03-12-2013, 06:18 PM
I've been following this thread with interest because I think it is really helpful to understanding how the mods and Billy envisage the whole thing working (was going to use the word hanging there because this seems to be a large component of the site...but I refuse to lower myself to this level).
Basically I agree with many of the comments concerning the need and the point of the crit threads. I think Leanne is on the mark when she says that we cannot afford to ease off just in case we piss a few people off and they leave...there are other sites they can go to for back patting. At the end of the day it is a choice thing. I think the rules and guidelines are well set out and the gentle nudges to get people are fair enough (guilty of not reading all the rules when I first posted).
Also a agree that we need to try and break free of all trying to be in step with each other. This is why I'm in favour of Tom's style of crit and appreciate what he offers. I think perhaps there is only room for one abrupt git...but he is (for the most part a semi polite git) and more importantly much of the time he has just said what every one else was thinking and his comments on punctuation are also correct much of the time. My point is here is that this thread is valuable because one of the things that had been putting me off recently was this issue of all the crit comments becoming homogenised into a pattern of look alike points. I think the site was in danger of becoming a new religion almost, in that there were followers of trends and behaviour.
Also I would like to use this thread to put something out there that had me confused and a bit frustrated. As a given I think that all of my poems are crap and I'm very hesitant about putting anything out there. I had thought that the site worked by placing a crap poem in a lighter crit thread and then as it was worked on it could be re-posted of higher crit. But reading leannes comment has made me wonder if this is really how the mods and Billy see this working? I have been frustrated recently by the ever widening gap between the mild and serious crit threads treatment of poems. (there seems to be no appreciable difference between novice and mild crit threads). I have not been posting in serious because I judged that my poems had too much work to be done on them before they were ready for this section. But from my view there is a "them and us" gulf developing between the serious and other crit threads. I personally do not feel pushed out or threatened by this but it does suspiciously look like some poets have been push out of the elite circle. I do not say this to be critical as such but just as an outside observer. As with any group or club it can be very hard to asses things from the other camp point of view. (I know because I have always been shocked when I have switched from the A to B team or visa versa just what the perceptions of the other camp are...so this is just an observation to keep in mind not a crit as such.
I would like to see more freedom in our crit offerings. More honesty. More view points. I personally am crap at the line by line / word by word placement and choice. My punctuation is at best mediocre, so again not so hot on this...I can only offer what I see and just recently I have been hanging back because I could not offer what I thought people expected or wanted. (I know how soft and daft that sounds but this is in part the point...that is me and who I am. Why does every one need to be the same?) I tried a few experiments with offering something different and I am encouraged by the comments, so will probably continue with this. Perhaps it is my crumb I bring to the table that is different. We all know how hard it is not to fall in step with other people when we walk alongside them. Again I say this has been a good conversation to bring some of these issues onto the table.. And once again I sing the praise of this forum as one where this sort of conversation and openness is unique and so very valuable to keeping our minds fresh and open.
Thank you Tectak and everyone who has made this a great discussion and has contributed to keeping this site valid.
AJ.
Basically I agree with many of the comments concerning the need and the point of the crit threads. I think Leanne is on the mark when she says that we cannot afford to ease off just in case we piss a few people off and they leave...there are other sites they can go to for back patting. At the end of the day it is a choice thing. I think the rules and guidelines are well set out and the gentle nudges to get people are fair enough (guilty of not reading all the rules when I first posted).
Also a agree that we need to try and break free of all trying to be in step with each other. This is why I'm in favour of Tom's style of crit and appreciate what he offers. I think perhaps there is only room for one abrupt git...but he is (for the most part a semi polite git) and more importantly much of the time he has just said what every one else was thinking and his comments on punctuation are also correct much of the time. My point is here is that this thread is valuable because one of the things that had been putting me off recently was this issue of all the crit comments becoming homogenised into a pattern of look alike points. I think the site was in danger of becoming a new religion almost, in that there were followers of trends and behaviour.
Also I would like to use this thread to put something out there that had me confused and a bit frustrated. As a given I think that all of my poems are crap and I'm very hesitant about putting anything out there. I had thought that the site worked by placing a crap poem in a lighter crit thread and then as it was worked on it could be re-posted of higher crit. But reading leannes comment has made me wonder if this is really how the mods and Billy see this working? I have been frustrated recently by the ever widening gap between the mild and serious crit threads treatment of poems. (there seems to be no appreciable difference between novice and mild crit threads). I have not been posting in serious because I judged that my poems had too much work to be done on them before they were ready for this section. But from my view there is a "them and us" gulf developing between the serious and other crit threads. I personally do not feel pushed out or threatened by this but it does suspiciously look like some poets have been push out of the elite circle. I do not say this to be critical as such but just as an outside observer. As with any group or club it can be very hard to asses things from the other camp point of view. (I know because I have always been shocked when I have switched from the A to B team or visa versa just what the perceptions of the other camp are...so this is just an observation to keep in mind not a crit as such.
I would like to see more freedom in our crit offerings. More honesty. More view points. I personally am crap at the line by line / word by word placement and choice. My punctuation is at best mediocre, so again not so hot on this...I can only offer what I see and just recently I have been hanging back because I could not offer what I thought people expected or wanted. (I know how soft and daft that sounds but this is in part the point...that is me and who I am. Why does every one need to be the same?) I tried a few experiments with offering something different and I am encouraged by the comments, so will probably continue with this. Perhaps it is my crumb I bring to the table that is different. We all know how hard it is not to fall in step with other people when we walk alongside them. Again I say this has been a good conversation to bring some of these issues onto the table.. And once again I sing the praise of this forum as one where this sort of conversation and openness is unique and so very valuable to keeping our minds fresh and open.
Thank you Tectak and everyone who has made this a great discussion and has contributed to keeping this site valid.
AJ.