Message from mickey_one

[Sideways]

As some of you may know, I am Michael's 's "special friend". I iron his shirts for free and believe me I don't do that for many men! I don't really know why he left this place but I sent him on a post from "John K" because it was about him and now Michael asked me to forward this reply.


Sue, thanks for that, can you post this reply please and don't forget to put extra starch in my boxer shorts for the weekend as I have a date I want to impress

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John K wrote

Ryan,

Michael has taken on so many abusive troll personas in this forum that he's likely not able to remember all their names, nor the email addresses that the passwords would be sent to if he were to try and revive them.

Unfortunately, there are those in the forum who, while they don't often bully others like he does, egg him on because they think he's funny. He can be funny, he was hysterically funny the day I met him.

You can draw your own conclusions. Until this past weekend, I hadn't been to the Poetry section of the Leonard Cohen Forum since the summer of 2007. What a disappointment it was to see the same old nonsense with the same old players.

Of course, as before, those who confront him are roundly abused as well. Here, let me bend over Michael, there's plenty to serve as an easy target.

Best wishes,

John K.

Hiya John, thanks for the target, deffo. easy to hit but I'm aiming elsewhere.

I left this forum because the writing, traditionally mediocre over the years, had become so poor it was a painful place to visit. The art of poetry, entertainment and fun trolling has been overwhelmed by the worship of cliché and an intellectual laziness which even Emperor Lazy of Lazyland would envy.

I wish I hadn't been driven away by charmless people who arrive here for the first time, do not stop to introduce themselves but post their back catalogue in one go. Yet more talented writers than I have given up over the years. I miss them and wish they too hadn't been driven away by the arrogance and ignorance of these people.

There is a familiar and sapping combination of mediocrity with a lack of desire to improve. Posters who declare that they don't want to use apostrophes are not embryo e.e.cummings talents. It's not some style choice but just boorish delinquent denial.

I really enjoyed meeting friends here and fine though it is to email I miss the group atmosphere. How lucky the passing newcomers are still to have Cate and Manna in residence.

I think you hopelessly exaggerate any "bullying" and similarly exaggerate (or make up) the idea of others roundly abusing the posters I criticise. I have no personal issue with you but your superficial "analysis" will do nothing to bring the talent back. ("Hey, Laurie, John K is pleading for more sensitivity to those who have just posted 10 "poems" about their soul").

This place carries the name of a truly great writer yet those posters have abused the hospitality of the forum, in their rush to drown it in their own shit. They love their shit so much they even copyright it year after year. They are too dumb to even realise the brilliance of Geoffrey when he trolls them.

I rashly said that I would return here not before July 1st. Count me out for the year now. I adopt what you said above "what a disappointment it was to see the same old nonsense with the same old players".

The names may change but it's the same old shit

mickey_one

[Gullivor]

"Don't be discouraged"!

[imaginary friend]

I really enjoyed meeting friends here and fine though it is to email I miss the group atmosphere. How lucky the passing newcomers are still to have Cate and Manna in residence.

Mickey-Thingy,

Although your post was addressed to John K., I venture my 2¢ input, since (1) I consider myself a regular in this section, albeit for under two years, and (2) I think a lot of John K.

Cate and Manna are VIPs here, and I enjoy their poems and posts. But there are lots of others, such as Mat James, Ms. V-I-O-L-E-T, Jack, Greg, Boss, Jimmy – and many others – whose poems and posts are worthy of note as well. And while only a nutbar would maintain that all the poetry here is good, there are lots of 'in-between' writers who could develop/refine their abilities further, if not totally discouraged.

For the record, I've enjoyed your posts much of the time. Hope my interference doesn't offend ya. If it does, just pretend I don't exist.

[Geoffrey]

mickey_one (via Sideways) wrote:
>This place carries the name of a truly great writer yet those posters have abused the hospitality of the forum, in their rush to drown it in their own shit. They love their shit so much they even copyright it year after year. They are too dumb to even realise the brilliance of Geoffrey when he trolls them.

[Please forward to Michael the following:]
Thank you, and with one exception I agree with what you write. In my opinion you are a very special person, conspicuous by being the only one in a crowd who doesn't stand out, the only one who refuses to stand up and say he is Spartacus. But as for myself, I must insist that I am very plain, and any 'brilliance' from my hand more likely reflects unusual dullness from those to whom I am being compared. -Geoffrey

[mat james]

Geoffrey,
was that you
or C3PO?