Neopoet.com

and in principle it’s a good idea. However it would face massive resistance. It effectively means 1 every 2 days posting and we still get whinges about 1 a day. And we can’t really force people to give comments, those who do usually find the site rewarding and stay, the egocentrics find themselves bored and ignored and leave. You might call it self-regulating 8)

I know exactly how you feel about the polluted stream, sometimes I feel like I’ll never read another poem again, but I always dive back in, thar’s gold in that thar stream!

cheers,
Jess

I know what you mean but lets take it to a vote.
See what everyone thinks.

Patty

that’s what its for, then certainly take it to the AEC.

Another thought, it could also be confusing and frustrating to newcomers.

cheers,
Jess

posting day/critiquing day/posting day, etc. that is the same for all members?

I’m skeptical that this will achieve your goal. Members who don’t provide feedback probably still won’t provide feedback. The only way I can see to increase feedback is to make it more rewarding. As you mentioned, giving feedback generally results in getting feedback or a Feedback Spotlight of sorts could be implemented.

As far as the length of the stream—I don’t mind it because I don’t feel obliged to read it all. I scan through and find some poems I like and comment then go through the Lonely section and comment on a couple whether I like them or not. As far as “crap” poems, I don’t think they should be reduced. This is a workshop; as a community, we should be working on them. They probably should go to the Forum, as you noted, but I’ve found, ironically, you get LESS feedback in the Forum. (As a side note, I’ve never been clear about the Forum. Can anyone provide feedback there or are there assigned critics? I ask because feedback tends to be provided by the same people. Thanks.)

I agree with Jess that self-regulation or natural consequences is likely to be most effective.

However, I’ve no objection to research or democracy so I’m not opposed to your experiment but suggest shortening the trial period because, as Jess noted, there is likely to be substantial resistance.

Thanks for raising the issue.

To add my 2 pence worth,
Success of something such as this forum, brings by its own nature,
a whole set of developing problems, ever changing,
All too often we have generalised by saying that this is a poetry workshop?
Of recent I’m now not so sure,…As Jess has quite rightly said, and i quote,
“You can’t force people to comment” that being, and the delusions of some, that they seem to think that they are great?….just add to the frustrations of having to read through endless crap,
and all to often receiving retorts from some quite bigoted morons,
I tend now to choose where and with whom i share thoughts and critique,

What i feel should be considered is the qualifying of newbi’s,
How about a holding pen, where they’re not just let loose onto the stream,
until judged to be of a standard? or advised that they need to be mentored,
What has also has to be considered is that everyone is different, some capable of
producing consistanly good works-often, others just as good but less frequently,
why should that be curtailed?

Sadly what we are lacking is the greater guidence understood by too few,
so to keep what we have, standards must be, somehow maintained,
Personally although i know i have grown and improved greatly…
I lack that higher education the command/confidence to guide and teach,
which has a baring as to what you can offer in the way of critiquing others work,

whilst i applaud you for trying or thinking of ways to improve,
Imposing musts…will quickly destroy what has been achieved,

Regards….Peter

~~~”I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday, and I love today.”~~~

It was just a thought. The natural progression is probably the way it will continue to go. Thanks for the comments. No need to vote. I will make an effort to do this
myself as some of you said you do. Have a great day!!!!

Anyway I just found out I have a new grandaughter coming in Feb…. so I am on
cloud 9………………..

Patty

Patty, I am not sure in what wy but it is possible. Patty, to say “this site is bent on getting the spotlight is a generalization. Take me for example. I write to share. That is the most joy I get from writing. There are other joys as well for me in regards. If any of my work attains the spotlight I fel lucky and not like I have fulfilled “the site goal”. This gives me a problem off the get go as to the initialization of this forum. An unsurmountablle sitewide effort was exausted in reaching the one poem a day limit. From the Trustees to the AEC to the Advocates to the general membership. All were welcomed to weigh in. And a poll was executed as well.

Peter, we are in fact much more than a poetry workshop however we are first a poetry wokshop. Maybe a social network second, and so on and so on.

I do believe there should come a time when rewards of some sort will be given for outstanding crits and good crits. This has ben advocated by me from the get go. I believe a good crit is as valuable as a good poem.

Yes Jess very confusing I suspect.

Patty, are you aware, inspite of everythig written thus far in this forum, that you called for a vote and that call by you still stands?

I think I’ll take my leave for now.

Walk me into the night and leave me there for I am not afraid. Just give me a ton of opiates ;)

We both, you and me, Patty, commented at the exact same time.

I wonder, Patty, how you might go about doing this yourself?
I really wish you come back and help us understand how you would do it yourself.

Respectfully,
Mark

Walk me into the night and leave me there for I am not afraid. Just give me a ton of opiates ;)

There’s nothing that kills creativity like rules about how to create imho.

I came to this site and learned the *ropes* as it were…. Not one of us is perfect and therefore the system is not perfect. The stream is t/here for the reading and I read that, aw well as the auto-reponse emails, have often been inspired to write a poem in response…

This is a unique community. I often joke about what we are given with our *points* and who’s keeping the score (i know the computer is;-) In any case, a poet writes because s/he must. And there’s nothing like feedback. In a sense I’m a gregarious creature, but I’m a lone wolf at heart… And my words are the only way to touch you.

~A

I am laughing my ass off. I know mamy of you probably have enough points
to buy into a freeroll…………… (Holdem poker term).

If you need someone to write a newsletter, I am willing and able.
At the least. Lets just let the other thoughts…. stir our
great imaginations.

Patty

you received some great ideas with this forum.. and personally I liked the idea
about the spotlighted poems being published, actually I had thought of contacting
the wizard (Andrew) with the idea but more generalized.. not just spotlighted
poems but maybe elect a group to pick out the best within a time frame, some of the
better poems, at least in my opinion, get left out of the spotlight.. some of the
new poets on the site are really good but do not get much attention…
As far as a poem per day.. I say if someone can write a readable poem each day
then post it.. myself, I like to go over them for a while before posting… but
that is just my nature, I take after my Mom, she says shes slow but sure….
I loved reading this because that is the best part of being here on this site,
we’ve got something to say about it… isn’t that grand!

Richard

I too am slow but sure. If I just stirred up one person, I am happy.
I am working on fine tuning some of my ideas. More to follow.
As far as publishing some of the poems on this site….. I think
we should make a book…… The best of the best.
I like the site. The people, the ideas, and the sometimes strong opinions.
“That won’t work” Is an answer that just is not acceptable to me.
Just wanted to get some feedback. Looks like we all want some new things
and that is GRAND.. Thanks for posting
Patty

There is always a way to make something work. The thing to ask is, “Do we want this?” You have some good thoughts. Working it out might take time and there are always compromises. Poets are notorious for being hard headed. *LOL* A book or booklet is a fine idea also. The problem is money, logistics, manpower and of course, Who does it. *LOL* Keep it up Patty! As my teachers used to say, “Can’t never could.”
Respectfully,
Rett:
“Two things stand in the way of a liberal doing what he thinks is best for people. One, he doesn’t have enough power and two, we have too much freedom. If he figures out how to overcome either then we are in real trouble.” Rett

That government that governs least governs best. This has been well known since the days of Paine and Jefferson and before however as a species we will never understand these fundamental words! We are doomed to let the state (or the website) intrude on us until we are stifled into submission walking down the lock step avenue as little automatons spewing all the same. That is not what art was meant to be.

If you want rules for the creative process write in a poetic form. Beyond that the way to stimulate copious quality reviews is to submit quality work and make your own quality reviews of the works of others. My modus operandi is that I simply do not comment on poems that do not move me or are in a style that I can not stand. That certainly does not mean that any poem I fail to review is bad, not in the least, it means it did not move me. I also try to keep “all fluff” reviews to a minimum. They might stroke the ego but they allow for growth for neither the reviewed or the reviewer. There is no simple solution but I KNOW REGULATION is NOT the answer even though it is what our species resorts to in the first, last and every instance.

Here is a novel concept: REWARD THE GOOD rather than regulate the mediocre. Have a show case for the best reviews! Give reviews points just as you give poems points and stroke the egos of the best reviewers for thoughtful reviews.

My concept is to REWARD THE GOOD. But you put sooooooo much emotion into it
It’s beyond my way to stimulate copious quality.

All you talk about is you, you, you.

I am thinking of the site, site site……………….
Do what you will

Patty

Those who seek to make neopoet a more vibrant community dedicated to poetry. I urge the conversations that will satisfy one’s urge for a better neopoet. Please expres your ideas as is intended in these forums.

Ditto your comment I do. I would try to do all this and not involve Andrew, you and any other trustees. I would not involve the AEC nor the chat committee. I would not involve Advocates. All these people do not have the time or resourses to accomlish the ideas. I cannot do it. It is great and fun to be creative in regards to what may be possible five years or more down the line. And this comment should not really be in this forum. So I’ll post us a poem.

When The House Is Full

In the wasted land
brown eyed zebra Gila
grows wings to fly
from it’s very own kin
unseen by the moon and darkness.

Blue and yellow pansies
laugh at the difference
but there is nothing different
about cracking clay
or breaking molds,
hosting dry leaves for a time.

Fissure to fault
a distance almost safe
yet old trees have fang bones
that stretch to reach
and try to damage
yet only insult the starry night.

Gila turns inside out
becomes golden,
shiny and crowned
escaping into dragon myth
wearing yellow and red denim,
a guise for the rabid
or death within,
gives up and too serpent’s end
and for desert’s inhabitants
when fox becomes black and white
hiding in night
watching and waiting,
listening for another
to try and take a bite.

Mark

Man thinks this.

Did you like my idea about the certificates?
I sent you a copy of an example by email

Regarding: Post one day, comment the next day.
I will read when I have time, and post when
I have something to share. That is just me.
To restructure the present system is in my opinion,
to restrictive. No attacks here, just my meager opinion.
The booklet, and or book of the best of the best on Neo
is a darn good one,I think Patty.

“There’s no trick to being a humorist when
you have the whole government working for you.”
Will Rogers

Being a newbee or whatever, I have just read all of the above comments on this site.
I think that the structure of NEO is excellent as it is.
(must remember to ask what we do with the points)
The remarkable thing here is that you have a beutiful running site,
So if it isn’t sick don’t mess with it.
Poets all over, suffer from one thing, that they have to pay others, to have their work published, and you don’t see many rich poets, rich from the proceeds of their poetry that is.
It would be great if NEO could find a way of publishing a lot of their members works, these mostly have been judged through the comment system anyway and apeal to the system as it were. Then you have the spotlight which has passed the scrutiny of a lot of people, these are worth being put to use.
As it is the NEO site is still a working site for a great number of poets and people that try hard to express themselves in that way.
Can’t think of anything wrong to write about, My thanks to you all for a great place to be , Yours Ian.T (Hey the last bit rhymed can it be posted LOL)