I have only recently joined AP and have met different sorts of people in my travels around the site. I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting new friends as well as learning wonderful things about ones that I have known all my life. Poetry has saved my life in more ways than one of late and this website has been a spectacular place to share my words. It has sadly come to my attention; however, that there are some that haunt this site simply to create disturbance and unrest. This revelation makes me very sad because poetry as an art form is meant to be written with the ink of emotion. I find that when too much time and effort is spent within the grasp of form and rhyme, I lose my initial thought and the feeling is soon to follow. This does not mean that my work is any less important or valued than any other. I read quite a bit of my peers’ work specifically because I am not so narcissistic as to believe that I cannot continue to learn and grow as a writer. When I recently received a comment of “Not Bad” and found it very condescending, I thought it necessary to investigate the commenter a bit further before responding. While it was left on a piece that is not one of my personal favorites, I made a vow upon joining this site that everything I wrote deserved its place on my page and so it was posted. In my research, I determined that the commentator does not typically leave constructive critiques on what he reads but instead only nitpicks each poem half to death and walks away feeling better. I agree that the piece is not my best but felt that his words were patronizing and that initial feeling was cemented when I visited his page. There was quite a bit of grandstanding and self applause, both of which tend to leave me nauseated and with a bad taste in my mouth. I responded to his comment to advise that he seemed a bit condescending. He replied that I was a fool & that he had intentions of blocking me because I didn’t accept his help. Very sad particularly because under normal circumstances, I am always open to and often accepting of constructive critiques. Further review indicates that he has blocked over a hundred people communicating to me that this is just the norm for him. I opted not to block him in return because I refuse to participate in such elementary school antics. In any case, I find that common courtesy is apparently lacking in his part of Iowa or perhaps he was simply just not raised with intelligent people skills.
Hopefully he finds some happiness in his life soon as he obviously is not currently a happy boy.
Wonder why?
My moral of the story: Never feel the need to be kind in your commenting but don’t assume that you are better than those you read. You never know what their set of circumstances are & your comment could make or break them that day.
I feel I’ve learned a valuable lesson today and appreciate the forum of soapbox bitching!
xoxo
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I know the one you are talking about. He is notorious. He is also a very mediocre poet. How do I know? Only one person on here like that. Anyhow, I blocked him a long time ... he opened his yap once and that was it.
I have to say this: I do not put my poetry up for 'committee' type suggestions ... i put my poetry up to have it read and if i want your criticism or critical analysis I will ask for it ... as a rule I don't appreciate it because the poet making the comment may not have any idea what he or she is talking about and quite frankly i don't really care what the reader thinks... sometimes I get a comment that is helpful but that is soooo rare ...
I have about three people who I will tolerate any kind of comment from because I am interested in what they have to say ... you are one of those,,, but this idea that a bunch of hacks should stand around telling each other how to write is nonsense and one of the weaknesses of this site, not a strength ... I prefer no comments at all to my poetry, unless the reader feels they would like to say someting nice, as far as their criticism? let em learn from me, it is very unlikely they have anything to offer me that is of any interest at all as far as what they think might be wrong with a poem of mine
that is how I feel ... anyhow, congrats on keeping the guy off ignore ... i put people on ignore regularly for a month or so because i don't appreciate their opinions when I don't ask for it ...
i am also a jerk ... but i never never give analysis unless it is asked for and i expect the same courtesy ... i am not here to learn, I am here to read and post ... period
if i want to learn i will go someplace where they have real poets with real skills and knowledge .. that place ain't here
never has been and never will be ... but it is fun, i only use it as a central link for the front page in my marketing and for no other reason ama i here .
you are one of he few poets whose opinion i give a you know what about here
a jerk i am also, but i don't care
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Hi, Moq! Again, typically, I don't have any issues with having honest comments from any reader (anything further than "hey, I like this." or "good") because I crave the attention! But if someone gives me a "not bad" or a "I didn't really care for this", I want to know WHY and I expect to get an intelligent response. This guy is a bonehead & I agree that he is a mediocre poet as well.
There are a select few on this site that I can expect to get excellent comments from and you are one of them. The others I can take or leave, really. In any case, thanks for reading & commenting. You are so very appreciated. Also, I love to read your poetry because you have such a different writing style and your work with imagery consistently challenges me, keeping me on my toes. So, cheers to you - one of only three people that I am truly thrilled to have befriended here!
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WELL SAID (Somebody needed to say it) :D
Nobody could have said it better than you.
I agree with what you say. Its so true...
Especially with part of what you said:
Dont assume that you are better than those you read.
As for that boy, oh well. What it seemed like to me was that he was a little quick to judge with a hot temper to boot. And just plain rude in general.
Well said nobody could have said it any better.
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Go girl...well said!
Constructive critiques are great...
I've often felt this AP site is like a big city...where you make many friends, nodding acquaintances, you lose touch... and some disappear ...and is in life there are a few arseholes!!! -
wow
well said my friend.
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