Feedback: when you don't know what to say

[WickedEve]

I try to leave Public Comments often. I read most of the poems, but there are times that I can't think of a thing to say. One poet has submitted a few poems recently that I haven't been able to comment on. I just couldn't think of anything. I know I could go with "I like it" or "Nice," but that seems so lame. (I've done it before, though.)

How about: "I just want you to know that I read your poem. Thank you for sharing." I think that works.

I hate the rating system that shows with the comments. I feel like a heel if I don't leave, at least, 75. There are poems that I really don't want to rate or can't decide on. I could go with the neutral 50, but I'm sure that's insulting to the poet. There should be an option to leave no rating.

 

[perks]

I feel the same way. I always feel awkward leaving a comment unless I'm in critique mode. It would be way easier without the thermometers.
I wish there was something I could just check off that said."perks was here", or something a bit more savvy.

Plus a button that just let you post instead of having to view first, would work too.

Oh and another thing, I'd love to be able to go to my author page and read a comment, and be able to click on the name of my poem and be hyperlinked to the poem, so I could read the comments side by side with the poem. I don't always remember what I wrote and need a refresher.

 

[fawnie]

I feel the same way. I always feel awkward leaving a comment unless I'm in critique mode. It would be way easier without the thermometers.
I wish there was something I could just check off that said."perks was here", or something a bit more savvy.

Plus a button that just let you post instead of having to view first, would work too.

Oh and another thing, I'd love to be able to go to my author page and read a comment, and be able to click on the name of my poem and be hyperlinked to the poem, so I could read the comments side by side with the poem. I don't always remember what I wrote and need a refresher.

yep..i have complaints with both these issues myself!

 

[Maria2394]

I try to leave Public Comments often. I read most of the poems, but there are times that I can't think of a thing to say. One poet has submitted a few poems recently that I haven't been able to comment on. I just couldn't think of anything. I know I could go with "I like it" or "Nice," but that seems so lame. (I've done it before, though.)

How about: "I just want you to know that I read your poem. Thank you for sharing." I think that works.

I hate the rating system that shows with the comments. I feel like a heel if I don't leave, at least, 75. There are poems that I really don't want to rate or can't decide on. I could go with the neutral 50, but I'm sure that's insulting to the poet. There should be an option to leave no rating.

the little rating thermometer is a pain. I dont mind at all if someone leaves a comment and its stuck at the 50, but I always try not to leave it there when I comment because once I forgot and got a little note back asking why I said i liked it but only left a 50.... so, you are definitely right about the offending some of the poets.

I like your suggestion, that you read it, thanks for sharing, or something close to that. But I hate when someone says ..thats interesting, they might as well say, it was soo dull, but different at least, well, interesting is more of a bug than a 50, in my opinion

 

[WickedEve]

Re: Re: Feedback: when you don't know what to say

the little rating thermometer is a pain. I dont mind at all if someone leaves a comment and its stuck at the 50, but I always try not to leave it there when I comment because once I forgot and got a little note back asking why I said i liked it but only left a 50.... so, you are definitely right about the offending some of the poets.

I like your suggestion, that you read it, thanks for sharing, or something close to that. But I hate when someone says ..thats interesting, they might as well say, it was soo dull, but different at least, well, interesting is more of a bug than a 50, in my opinion

Oh god, I say interesting all the time. lol Or it's nice.
But my interesting and nice are meant in a good way.
Maria, you're interesting and nice.

 

[minsue]

That's the main reason I rarely comment. I'm trying to break that habit, but it's difficult since I don't usually have anything to say other than, "Yup. Liked it."

 

[OT]

signs of life are good.
I appreciate the little extra effort that anyone takes to vote, send feedback or PC.
The content of each matter less than the effort.

I (maybe incorrectly) assume that other writer's are of like mind, so I don't mind sending a lame sounding "letting you know I liked what you wrote" via the old fashioned email way. I'm still a little bit afraid of the public comments for the reasons that you mentioned. I hate to sound lame in public.

P.S. Interesting post, maria

 

[WickedEve]

Personally, I'd take "I read it and I don't get." I just want PC.
I want to know it was read.
Of course, if you swear to worship my poetry because you love it so much, that's fine. I wouldn't mind that comment at all.

 

[JCSTREET]

well--it's pretty scary is all I can say--almost as scary as an earwig creeping into one's ear at night and eating the portion of the brain which produces poetry

and I wish there were .5 ratings

3.5 4.5 etc

does that cover it

I try to leave Public Comments often. I read most of the poems, but there are times that I can't think of a thing to say. One poet has submitted a few poems recently that I haven't been able to comment on. I just couldn't think of anything. I know I could go with "I like it" or "Nice," but that seems so lame. (I've done it before, though.)

How about: "I just want you to know that I read your poem. Thank you for sharing." I think that works.

I hate the rating system that shows with the comments. I feel like a heel if I don't leave, at least, 75. There are poems that I really don't want to rate or can't decide on. I could go with the neutral 50, but I'm sure that's insulting to the poet. There should be an option to leave no rating.

 

[annaswirls]

I try to leave Public Comments often. I read most of the poems, but there are times that I can't think of a thing to say. One poet has submitted a few poems recently that I haven't been able to comment on. I just couldn't think of anything. I know I could go with "I like it" or "Nice," but that seems so lame. (I've done it before, though.)

How about: "I just want you to know that I read your poem. Thank you for sharing." I think that works.

I hate the rating system that shows with the comments. I feel like a heel if I don't leave, at least, 75. There are poems that I really don't want to rate or can't decide on. I could go with the neutral 50, but I'm sure that's insulting to the poet. There should be an option to leave no rating.

Goddamn! I wrote a comment today and deleted it because I did not want to leave a 75 on this persons poem which is what I thought it was--- good but not 100, you know

I sat there and though
damn I wish I could comment without that stupid thermometer. What is its purpose? There isnt one.

you can put a 100 on a thermometer and vote 1, 2, 3 etc

I know this happens--

so silly Kill the Thermometer!

 

[normal jean]

signs of life are good.
I appreciate the little extra effort that anyone takes to vote, send feedback or PC.
The content of each matter less than the effort.

I (maybe incorrectly) assume that other writer's are of like mind, so I don't mind sending a lame sounding "letting you know I liked what you wrote" via the old fashioned email way. I'm still a little bit afraid of the public comments for the reasons that you mentioned. I hate to sound lame in public.

P.S. Interesting post, maria

OT,. I like the way you send FB and I havent told you lately, but I appreciate getting notes from you and so does normal jean..she just cant get her yahoo mail to let her answer and then we both put it off and wind up seeming like an ingrate

so, thank you from the bottom of our very grateful heart

and Eve, you guys know what I mean, you can tell when someone says interesting and means boring, by the context of the rest of the note right? like this one lady, I scolded her grandkids for running in the store ( i was polite), they almost knocked me down

and she came up to me and cussed me out, I called her an old bat and then she stomped her feet at me and Blessed me and we both knew she was saying GO to Hell..I HATE when that happens, my kid had to stop me from going after her..dang hipocrites, now THEY Are interesting and really really nice

 

[twelveoone]

Personally, I'd take "I read it and I don't get." I just want PC.
I want to know it was read.
Of course, if you swear to worship my poetry because you love it so much, that's fine. I wouldn't mind that comment at all.

Can I say both as a comment?
I've read alot of yours, sometimes I don't get them, I just figured I'm dumb. It's good to see you having trouble with this also.

You people are too nice and polite, take a lesson from YDD leave it on 50 unless it really deserves it to be moved.

BTW all above, I swear to worship..., and most of time I don't get it

and I thank you for the comments you've given me - Perks I loved your comment, (I don't know what the fuck, he's talking about...)but I would have liked to seen it as a comment, just by chance I caught it

 

[perks]

and I thank you for the comments you've given me - Perks I loved your comment, (I don't know what the fuck, he's talking about...)but I would have liked to seen it as a comment, just by chance I caught it

maybe when I do the saturday reviews, I'll put the critiques in the comments of the poem and c&p them to the review.

 

[WickedEve]

Re: Re: Feedback: when you don't know what to say

Goddamn! I wrote a comment today and deleted it because I did not want to leave a 75 on this persons poem which is what I thought it was--- good but not 100, you know

I sat there and though
damn I wish I could comment without that stupid thermometer. What is its purpose? There isnt one.

you can put a 100 on a thermometer and vote 1, 2, 3 etc

I know this happens--

so silly Kill the Thermometer!

I get 75s and I'm cool with them, because I have enough sense to know that some of my poems are better than some of my other ones. 75 still means good but not your best... but good. lol

A 50 is tricky. The commenter may have forgotten to rate and just left it on default or they thought my poem was so so. I always convince myself that they used the default.

 

[Angeline]

I almost never have time to read and comment on everything posted on a particular day, so I don't make as many comments as I think I should. My main criterion is liking the poem. If I have a "blah" or worse reaction, I tend not to say anything, just move on quickly--though often my failure to comment means I just didn't have time to read it.

And I hate giving numbers or percentages to poems, though I do vote, but it's like grades--to me meaningless without explanation. I really do try though--when I comment--to articulate what specifically I did or didn't like about the poem, and I appreciate it when I get that in a comment on one of my own.

 

[Tathagata]

i just say I liked it
great
wonderful
awesome
whatever
there are some i just vote on
but sometimes
i cant put into words
( at 4 am)
what I feel
so I know many of my reviews seem.......robotic
trust me
they aren't
if i comment it reaches me in a way that...due to time or whatever, i cant express properly
also I know I have a tendency to go on and on ina zen or fanciful way
i try and avoid that now too
lol

so basically if i say i like it
i do

 

[annaswirls]

T- your comments are never robotic. I feel badly when someone comments and I do not send a thanks. I really love comments, and am sorry I am in a phase right now when I don't leave many, but I do vote on everything except for the kind of poem I do not feel qualified to vote on since I cannot tell between "good" and "not so good"


like I cannot tell between good and bad tomatoes because I just do not have a taste for them at all.


I think I am going to start a thermometer protest and just leave 50's and a note

Just say no to thermodynamics!

Thermal equilibrium!!!

and OT, I always love the way you leave feedback, I try to do that too sometimes.


Anan

 

[Tathagata]

T- your comments are never robotic. I feel badly when someone comments and I do not send a thanks. I really love comments, and am sorry I am in a phase right now when I don't leave many, but I do vote on everything except for the kind of poem I do not feel qualified to vote on since I cannot tell between "good" and "not so good"


like I cannot tell between good and bad tomatoes because I just do not have a taste for them at all.

Anan

that's ok Anna
when you do leave feed back it means so much more...

I may have to educate you in tomatoes though.......

( sliced warm..on a plate drizzeled with extra virgin olive oil and a little oregano........and a piece of crusty french bread...)
ahhhhhhhhhhh
and a glass of red..
that is life......



and you have yummy feet

 

[Eleanora Day]

i just say I liked it
great
wonderful
awesome
whatever
there are some i just vote on
but sometimes
i cant put into words
( at 4 am)
what I feel
so I know many of my reviews seem.......robotic
trust me
they aren't
if i comment it reaches me in a way that...due to time or whatever, i cant express properly
also I know I have a tendency to go on and on ina zen or fanciful way
i try and avoid that now too
lol

so basically if i say i like it
i do

Why are you up writing comments at 4 am? You should be alseep.

 

[Tathagata]

Why are you up writing comments at 4 am? You should be alseep.

tis a long story
lol
best told over a pint
join me??

 

[twelveoone]

Personally, I'd take "I read it and I don't get." I just want PC.
I want to know it was read.
Of course, if you swear to worship my poetry because you love it so much, that's fine. I wouldn't mind that comment at all.

Subject
...
Comment
...

I read, Its good, I have nothing to say, see thermometer
I feel you should explain yourself, if you find its not good. I see alot of good poems, that for some reason I do not wish to revisit to find something to say. I do not like blind voting. Is this ok?

 

[tarablackwood22]

I just had a short and very friendly debate with an experienced poet here about leaving comments on poetry written by 'new poets' to the website.

I feel strongly that I need to leave positive feedback (or none at all) for any new poet whose early poetry shows promise -- as a sign of encouragement and to let them know they had something of worth -- even if that feedback is not telling the whole story.

So many new poets seem to be popping up daily -- it would be very healthy for this community to grow larger -- what better way is there to help that growth than to assist with a newbie's footing until they find balance?

And -- much of the feedback between experienced poets is based as much on friendship as objectivity. I am thankful to have writers of experience here where faults can be shared and explored in private PM's -- it's tough to leave negative comments out there in public on the words of someone whose writing I love, so I do that with my silence, and explore perceived weaknesses privately through PM and e-mail.

 

[WickedEve]

Subject
...
Comment
...

I read, Its good, I have nothing to say, see thermometer
I feel you should explain yourself, if you find its not good. I see alot of good poems, that for some reason I do not wish to revisit to find something to say. I do not like blind voting. Is this ok?

Maybe "I read it" isn't enough. It's just depressing to post a poem and not receive a single comment. I have poems like that and it leaves me wondering what's wrong with them. I just want to know that someone at least read the poem.

 

[WickedEve]

And by the way, I rarely leave a "It's good" comment. I tend to write a bit more, maybe too much.

 

[Tathagata]

And by the way, I rarely leave a "It's good" comment. I tend to write a bit more, maybe too much.

I like when you say
"Change it now monkey"

That tells me you read it