Hello,
I am not quite sure if we've met, but allow me to introduce myself, my name is Catressa. I am a wife and mother with no formal education.
My idea for this letter came as I watched a few comments on some poems today. I think somewhere along the way people began to lose sight of the fact that not all of us come to ALLPOETRY, ALL KNOWING.
We come here to learn.
We come here to share, to express our feelings.
If you are someone with vast experience then by all means please TEACH.
But don't talk down to others and make anyone feel inferior. No one likes to be made to feel LESS.
When I say less, I mean it as, Less of an education, Less experience, less than equal.
I am sure many of you understand this.
This is a site where people should be able to come and get away and relax. Everyone has a right to learn.
But no one has the right to make anyone feel bad.
Use the old adage "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all".
I know it sounds lame, but kindness does go a long way.
Adding your comment:
I agree with everything you've said here, Cat. I have seen comments before that resembled crime scenes, with bodies strewn in their wake. Just because you CAN be mean doesn't mean you SHOULD be. As we all know, mean people suck. 
Usually, it was some adult with a chip on their shoulder, slinging cruelty at younger writers instead of trying to be helpful. I bark back at 'em, in that type of situation. I also let the "victim" know how to block jerks like that & who they can read & comment on to obtain the knowledge they so richly deserve. NO ONE knows everything. We all have lessons to teach & lessons to learn. I'm proud of you for speaking up, Sweetie. More people should. If ya ever need any back up, ya know ol' Swanee will turn pitbull in a heartbeat. 
Hell, I was a lit major in college & worked in a library for 12 years. I still don't know everything, nor would I ever claim to. In fact, my writing has improved so much since I joined AP, largely due to the incredibly talented voices who were willing to step forward & give suggestions. I may not heed all of them, but I'm definitely listening. Plant a seed & watch it grow. It's an amazing feeling. Happy holidays to you & yours, my Friend. Love ya, Lady. 
Wanda
I've been known to get a lil' over~defensive about my own writing, too. 
