a new breed of Comments? what use, I ask....

[normal jean]

Am I the only one that has noticed?

It seems that lately, comments on this site consist of short boring generic one line summations of the poem's content

I am wondering if maybe Lit is offering some sort of tiny Icon for the person who makes the most useless comments, as it seems like a competition.

I remember a while back when it was pointed out that too many comments consisted of--
good work, excellent, thank you, etc

but this is worse, in my opinion. I always appreciate comments on my poems, any sort of comment that was not vile, vicious, or kissy-assed, but now days, it is worse.

I dont understand the point of a comment that consists of-

for example,

"little red went to see her granny and encountered a wolf...blah, blah blah"

obviously the reader has at least scanned the poem, in most cases, but, usually we do not need a commenter to reduce the poem to a one line analysis that contributes nothing. Just restates the content of the poem in a most boring way.

I delete these insincere comments as they are nothing more than padding for the commenter and his/her comment tally, and if it were possible, I would delete the uselss 5 votes that came with them.

However, I am NOT insinuating that everyone who leaves a lot of comments is only doing so for his/her comment tally. There are those here who leave comments as genuine responses to the poem and could care less the number next to his/her name on the Feedback Portal.

I can think of a few people here right now who always leave comments but sometimes just sign their name and dont bother logging in. I think that the quality of feedback began sliding when the PC feature was introduced. That feature may indeed have caused more comments to be left, more FB relayed, but MORE is not always better.

So, I am curious as to how other poets feel about these "worthless" coments.

Do they mean anything to you as a writer when it comes to helping you see your poem in a better light?

Do these comments help you with your work or do they just make you feel good because a comment was left?

I admit, I have left many a comment that resembled--

I really enjoyed your poem

simply because someone before me might have left a comment that consisted of helpful hints, or a suggestion that I might have wanted to make but someone beat me to it, but lately, I gag when I read these condensed versions of the poem that are useless in any way as constructive crit goes.

I know this thread might anger a few people, maybe more than a few, but I am being honest, expressing my opinion and if it pisses folks off, well, I am sorry for that.

I just wanted to know if anyone at all appreciates these comments in any way at all unless they are thrilled at just being tossed a 5 that means very little, especially when it comes to deciding poem of the month and the way that votes are randomly removed when time comes to post the "winner".

ie-- I had one poem, posted on maria's page , that had 12 votes. It went through at least 6 vote washes to remove "bad" votes, and lost not a single one but when it came to the poem of the month decision, it lost just enough to put it out of the running for that particular month. And I am certain they were not "bad" votes as that poem had 9 comments, from 9 different people and after the December vote wash, it was reduced to 6 votes and still had those 9 comments from 9 different people.... how in the world is that even logical? Beats me...



I was going to post some examples of what I consider worthless comments, but I decided it wouldnt be in best interest of this forum, anyone who reads comments knows what I am referring to.


I would rather not have a comment at all than get one of those Readers Digest version PC's meant for little more than to boost a comment count, so maybe some of you have noticed, I have turned off voting and comments on my work that I have not deleted yet..

If any of you want to give constructive crit, you have my email address and I would be more than happy to discuss the faults of my work with you.



Normal Jeane

 

[BooMerengue]

I know this thread might anger a few people, maybe more than a few, but I am being honest, expressing my opinion and if it pisses folks off, well, I am sorry for that.



Normal Jeane

*gasps in shock!!

Normal Jean!!! Izzat really you, my love?? Ohhh, I'm so excited!

*runs and leaps into her lap

I am not making light of your thread, sweets. I agree with you, but I just do a lot of ignoring. Except I don't understand- what is 'vote washing' and why is it done?

Good to see you, babe! I'm hoping you're getting in the mood for more frog pond poems. Spring is here almost and it's time!

Love youuuuuu!!!!

 

[wildsweetone]

...it's just a phase...

excellent observations NJ .

so as an alternative, what better place for constructive criticism than in here, The Poetry Feedback and Discussion Forum, or in the Poetry Discussion Circle... isn't that why the sub forum was created?

if you want serious and helpful constructive critique of your writing, then these are the places, not the Personal Comment space below your writing. sure, some of those comments are well thought out and they're the ones that are useful.

but for more indepth focus... stick with the forum.

just my opinion.

 

[Guest]

I just read a poem and if I like it, I comment so if anyone gets a "good poem" or "great work" from me it's because that's what I really thought of the poem at the time. Is there something I'm missing? I thought that was what "Leave a Public Comment" meant.

 

[WickedEve]

Am I the only one that has noticed?


It seems that lately, comments on this site consist of short boring generic one line summations of the poem's content

I noticed that before I left.
I remember reading comments that weren't even on the level of "great poem." It was more like, "a poem about a buzzard in the sky and the cotton candy below."
Though, I'm sure many are happy to get any comment at all.

 

[champagne1982]

I realize that some people prefer to paraphrase a poem to make certain they've grasped something worthwhile. I wish that the thought wasn't left in the comment but instead, emailed to me since they act as spoilers and could discourage the lazy from reading a poem. Then again, who wants a lazy audience?

Neo, I appreciate the "good poem" comments, they at least have a subjective value, similar to what "bad poem" comments have. I'll have to start posting more poems so that I see a few more comments.

Short of shutting off the comments on a poem, I guess we all have to take the good with the bad and keep checking periodically.

 

[Guest]

I realize that some people prefer to paraphrase a poem to make certain they've grasped something worthwhile. I wish that the thought wasn't left in the comment but instead, emailed to me since they act as spoilers and could discourage the lazy from reading a poem. Then again, who wants a lazy audience?

Neo, I appreciate the "good poem" comments, they at least have a subjective value, similar to what "bad poem" comments have. I'll have to start posting more poems so that I see a few more comments.

Short of shutting off the comments on a poem, I guess we all have to take the good with the bad and keep checking periodically.

Yes, post more and I'll read more. I haven't been doing that much lately, however since I've started posting more myself, I should.

 

[minsue]

I was bemused by recent comments summarizing the poems, but I was also gratified by one that was the only PC I've received to actually understand that specific poem. *shrug* It's certainly a different way of doing things and not the way I'd do it, but personally I'm just happy to be read.

 

[BooMerengue]

what is 'vote washing'?

I have to know.

My curiousity is piqued.

 

[Guest]

what is 'vote washing'?

I have to know.

My curiousity is piqued.

It's usually an individual's duplicate votes removed from a submission's total. More than one vote from the same IP number cancels each other out.

 

[Sapphire_O]

I say blame the school system

Everything a kid reads in school has to be paraphrased and often if I kid says "I like this poem" the teacher tells them that's not good enough, tell me what its about. What are the themes? What are the motifs? They're more interested in paraphrasing then appreciating the art. *rant *rant *rant

Now those kids are grown up and reading erotica and they've been trained to think that way, so they cannot simply say what they like or dislike about the poem. They're still looking for the "right" answer. Sad.

p.s. I'm new to this site, but I've had similar experiences on other writer sites

 

[Tzara]

what is 'vote washing'?

I have to know.

My curiousity is piqued.

Lit has some automatic processes that periodically attempt to "clean" the votes for a poem or story. As Neo says, one thing that will trip them is multiple votes from the same IP address. Without that, someone could just keep voting 5 on their own poem to artificially inflate their score. I think the sweeper program has other criteria that it looks at as well.

 

[champagne1982]

what is 'vote washing'?

I have to know.

My curiousity is piqued.

Lit has a "wash bot"? ..

I have to look at getting one of those. I have tonnes of dirty laundry, thoughts and ideas that need laundering.

<sigh> Now, if I only had large quantities of dirty money. My life would be interesting, if not ethical .

 

[BooMerengue]

Go w/ the interesting, babe! The ethical comes on you hard when you get older anyway!! Remember- it's better to burn out than to fade away!! lol

 

[unapologetic]

I've also gotten those nonsensical comments, but I've left them where they are. They are pretty useless, but also harmless. I have to admit that I prefer substantial comments, even though I don't usually get them. I get better stuff here in the forums, especially in the Poetry Discussion Circle that wildsweetone mentioned.

In the same vein, the professor I have this semester keeps making inconsequential comments on my papers. I guess I shouldn't complain, since I'm getting As, but still...

 

[annaswirls]

I don't know, to me it is like saying
"Hey! I was here
I read your poem"
which is more than I can expect of anyone, and I swear I am still surprised and pleased when I get any kind of comment, that another human being out there is reading me? That is cool. But maybe that is because I do not get out there in the adult world often enough, I drink in any contact I can get? Who knows. I see it like a greeting. Not all greetings have to have some deeper meaning, helpful function (your fly is down) or specific comment......

I figurethe function of the comments section is for the reader, not the poet, to determine.

Just my thoughts. Thanks for reading them

 

[annaswirls]

I just read a poem and if I like it, I comment so if anyone gets a "good poem" or "great work" from me it's because that's what I really thought of the poem at the time. Is there something I'm missing? I thought that was what "Leave a Public Comment" meant.

amen brother.

psst.... hi

 

[normal jean]

I don't know, to me it is like saying
"Hey! I was here
I read your poem"
which is more than I can expect of anyone, and I swear I am still surprised and pleased when I get any kind of comment, that another human being out there is reading me? That is cool. But maybe that is because I do not get out there in the adult world often enough, I drink in any contact I can get? Who knows. I see it like a greeting. Not all greetings have to have some deeper meaning, helpful function (your fly is down) or specific comment......

I figure the function of the comments section is for the reader, not the poet, to determine.

Just my thoughts. Thanks for reading them

Hey guys!!

NOT a dagum thang wrong with ANY comment. My point, if there is one, is that the summations of our work seems to have replaced any type of real comment..

Hi Neo :

If you read what I wrote carefully, I also said that there are times when I ( myself), will leave a " good poem" comment, or a comment that merely says I read your poem and liked it.

It means that I was here, read your work, and ummm, liked it. You didnt miss anything. I knew I would fuckin confuse people, just didnt expect it to be one of the brightest people on the site

What I was getting at was, for instance, a love poem about 2 people, someone leaves a statement, not even saying they liked it, or hated it or was ambivilant, ALL they say is that it was a love poem, about 2 people = useless comment= delete comment...

I could post a thousand examples, but if I did, it would hurt those who leave them and I have no desire to hurt or embarrass anyone. So thats why I wont post an example. I did the best I could with the example about lil red riding hood.



Trying to explain myself if useless whan I did the best I could in my first post.

Theres nothing WRONG with any comment, not at all. I was bringing to light that even the "good poem" comments are being replaced by crappy little summations of the work, without even somush as a personal opinion added as an after thought..

NOT even a good poem, bad poem, not even a troll comment, just a summation of the poem. How does that make anyone feel good at all when that PC person has left the same type post on every poem on the site? I dont see how that benefits anyone. Just because they clicked your poem and left a summatiuon doesnt really mean they read it, doesnt mean they got i t, all it means is they comprehend the content. Whiich is a feat in itself considering.... nevermind, lol.


I would rather someone tell me that my worked sucked ass than have them leave a post telling what it was about. To me, that is a worthless comment, not even a comment, just a waste of time. I know what I wrote about, please tell me an opinion, tell me you hated it, tell me you liked it, tell me anything other than what my poem was ABOUT!!!!!

Im not trying to start anything except a discussion about the state of feedback on this site. SO far, its been pretty good....

as far as IM concerned, you leave a commant about 2 lovers, telling me in a PC that its about 2 lovers, well, hell, did they actually read the poem in depth? are you satisfied that someone scanned your work just so they can make a post?

I would rather they didnt read my shit at all and damn would rather they not even leave a PC if they are just restating the content of the poem in non poetic terms.

Yeah, I turned off my PC's, am deleting my work because of many reasons and the biggest one is there is very little constructive crit here anymore, just a battle to see who gets the most PC's on the portal. That is my observation, and just as a PC is a valid expression that a reader leaves, that is MY expression.

I am at the pointg I dont care to leave FB anymore because maybe 2 or 3 people even cared what I had to say and they have gone.

Hate me if you like, believe me, I wont lose any sleep over someone wasting thier time hating me, lol.

Whoever stated that the board is a better place is correct, I agree, wish I had time to spend on the board searching out someone to give me Feedback without worryng that they will hurt my feelings or whatever. That was the first and main reason I created my alts, to get FB when people seemd to quit caring what MAria wrote, so I was selfish, and I know IM not the only one who created an alt for that very reason.

Im done,I guess. Too tired to try to explain what I meant when it was pretty plainy written out the first time.

sorry I offend you all. and Neo, I have missed your, " I was here, read your poem and liked it." your comments are far and few between as well. But then, like me and most everyone else, youre a busy man. At least you dont half ass read a poem and then chicken out of leaving real FB.

thanks to everyone who replied. It is appreciated.

 

[normal jean]

*gasps in shock!!

Normal Jean!!! Izzat really you, my love?? Ohhh, I'm so excited!

*runs and leaps into her lap

I am not making light of your thread, sweets. I agree with you, but I just do a lot of ignoring. Except I don't understand- what is 'vote washing' and why is it done?

Good to see you, babe! I'm hoping you're getting in the mood for more frog pond poems. Spring is here almost and it's time!

Love youuuuuu!!!!

Boo!!

Hey precious Lady!!
I have missed you so badly and its a gift seeing you back here. Maybe I wont run off afterall.

Do you have my email? and do you still have an AIM name, would love to chat with you one evening when i get off work.

Gosh, yeah, I think someone explained vote wash, I just couldnt think of the right word for that fraud software, whatever...

Yeah, spring is almost here and you thought of me?

I love you sweet friend. We moved last April so I dont have my froggies anymore, but still have the poems on the Bug Day afternoon thread.

Thank you for caring about me. I will always love you for that. Oh yeah, hubby and I will be back working in Danville Va in May, I think , and maybe I can get away to come visit you. we will be in asheville March 17 for a month.

I met Fawnie a couple of weeks ago and let me tell you, she is a sweetheart. But then I knew she was. Made me feel like I had known her all my life.

You always made me feel like I was your long lost sister, a sane sister, hehe, I need one of those.



j

 

[normal jean]

I realize that some people prefer to paraphrase a poem to make certain they've grasped something worthwhile. I wish that the thought wasn't left in the comment but instead, emailed to me since they act as spoilers and could discourage the lazy from reading a poem. Then again, who wants a lazy audience?

Neo, I appreciate the "good poem" comments, they at least have a subjective value, similar to what "bad poem" comments have. I'll have to start posting more poems so that I see a few more comments.

Short of shutting off the comments on a poem, I guess we all have to take the good with the bad and keep checking periodically.

Hey Champagne

You hit the nail on the proverbial head with the word LAZY.

To me, thats what the summations are, lazy. PLease summation posters, LEAVE an opinion, of some type of FEEDBACK or dont even leave a comment on my stuff.


I, too, appreciate the good poem/ bad poem comments because they at least provide an opinion. I hate that neo and anna misunderstood that, makes me feel totally ignorant, and I'm pretty sure I'm not ignorant... maybe not a genius, but not stupid either, but then again, lol


as for you posting more poems?? PLEASE do!! I wait with bated breath works from you and several other poets here. I miss good poetry, maybe that's why I quit reading my own,



thanks for joining in, you really clarified what I meant without a ten page explanation ( like mine). You have the good qualities of the sagittarian that I obviously lack.

 

[normal jean]

I noticed that before I left.
I remember reading comments that weren't even on the level of "great poem." It was more like, "a poem about a buzzard in the sky and the cotton candy below."
Though, I'm sure many are happy to get any comment at all.

Eve!!!

OMG< if I had any idea that ranting like a lunatic would bring you out, I would have done it a long time ago.

would you write a poem for me about buzzards and cotton candy? and throw in BOb and conrad dimple? that would friggin rock!!

Glad you understood what I meant.

hugs sweet poet sister, I have missed you and your work so much. Its just not the same here without you and I mean that, dammit, but I do understand why you left.



love you!!

j

 

[normal jean]

I say blame the school system

Everything a kid reads in school has to be paraphrased and often if I kid says "I like this poem" the teacher tells them that's not good enough, tell me what its about. What are the themes? What are the motifs? They're more interested in paraphrasing then appreciating the art. *rant *rant *rant

Now those kids are grown up and reading erotica and they've been trained to think that way, so they cannot simply say what they like or dislike about the poem. They're still looking for the "right" answer. Sad.

p.s. I'm new to this site, but I've had similar experiences on other writer sites

Hi Sapphire, and welcome to my latest "why" thread.

I live in South Carolina and we blame the public schools for most everything wrong here and usually that blame is correctly placed. I wish I could have raised my kids elsewhere, our schools suck.

Thanks for responding, I hadnt thought of that from your point of view and you do have a point.



j

 

[Guest]

Hey guys!!

NOT a dagum thang wrong with ANY comment. My point, if there is one, is that the summations of our work seems to have replaced any type of real comment..

Hi Neo :

If you read what I wrote carefully, I also said that there are times when I ( myself), will leave a " good poem" comment, or a comment that merely says I read your poem and liked it.

It means that I was here, read your work, and ummm, liked it. You didnt miss anything. I knew I would fuckin confuse people, just didnt expect it to be one of the brightest people on the site

What I was getting at was, for instance, a love poem about 2 people, someone leaves a statement, not even saying they liked it, or hated it or was ambivilant, ALL they say is that it was a love poem, about 2 people = useless comment= delete comment...

Oh, I see!

I'm sorry, but I was missing something, jean. I haven't seen any summation type of comments on my poems. I'm sure if I do, I'll probably thank the individual and move along. Glossing over it, I guess for a better word it. Is all good, ya?

 

[annaswirls]

Um, thank you but I am not one of the brightest people on the site, but I do not think I was confused, I have gotten that kind of comment, and I know exactly what you mean by your description of such poems, I just do not see it as any kind of issue, and I stated my own thoughts. Tis all. I do not have an issue with you talking about it or having any kinds of feelings or thoughts at all.

You say that you don't think that there is anything wrong with any comment, yet you call them "crappy, worthless and useless" but I (and I am guessing most people) do not think there is anything wrong with your thinking they are, honestly. Goodness. I just do not happen to share the opinion, although I do think these comments are a bit bizarre, yes indeed but harmless.

Perhaps it is a response to all of the hub-ub over comments that has gone on here before, with the big debate over what people should or should not say... people getting upset, etc. etc. Perhaps the response is to leave something non-judgemental in anyway, simply stating the facts one can pick out of a poem? I did not even think of it as some sort of competition as to who can have the most PC's! Oh my. That would be kind of sad, yes? Who knows, it is hard to guess anyone's motivations.

and I don't think you pissed anyone off. And far far more than 2 or 3 people care a great deal what you have to say, and they are still here.

Really, is it just comments. Trust me, I have issues with many things that I bet you would think are not issues to you. It is okay. Really the only comments that bug me are my own....the lack of them altogether because I have been unable to get through the new poems and when I do, it is hard for me to comment.... or when I cannot come up with anything intelligent to say, which is all the time. And I sometimes feel kind of paranoid because there are so many different strong opinions about what a comment should be and do.

at any rate.

It is like 80 degrees outside. Perfectly sunny. Winds Easterly at 6 mph. Humiodity: 29% and both of my boys are not sick and back in school. Someone could leave a comment that says "this is a poem" and I would purr and be happy. hehe


I am doing 100 loads of laundry and letting the sun and wind take away the water from my blankets and towels, clothing and ahhhh even the trash cans and laundry baskets have been scrubbed and are drying in the sun.

This place, I still do not get it. The dafodils are blooming. In February.

I found out that there is an outdoor heated pool in our town, and a group of um how do I say it, older folks? who swim as a team and I think I am going to do it! Oh my. I think this means I have to buy a speedo.

eek

I think I just hijacked my own post

sorry

Hey guys!!

NOT a dagum thang wrong with ANY comment. My point, if there is one, is that the summations of our work seems to have replaced any type of real comment..

Hi Neo :

If you read what I wrote carefully, I also said that there are times when I ( myself), will leave a " good poem" comment, or a comment that merely says I read your poem and liked it.

It means that I was here, read your work, and ummm, liked it. You didnt miss anything. I knew I would fuckin confuse people, just didnt expect it to be one of the brightest people on the site

What I was getting at was, for instance, a love poem about 2 people, someone leaves a statement, not even saying they liked it, or hated it or was ambivilant, ALL they say is that it was a love poem, about 2 people = useless comment= delete comment...

I could post a thousand examples, but if I did, it would hurt those who leave them and I have no desire to hurt or embarrass anyone. So thats why I wont post an example. I did the best I could with the example about lil red riding hood.



Trying to explain myself if useless whan I did the best I could in my first post.

Theres nothing WRONG with any comment, not at all. I was bringing to light that even the "good poem" comments are being replaced by crappy little summations of the work, without even somush as a personal opinion added as an after thought..

NOT even a good poem, bad poem, not even a troll comment, just a summation of the poem. How does that make anyone feel good at all when that PC person has left the same type post on every poem on the site? I dont see how that benefits anyone. Just because they clicked your poem and left a summatiuon doesnt really mean they read it, doesnt mean they got i t, all it means is they comprehend the content. Whiich is a feat in itself considering.... nevermind, lol.


I would rather someone tell me that my worked sucked ass than have them leave a post telling what it was about. To me, that is a worthless comment, not even a comment, just a waste of time. I know what I wrote about, please tell me an opinion, tell me you hated it, tell me you liked it, tell me anything other than what my poem was ABOUT!!!!!

Im not trying to start anything except a discussion about the state of feedback on this site. SO far, its been pretty good....

as far as IM concerned, you leave a commant about 2 lovers, telling me in a PC that its about 2 lovers, well, hell, did they actually read the poem in depth? are you satisfied that someone scanned your work just so they can make a post?

I would rather they didnt read my shit at all and damn would rather they not even leave a PC if they are just restating the content of the poem in non poetic terms.

Yeah, I turned off my PC's, am deleting my work because of many reasons and the biggest one is there is very little constructive crit here anymore, just a battle to see who gets the most PC's on the portal. That is my observation, and just as a PC is a valid expression that a reader leaves, that is MY expression.

I am at the pointg I dont care to leave FB anymore because maybe 2 or 3 people even cared what I had to say and they have gone.

Hate me if you like, believe me, I wont lose any sleep over someone wasting thier time hating me, lol.

Whoever stated that the board is a better place is correct, I agree, wish I had time to spend on the board searching out someone to give me Feedback without worryng that they will hurt my feelings or whatever. That was the first and main reason I created my alts, to get FB when people seemd to quit caring what MAria wrote, so I was selfish, and I know IM not the only one who created an alt for that very reason.

Im done,I guess. Too tired to try to explain what I meant when it was pretty plainy written out the first time.

sorry I offend you all. and Neo, I have missed your, " I was here, read your poem and liked it." your comments are far and few between as well. But then, like me and most everyone else, youre a busy man. At least you dont half ass read a poem and then chicken out of leaving real FB.

thanks to everyone who replied. It is appreciated.

 

[BooMerengue]

Eve!!!

OMG< if I had any idea that ranting like a lunatic would bring you out, I would have done it a long time ago.

would you write a poem for me about buzzards and cotton candy? and throw in BOb and conrad dimple? that would friggin rock!!

Glad you understood what I meant.

hugs sweet poet sister, I have missed you and your work so much. Its just not the same here without you and I mean that, dammit, but I do understand why you left.



love you!!

j

To NJ, so she understands the depths of my love...

I drifted round in circles like a buzzard in the sky
I had just seen Conrad's Dimple, and goddammit, whatta guy!!
But my cotton candy stuck,
and ol' Bob just couldn't fuck,
so I kicked a friggin' rock, and said "I'll just pass by!"​