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User	the insomniac | 2006-02-15 |
Subject	untitled
Message	you cant exactly say ’thats a load of shit stop now, never write another word’, but of course i do find it is more difficult to constuctively criticise a piece i dont like than a piece i do without feeling nasty, it is important though, and the anonimity helps, it’s right to do so, and i would wish anyone to rip into mine (with reason of course!!) as it is the only way to learn and the whole point of the site to my mind anyway, how can i improve without it?

User	inspirit999 | 2006-02-14 |
Subject	untitled
Message	Well I do like what you have said regardless of how it was said. Yes those who are weaker writers do need a lot of help but also they need the most encouragement since they are often unsure of themselves. And I do believe they need quite a bit of attention too. The trick is NOT to make them feel like everything they write is the best thing since sliced bread, I usually say this or that line I like in the write and if I don’t like something as long as I am able to break it gently I will tell them. I hate for anyone to feel that they cannot write, everyone has strengths and weaknesses it is up to the reader to try and find that out. I am trying my hardest to find how to comment better in order to help more but I know only so much about poetry. I think you find those people you are talking about the ones who need a great deal help belong to exclusive groups usually teens (not all the time but many cases they are so) they have their buddies come in and they praise to high heaven. Now if that is their taste that is fine, the trick there is not to look at the comments and do it entirely on your own, then after look at them. We often worry too much how others think on these pieces. After doing this a great deal of times you can offer your help to those who need it and you will find some that do not want it. As far as those who are accomplished writers or those who think they are I usually stay away from their pieces mainly because I feel like I have nothing to offer them or perhaps it is fear that my comment would be unappreciated. Anyhow that is my business, no one forces us to comment on person X’s pieces, that makes this a great site ~mike =)

User	Ethan Brody | 2006-02-13 |
Subject	untitled
Message	Sorry, I caught a tinge of arrogance when I say "Shouldn’t we focus on helping the weaker ones?" what I really meant was “shouldn’t people be focused on helping the weaker ones?"

User	Ethan Brody | 2006-02-13 |
Subject	untitled
Message	I appreciate both comments not only because you took the time to but because you were very subtle and respectful on that account. I do concur with both claims and believe or not I do a bit of both as well. My bemusement recides in the fact that criticism in general is mainly focused on the ones that are considered good writer. Shouldn’t that be the reverse? Shouldn’t we focus on helping the weaker ones? There are pieces that have got cero comments which means there have been deemed weak or ineffective, or bad or whatever you want to call them. And I don’t see people making effort to try change that, and I’m saying this in the nicest possible.

User	inspirit999 | 2006-02-12 |
Subject	untitled
Message	there is a difference between blind praise and wanting to encourange people. people do not want others to rip into their works and criticism takes some measure of tact, often people confused that with praise. there are some pieces that people love and treasure, while others wonder why? no one should judge other’s likes and dislikes.

User	adnil | 2006-02-12 |
Subject	untitled
Message	Most of us try to do a little of both,help them to improve, while at the same time give them a bit of encouragement with both encouragement and constructive criticism.If you don’t do both all you would be doing is actually crucifying themout and out & dashing someones hopes would be totally wrong, so when you point out both the good and bad of a poem to them you are indeed actually helping them to improve.And if a piece is actually good and no amount of improvement could possibly make it better then what is so wron g in just saying it is indeed a good and talented piece of poetry anyway thats my take on this at any rate adnil