarely match the personas we hold away from here. The internet is hilarious, and I find it fun to play along.
Again to be fair, what I get from you is frustration and believe it or not I whole heartedly understand because I've been there. But I got over it, you can't force people to see the light, they have to see it for themselves or they must show willing cooperation to learn to get better, to step over themselves, to become humble. Most people that post here, post poems -vents-, they discharge emotional, mental baggage in poetry form. Not until poetry stops being just a rant with little thought put into the process and becomes a craft will the poet be able to progress. Still posting completely discouraging comments might turn the poet completely off and the potential could be lost. You might say who cares? Well no one I s'pose, but if this is a place where we share poetry to become better poets you have to encourage others to keep trying by pointing out some of the good and some of the not so good but in such a manner that is still senstive to THEIR egos.
