Poetry Forum Updates

[The Poets]

I've been meaning to start this thread for the past month. I'd like to use it for updates, reminders, suggestions--not just from the moderators but all of you.

The poetry forum has been moderated for two years. I approached Laurel back in February 2004. At that time, we basically wanted a way to stick a welcome thread and contest threads. Over the past two years, we've been able to do a bit more than that. Hopefully, the forum has been running smoothly. The mods do their best to keep off-topic posts out of certain threads. We get rid of spam. We answer questions. Personally, I like having some sort of moderation on the forum. So, feel free to make comments or offer suggestions on what you'd like to see for the poetry board and moderation for 2006.

Most of you know Lauren Hynde and WickedEve are the mods. Lauren hasn't been able to be around as much lately. I am trying to check The Poet account more often. Always free to PM either of the mods or The Poets with questions. Another way to get quick answers to general questions is to simply post it. There are many posters here who have all the info you could ever ask for. Angeline is a former mod and always willing to help. Also, annaswirls and many other posters.

I'd like to also remind everyone of our poetry discussion forum. We have a decent amount of comments, but not many of you are posting your poems in the queue for discussion. I've been PMing members with requests for a poem. So, please consider posting a poem in the queue.

Here is a list of threads that have requested no off-topic posts:
30 Poems in 30 Days
New Poems Reviews
writing live
all of a sudden passion suddenly
More Medicine

Please try to keep the majority of our threads on the topic of poetry. We rarely remove threads--mostly spam--but we have had some problems in the past with "disappearing" threads. Mods do not delete threads. We only move them to the mod queue. Occasionally, a thread goes missing and cannot be located in the mod queue. I do not know what happens to them. This rarely happens, but you should be aware of it.

A special thank you to LeBroz who has made almost 1,700 comments on new poetry. Commenting is a great way to learn more about poetry and a wonderful way to support your fellow poet.

This thread will not be stuck, so when you see it bumped up, give it a quick check because it may contain some info you'll be interested in.


Eve

 

[Rybka]

Please add my "More Medicine" thread to the list of those requesting on topic posts only. - Please post all the jokes you want, but please refrain from making comments on them. I am trying to build a "Joke Archive" and would like to keep it as clean of extraneous comments as possible. - Thanks, Rybka

 

[wildsweetone]

you're doing an awesome job Eve, thank you

and Rybka, i'm sorry, i didn't realise you were not really wanting comments - i'll restrain myself, or something, in future.

 

[Rybka]

you're doing an awesome job Eve, thank you

and Rybka, i'm sorry, i didn't realise you were not really wanting comments - i'll restrain myself, or something, in future.

Don't worry! Just send jokes and money!

 

[Angeline]

Ditto all that Eve said, except for what she didn't say, which WSO did. To wit: Eve does a hell of a job and puts an awful lot of time and effort into keeping us happy.

And yes technically I'm not a moderator anymore, but uh technically I could help you out if you were really in a jam. Just so you know.

 

[The Poets]

Ditto all that Eve said, except for what she didn't say, which WSO did. To wit: Eve does a hell of a job and puts an awful lot of time and effort into keeping us happy.

And yes technically I'm not a moderator anymore, but uh technically I could help you out if you were really in a jam. Just so you know.

The one who really is a wonder woman on the board and behind the scenes is that little miss hynde.

Anyway, I'm open to suggestions. I know there is more the mods could do, but we may not know what it is until you tell us.

Agnes, I know where to find you. Even though you're not doing the mod thing, you do everything else around here. And anna really does go beyond the call of duty--and a few others. Oh, and Art. He really does have a group of poets who depend on him for advice and help.

I guess I'm just trying to make sure the board stays a successful poetry forum. I think we may need to occasionally ask ourselves if we're going in the right direction, or do we need to make changes, improvements, additions, etc.

 

[The Poets]

Please add my "More Medicine" thread to the list of those requesting on topic posts only. - Please post all the jokes you want, but please refrain from making comments on them. I am trying to build a "Joke Archive" and would like to keep it as clean of extraneous comments as possible. - Thanks, Rybka

Added.

 

[wildsweetone]

Don't worry! Just send jokes and money!

...see!

and then you go and post something like today's gem and all i want to do is post and tell you that I CAN RELATE! haruumph guess i'll just have to write little PMs to myself.



i don't know any jokes. i just read yours. and as for money... i'll add you to the line. lol

 

[wildsweetone]

The one who really is a wonder woman on the board and behind the scenes is that little miss hynde.

Anyway, I'm open to suggestions. I know there is more the mods could do, but we may not know what it is until you tell us.

Agnes, I know where to find you. Even though you're not doing the mod thing, you do everything else around here. And anna really does go beyond the call of duty--and a few others. Oh, and Art. He really does have a group of poets who depend on him for advice and help.

I guess I'm just trying to make sure the board stays a successful poetry forum. I think we may need to occasionally ask ourselves if we're going in the right direction, or do we need to make changes, improvements, additions, etc.

a little dicky bird reminded me yesterday that it's been A LONG TIME since we had a Same Title Challenge. she's busy dreaming up an idea for an upcoming challenge.

one can never write enough poetry, eh?

 

[WickedEve]

a little dicky bird reminded me yesterday that it's been A LONG TIME since we had a Same Title Challenge. she's busy dreaming up an idea for an upcoming challenge.

one can never write enough poetry, eh?

Are you volunteering to do a same title challenge--Little Dicky Bird?

 

[Angeline]

Are you volunteering to do a same title challenge--Little Dicky Bird?

If we have a same title challenge about little dicky birds, I am NOT doing it! You hear me now? I've written about the Pillsbury Doughboy, Flaming Disco Zombies, and god knows what else. I can't even remember them all.

I vote no on little dicky birds!

 

[wildsweetone]

the little dicky bird is whispering in my ear from beyond... (er should that be 'from behind'?) i'll give her a couple of days and see if she comes up with anything. if not, i'll dream up something if you like.




food for the hatbox...
- it'd be nice to be able to have poetry recognised as much as stories on Literotica - in little ways like searching poetry and like recognised competitions.
- it'd be nice to have official competitions.
- it'd be nice to have regular monthly competitions (even if not official)
- it'd be nice to have tutorials (do such things exist) where poets can try out a poetry form they've not tried before, or want to learn - but we need experts to put in a great deal of effort and time and i'm not sure people are free to do that.

okay i'll shut up again now.

 

[wildsweetone]

If we have a same title challenge about little dicky birds, I am NOT doing it! You hear me now? I've written about the Pillsbury Doughboy, Flaming Disco Zombies, and god knows what else. I can't even remember them all.

I vote no on little dicky birds!

is there something in the air today up there?

 

[annaswirls]

um, did you just propose a STC "Little Dicky Bird?"

Are you proposing we write about Mr. VP Cheney's misadventures?




edit: note to self: read entire thread before replying

let's do someting fun, community sprit. along the lines of partner poem challenge etc. hmmm

a little dicky bird reminded me yesterday that it's been A LONG TIME since we had a Same Title Challenge. she's busy dreaming up an idea for an upcoming challenge.

one can never write enough poetry, eh?

 

[annaswirls]

write to Laurel. I have sent her some of these suggestions before. I was just happy that they put the results of the VDay contest up in the awards thread.

There are many free ways to make poetry more accessible. Maybe we should do a petition for the FREE and EASY ways.... like having the word POETRY somewhere on the opening page. Just one little word.

The contest this month was nice-- if we can get new people to put up the prize money-- that would be cool. Eve said, maybe a spring one.

Maybe we can do another one inspired by a piece of visual art? That was fun too...

the little dicky bird is whispering in my ear from beyond... (er should that be 'from behind'?) i'll give her a couple of days and see if she comes up with anything. if not, i'll dream up something if you like.




food for the hatbox...
- it'd be nice to be able to have poetry recognised as much as stories on Literotica - in little ways like searching poetry and like recognised competitions.
- it'd be nice to have official competitions.
- it'd be nice to have regular monthly competitions (even if not official)
- it'd be nice to have tutorials (do such things exist) where poets can try out a poetry form they've not tried before, or want to learn - but we need experts to put in a great deal of effort and time and i'm not sure people are free to do that.

okay i'll shut up again now.

 

[wildsweetone]

write to Laurel. I have sent her some of these suggestions before. I was just happy that they put the results of the VDay contest up in the awards thread.

There are many free ways to make poetry more accessible. Maybe we should do a petition for the FREE and EASY ways.... like having the word POETRY somewhere on the opening page. Just one little word.

The contest this month was nice-- if we can get new people to put up the prize money-- that would be cool. Eve said, maybe a spring one.

Maybe we can do another one inspired by a piece of visual art? That was fun too...

I'll write and see what she thinks.

The visual art is great fun. Also the idea ewopper had - starting with a simple sentence and to write a poem about what someone is thinking. awesome fun that.

 

[Angeline]

is there something in the air today up there?

Nothing more than the usual ice and snow threats. I knew you weren't really proposing that as the title challenge. I was just being silly cause I'm getting over a virus and am deleriously happy not to feel pukey for the first time in two days.

TMI, I know, but there you have it.

 

[Angeline]

um, did you just propose a STC "Little Dicky Bird?"

Are you proposing we write about Mr. VP Cheney's misadventures?




edit: note to self: read entire thread before replying

let's do someting fun, community sprit. along the lines of partner poem challenge etc. hmmm

Ahahahahahaha.

That would make a verrrrry funny poem.

 

[flyguy69]

....A special thank you to LeBroz who has made almost 1,700 comments on new poetry. Commenting is a great way to learn more about poetry and a wonderful way to support your fellow poet.
....

Yes-- Thanks for the esprit de corps, LeBroz!

 

[wildsweetone]

Yes-- Thanks for the esprit de corps, LeBroz!

is there a French connection err... i mean a French section? You're right, LeBroz gives feedback that makes me want to write more (which can't be too bad a thing can it? don't answer that.)

i sent some feedback to Literotica.com (i.e. Laurel and Manu) via the feedback thingamiebob earlier today - before the half filled glass, long before (and i kept a copy of it cos i was in my right mind then) so we'll see if Laurel is planning some Poetry Pluses for the future.

Angeline, i hope you are feeling better soon.

..still waiting to hear from Ms Dickey Bird.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Lauren hasn't been able to be around as much lately.

Just because I'm quiet, it doesn't mean I'm not always here and watching.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

- it'd be nice to be able to have poetry recognised as much as stories on Literotica - in little ways like searching poetry and like recognised competitions.
- it'd be nice to have official competitions.
- it'd be nice to have regular monthly competitions (even if not official)

Laurel's position the last time we talked about this is that they can't hold official contests with actual prizes for poetry with things being as they are now, because so few people participate and vote. Any contest in this conditions is too vulnerable to fraud - even the anonymous contests we have, at least in the first voting round.

But maybe things will evolve. Who knows.

 

[Tathagata]

Just because I'm quiet, it doesn't mean I'm not always here and watching.

Wow, I just had some catechism flashbacks

 

[flyguy69]

I confess to a creeping discomfort with one of the topics here: threads that do not want off-topic posts. I fear that this well-intentioned requirement can spawn some unpleasant results.

That requirement seems to contradict the egalitarian spirit of the forum. Much as we say that once a poem is released into the wild the author surrenders control to readers and critics, thread starters should also be expected to tolerate alternative views of the purposes of the thread. On threads recently started for acrimonious debate some posters deliberately added silly, off-topic posts in an attempt to defuse the tension. I suspect the thread starters would have seen that as irritating distraction from the original intent, but it served a legitimate purpose in the minds of the posters.

I don't know that for sure, which may be the most important point. Since I can't know what service my threads will provide others, I must surrender some of the control to them. This cyber space is none of our personal domains, and none of us can legitimately restrict what others might want to say about anything we post.

I recognize there are situations in which compromising this principal benefits the community as a whole-- poems posted for contest evaluation, perhaps even reviews. But as a general rule I am opposed to any restrictions on the participation of other members.

 

[WickedEve]

Just because I'm quiet, it doesn't mean I'm not always here and watching.

Well, sweet little lurker!