Poem Comments Good or Bad

[WYSIWYG]

Hello Everyone,

I have posted a few poems here now and have recieved some really nice
comments on some of them. No one has said that any of them are rubbish,
although i'm sure some of you think just that. :question:

I posted a ('poem!') called Teenage Brat Rap, in comedy thread. It wasn't meant to take anyones breath away, it was just something that popped
into my head whilst i could see some knobhead youths being, well, knobheads.
One in particular got my goat. So five minutes later i had written it down and then posted it here and one other place. I have been given 3 comments on the other site, the 1st one being: "what on earth could inspire you to write such, such crap" I nearly peed myself with laughter, i kind of expected comments of that nature. But then, two more comments were made and each said it made them laugh........:biggrin: I'm sure a few of you have had 'crap' or similar words when reading some of my stuff but are too polite to write it in reply. But you can, honestly, i know you want to :yahoo:
So i'm just asking if anyone would care to go rate or slate it...

I have two more without any comments, 'Honey Love' my 1st ever posting, in love thread and 'Humankind ness' in nature. I wanted to change the title to PschOThERapist but dont think i can. Both of these were recieved very well on the other site. So, please feel free to add comments good or bad.

Damian

[Henry Krinkle]

To be honest, rarely anyone here gives criticism to poems, from my experience here anyway. I've noticed how everyone usually replies with how good a poem is, praising it, being nice and all that. I think it's a real shame because I don't think it's the truth a lot of the time that it happens.

Personally, whenever I reply to anyones poem, I try my best to give constructive criticism. Some can't handle that, but if you can't handle critique, why even bother posting your poem/s on a poetry website?

Anyway, it's far better to give constructive criticism instead of false praise.

[WYSIWYG]

Hello Henry, i agree and am probably guilty. If i dont like or 'get' someone's poem then i will ignore it. Thats normal so thats why i will encourage and accept negative feedback. To be honest, other peoples poetry has never done a lot for me unless its a bit crass, twisted or very funny. Been here for a week now and after reading so many different styles of poetry i am starting to understand it a lot more which i suppose is giving me more ability to comment on someones poem. I'm not ready to slate publicly :star-wars2: If asked i will do as politely as possible :crazy::this:

Damian

[bastet]

Hi guys:) there are other poetry sites where you will receive critique and criticism..asked for or not. Here crit is usually given in the critique forum.
This site has always been more friendly and as much smaller than other sites..more like family.
I personally say what i like or enjoy about a poem..i do not give false praise just my opinion.
We have had other conversations regarding the lack of crit here..but thats not what this place is really about..as said before..there are many others out there:)
sometimes i dont comment cos i am not sure how to..sometimes i just add rep..

Apologies for the ramble..;)

[WYSIWYG]

Hello Tsu, :give_rose:

I not really looking for critique, just a comment even if its negative.
I think, when no comment has been made it feels like absolutely no one
likes it, to me i'd rather know than not.....even if it is a single view.

Damian

[Henry Krinkle]

I didn't say that everyone gives false praise. It's just that a lot of the time it just happens that about any poem posted sparks ONLY positive comments, where a lot of the time it is just undeserving. Of course, there are poems that are really good and that really deserve no negative feedback. Everyone has a different taste though.

[WYSIWYG]

Ok, how about this, critique and comments are different. So anyone wanting critique will post in that thread. Poems that have been posted for , say a week and not recieved any comments , then the author can ask for it in this thread for instance, or maybe admins can add a sticky one, then once asked for all the regular posters can go and say yes its rubbish or i really like it. Just a suggestion :wizard:

[John Ashleigh]

If the author wants constructive criticism, post in the critique forum. http://www.thepoetryforum.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=101

That is why it is there.

[Henry Krinkle]

Well, if one posts a poem, no matter in which section it is posted, you are always allowed to read it and comment on it. The way you see fit. Obviously, comments like: ''lol this sucks'' ''crap!!!'' ''HAHA THIS WAS GAY KILL YOURSELF'' etc. are retarded and no one should be posting shit like that anyway. However, if a person says that a poem is bad and then gives reasons/arguments on why it is bad it is fine.

At least I think so anyway. I know that there is a critique section, but does that mean that we can only post how much we like it in the other sections? I mean, everyone likes getting a comment on his or her poem, good or bad. I know I do.

[bastet]

:)
..there are so many poems and threads to check and read each day..it is hard to read all and unforutnately some may get missed by members ( and by admins/mods lol!)- also some members do only post few comments and some none..this is i think something that should be kept in mind-and perhaps somehow we can encourage more comments :)

..and i sometimes dont want to comment first as i feel it may be assumed i only do it cos of the "mod" thing- and it isnt..
and i agree..tastes are very different..very!!! lol! ;)

:) i know you didnt infer that henry..i didnt mean you had :)
and i really appreciate that comments are nice-we all want to be read or why post????

i like the idea phibes..run it past ben..
:)

..as for the crtiique and whether to post..all i think is that if its in crit then you may expect negative and constructive comments..not all posting on the normal boards are prepared for that so ..yes..it should be gentle..if at all..
make sense??
:)

[Atehequa]

Be kind and civil, but most of all be yourself.

[WYSIWYG]

So a sticky thread where posters can ask for comments may be a good :idea: Thanks for all replies, wasn't trying to start a fight :blackeye:

:giverose::giverose::giverose::giverose::giverose: :giverose::giverose:

[BenJohnson]

Well, if one posts a poem, no matter in which section it is posted, you are always allowed to read it and comment on it. The way you see fit. Obviously, comments like: ''lol this sucks'' ''crap!!!'' ''HAHA THIS WAS GAY KILL YOURSELF'' etc. are retarded and no one should be posting shit like that anyway.

Well we have had a few members who have tried that and they didn't last all that long.


However, if a person says that a poem is bad and then gives reasons/arguments on why it is bad it is fine.


I agree to a point, however all judgement on poetry will be subjective. There is a certain among of published mainstream poetry I read and think 'that is terrible', yet it has passed an editorial board and is presumably selling. So if you are giving a comment that this poem is bad because... then you need to make clear that it is your point of view only. Personally I would prefer suggestions that may improve a poem. Which is more positive, rather than this is bad which is purely negative, same message but more encouraging.

At least I think so anyway. I know that there is a critique section, but does that mean that we can only post how much we like it in the other sections? I mean, everyone likes getting a comment on his or her poem, good or bad. I know I do.

The problem is that there are a huge range of people who post here. Some are writing poetry wanting to improve and welcome all comments good or bad. Like you I would welcome comments that tell me the flaws in my writing that I can do better. However at the opposite end of the spectrum we have people who are writing poetry to express difficult feelings, it is a release to them. For someone who is contemplating suicide but releasing the negative thoughts by writing and sharing a comment like 'This is terrible, you should do better' is not likely to help them at all.

The problem is how do you cater for all people? The only solution I can see is a traffic light system. Each member has a coloured symbol (or something similar) under their avatar. For example these could be:
Green - Be as harsh as you like in your comments I can take it and welcome all comments.
Orange - Light criticism, helpful hints welcome, but nothing too heavy.
Red - Comments only, but no critique of any kind.

This would allow members to see at a glance what kind of response the author is looking for and what kind of comments they feel they can take/want. New members would start with red and chose for themselves what colour they would want to be.

Would a system like this solve some of the issues? Are there better options that could be explored?

[Henry Krinkle]

Sorry, I worded it poor earlier. It's always one's own opinion if someone is calling on improvements on a poem. I fully agree that just saying ''it's bad'' is a bad idea, even if arguments are used to confirm the position. I've always tried to give constructive criticism, so that the person can become a better writer in the future. This doesn't mean, however, that my view is 100% right. It's always subjective but it's still worth discussing. I mean, surely everyone enjoys Shelley here?

I also think that's an excellent idea, Ben. It would really help and it would solve a lot of possible future problems.

[BenJohnson]

Shelley? Only some, I've got a volume of his collected works and would rate some of the lesser known pieces badly. But when he is good, he is excellent Ozymandias for example http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CD0QFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.online-literature.com%2Fshelley_percy%2F672%2F&ei=3GfmTaPCH4rDhAf3j6jCCg&usg=AFQjCNHWkPCnW1p0Sq4qHfg_uGsvNHnVJw

[Don_Joe]

Personally I don't like criticising for a few reasons, one of them being poetry is subjective and telling someone they need to change this and do that is just imposing my own preferences onto that poem, I don't want to do that, everyone has their own independent style which many will have a different view upon, although small things like typo's and such I will mention if they haven't already been.

Sometimes I'll read a poem and like it but simply not comment because saying "I liked it." is a bit bland, if I liked a poem and a certain aspect about it I'll say, and if I don't like a poem then I won't comment because as I said just because I didn't like it who am I to tell them they should change their style?

[WYSIWYG]

Your right all, i shouldn't have said anything. By asking for people to
comment, when they do it feels like they were a bit forced into doing
it, so it may not be a true reflection on their views. I guess its better to accept comments when they come, give them if we want to. I will look to give a comment, especially on posts that have none. :sorry:

[Radrook]

I agree with you all.

[Radrook]

When I post a poem and it continues to be snubbed my reaction is to delete it.

[BenJohnson]

You may find that it has just been missed I've had poems that didn't get any comments only to have someone dig them up two years later when they receive plenty of comments.

[Altocumulus]

This is not the "goat" thread - I know.

But - One thing that spoils my enjoyment of some good poetry, posted here, is the grammar. Especially use and misuse of apostrophe, and lazy spelling. Not really any excuse for the latter with spell-checkers in many programs, even browsers.

I have mentioned these on a few occasions, hopefully without giving offence.

me - I prefer honest opinions that allow me as a 'poet' to improve (whether I like or chose to accept the opinions is solely up to me) - and no matter where on the site I drop in a few verse.

[but heck - that's me - what do I know, I barely scraped a pass in English language "O", and failed Literature ..... ]