I recently added the caveat above the comments that we are not looking for con-crit (constructive criticism) on our posts. No-one here is a professional poet, and we are not wanting to travel back in time to high school English class. Either you enjoy the poem or you don't. Please don't pick it apart.
Teammate Wanda wrote a poem, and several people took umbrage to the last line for whatever reason. I'm not sure what Wanda is going to do at this point. I hope she won't rewrite the poem, because I think it's fine the way it is. I also hope she won't pull it, and I definitely hope she won't become reluctant to contribute poems in the future.
The members of Team World all live with mental illness. Wanda and I both have depression and anxiety issues. It can be very difficult for us to come out of our shells. We have our blogs for the purpose of enjoyment and catharsis. Life has not been easy for any of the team members. We simply want a way to express ourselves and to leave reality behind for a while, because as The Cheesemeister/The Real Cie (our founder) is fond of saying, reality bites.
I'm aware that no-one was intending to be cruel with their words. However, in the future, we request no con-crit on our work. Thank you.
Ursula Andromeda
for
Team Netherworld
Well-written post, Ursula. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI instituted the no con-crit rule on The Netherworld and Undead in the Netherworld blogs. I should probably do so on the other creative blogs. I never did it here because there never had been any need to previously. I'm sorry I let you guys down. I'm especially sorry to Wanda for failing to protect you and your work.
Our blogs are supposed to be places where we can safely express ourselves. We have all endured enough criticism for simply being what we are. As you said, Ursula, the people voicing the criticism of Wanda's work did not intend to be cruel. The fault isn't theirs. It's mine for failing to protect my team by making a clear statement in the comment area regarding con-crit. Thank you so much for rectifying this problem.
I love you all.
Everyone has an opinion and on the Internet you can bet everyone has an opinion. It's your blog so do what you want. That's my motto.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. :)
Right on, Sandy. Thanks for the word of support!
DeleteI mean Sandee. Oops!
DeleteMy real name is Sandy, so I'm used to spelling it that way.
This is a good rule for us to have in place. When I'm having a bad day and write something to pick up my spirits, I sure as hell don't need anyone picking it apart! If I decide I want to polish it up for publication (somewhere besides our blogs) I'll ask someone to critique it.
ReplyDeleteCheese, I'm sure Wanda doesn't blame you. I didn't think of it either.
ReplyDeleteGood post, Ursula. Well said.
I think your group is great! I love your rule too. I once changed the entire look and theme of one of my blogs because I was horribly flamed by a person I didn't even know.
ReplyDeleteI only know Wanda here because sometimes she participates in the Real Toads poetry site. Her poems are nice, very pleasant, and sometimes bring a little smirk. I love those last kind. I am the worst poem writer (I didn't say poet) who posts there. I think some try too hard to be ___ (I don't know a real name for it right now, I'll say 'elegant').
..
Jim, I've taken down blogs in the past because of people saying hurtful things. There was this one guy who stalked me for more than a year. I finally obliterated my original blog because of him.
DeleteI'm glad you enjoy our work. There are a lot of different voices here. Most of us have hidden ourselves for the majority of our lives because we were ashamed of our mental illness. Since I'm one of the founders of this blog, I should have been more careful about protecting the members of the group. I really dropped the ball.
Thanks for stopping by!