leonardcohenforum.com

Kush~
I think the glaring difference here is that when one comments on a poem, it is more legitimate if one gives a reason! If we like it and it moves us in some way, we say so. If one does not like it, yet still feels the need to comment (instead of just ignoring it), then surely it would be reasonable to say why! If you go out of your way to comment on what you don't like, don't you have a moral obligation to back it up? If you think something is crap, or you simply have no words for it, ignore it - that can send a message too can't it?
And, c'mon be serious, how can any people be 'singled out' to restrict their postings?

~Makera

PS. I don't believe Liz and I are the only ones who have no time for Hit-n-Run Poetry Poopers!

I have commented before, many moons ago, about the poetry section.
This section is titled 'Poetry by the Forum members' and not ' Poetry by the Poets'. Not all Forum members are poets but it doesn't stop us writing poems. That is what makes it comfortable to post and any advice is always welcome. If I didn't have this section to post my attempts then I wouldn't be as motivated to write any poems. It adds some completeness to the poem if it is shared..its like launching a ship, it either floats or it sinks but it doesn't really matter if it just sails in to the Bermuda Triangle.
Hey, that gives me an idea for a poem
Pete

Makera...i think both issues is a judgment call on the part of the poster. Paula makes a point about what too many sweet, syrupy, saccharine (my words) comments can do. Praise loses its value.
My response on this thread has nothing to do specifically with Byron's poem. It is only because this issue came up on this thread.

I'll respond to the 2nd issue.....in the state of Montana up until just a few years ago there used to be no legal daytime speed limits - mainly due to wide open roads and less traffic (they have scrapped the law now, possibly coz' it didnt work too well, i don't know).
However, with freedom comes responsibility - the law was that you had to drive prudently and at speeds that do not pose a hindrance or danger to other traffic and pedestrians and that the cops may consider unsafe. You could get a ticket for it (a friend of mine did)...the judgment and responsibility was yours. Similarly, on a forum I believe just because we have the freedom to post as much as we want to does not mean we should. It is a judgment call on the part of individual posters to be an active participant but not overpost.

Pete~
Absolutely spot on, it is the "members" poetry forum. And yes, we let 'em "float or sink"....or "sail into the Bermuda Triangle". You are also right on this being where poetic aspirants can feel "comfortable" about sharing their creative efforts.
Sometimes the smallest encouragement can be the greatest incentive to poetic/artistic natures....who knows what that 'ripple effect' could bring.....

~Gennelle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kush~
What the hell are you waffling on about? That goofy comparison with the responsibilities of drivers in traffic, oh give us a break! . What's gonna run you over here, a dirty big 'truckload' of adjectives? I'd be fascinated to know your definition of "overpost", i.e. by what, or who's, standards and compared with what.
I suspect that you like to be contrary at times just for the hell of it.

It's not the verbage that counts, but the quality, intent and spirit of the contents. I've seen posts from infrequent posters that were quite gratuitous. A past example was one of your own on this forum; a poem, "no title", to which you received no replies because you prefaced your post with a derogatory innuendo about the 'quality' of others on the Poetry Forum. A clue...?

~Makera

P.S. As for the "sweet, syrupy, saccharine comments" you and other apparently resentful cynics perceive - if you had received them it would be different, though, wouldn't it! (You don't even give the recipients any credit for having their own discernment!)

PPS. Note the 2 for 1 deal?

Makera,

It has been most instructive watching your career here on the forum.
You have recognized your hopeless quest for supremacy of the board and have abandoned your competiton with Lizzytysh. Co-operation is the name of the game and we are now blessed with two maniacal posters. I, for one, am enthralled with the both of you. I foresee many, many enjoyable permutations in your relationship together...the compliments, the tiffs, the agreements and disagreements, the fights and the love-ins...now banding together, now tearing asunder...each one jockeying for the top position in the never-ending polka of posting.


P.S. Say hello to Helven.

Makera BOGOF just about sums you up in more ways than one.

Just for the record....the 'no title' poem was by George W. Bush - I thought I'd made that clear. I havent gone back to look for it now but I'm sure I had credited it accordingly. It was quite funny IMO.

Yep, you did credit the author correctly.
I had copied a witty story which I was sent and is going round the internet at the moment, but I've deleted it for fear of upsetting readers. Paula, it's the one about Kingdoms and Empires.

I had no idea that there were issuers between some of the posters here and I know taht I did not in any way intend to stir them. I hope to have time this week to "lit crit" thsi poem.

regards from Helen

Good, Helen ~ I look forward to that . Objective commentary, absent inflammatory editorializing.

Where in life aren't there issues between people ?

~ Elizabeth

Wonder just jump in and join the fray blood hardly ever gets spilt and it is always nice to have someone with a bit of common sense contributing.

Kush~
What is it about what I write that is so unclear, to some, I wonder. I did not say the "Bush poem" was not funny, only that your preface to the posting of it wasn't.

Interesting the perception of 'competition', by the obviously affected egos around here . I guess they'd be happy if the forum slowed to a crawl, or full stop, through lack of any dialogue at all....If you like the 'traffic' analogy (as a friend reminded me this morning) you can also get 'ticketed' for going too slow!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You're welcome, Midnight, I'm happy I have provided you with so much entertainment!

Does anyone know what a "bogof" is?

~Makera

Makera ~

I didn't know what "bogof" was, either, and had to ask. It's "buy one get one free," and a 'derivative' of the acronym is also Brit slang for the similar "f*** off." I've never heard it over here, but I must say it seems a gentler-sounding way to say that. I'll try to remember it, just in case I ever need it. Heck. Over here, you could probably say it all day long, and no one would have a clue . There might be an advantage in that, too.

~ Lizzy

Byron ~

Do you mind having your poem "lit-crit"ted? I really shouldn't be volunteering it for such dissection without your permission . By the sounds of it, it's going to end up looking like a bludgeoned and bloody "Slaughterhouse Five," and you're gonna be over in the corner saying 1,000 "Hail Mary"s.

~ Lizzy

The idea is to flow with the traffic.