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critiquing poetry

Chaotic Action Man

Chaotic Action Man

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May 25, 2003
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i'm lost please help!
i just responded to a poem posted by jeebus13;

here

and as i do critique some poems here i wanted to know your opinion, what constitutes a good critique vs one that has crossed the line. i would not want to upset people EVER through critiquing a poem. the only reason i do so is to make whomever a better writer. i would also hope the same applies to me, as i have recieved some critiques of my poems that caused me to look at them in a way i otherwise would have not. i came out of that a better writer.

this question i guess serves more as a guidline for responders. obviously attacks on a person or their writting maliciously is a no no (rightly so), but when does a critique turn from being constructive and benificial, to one of being harmful and negative?

please note i wrote this moments after responding to the other thread, and the idea just poped into mind. so i thought i would ask.
 
Feedback helps us grow, and I think the responses on how you made on how the poem is laid out (with spaces between the lines, etc.) is very beneficial to the writer. From what I remember reading in the Words guidelines, which I'm far too lazy to look at right now, it's basically that they didn't want to have blatant, needless, negative attacks on the content or style of the writer, which I agree with. So long as the criticism is constructive, and you're saying "the way you said this or laid this out doesn't work, perhaps this way will be more effective", I think you're doing the writer a lot of good -- so long as you expect and respect the same kind of beneficial, construtive criticism.

Not only does it show that you took a good look at what they said and how they said it (contents, package and delivery), but your offering them guidelines for growth in style. Granted, some people may view the kind of critique you made (and I've noticed it's rare that people give such critiques here on Words, probably for the same reason you were wary of it) as negative, but only, in my opinion, if they are really touchy... and they therefore shouldn't be posting in a public forum.

As I said, I've been pretty wary of posting critiques myself, so I usually don't comment on a peice unless it's incredibly moved me. And I'm occasionally senstive to criticism myself -- yeah, I'm touchy in general, has anyone noticed? -- and I try not to invite it by giving it... but I fucking need it, damn it.

So, in short, I think one has crossed the line when they are not being constructive. And I think it's a pretty bold line... you can only really cross it by pure neglegence or by an obvious intent
to be blatantly disrespectful.

Good topic to bring up, though.
 
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I agree completely with Rewiiired on this. Personally, I find even negative criticism helpful. Nothing you can SAY can hurt me really, it's the actions that get me. I really appreciate it when people take the time and really look at a work of mine with a true critical eye. If EVERYONE agreed with what I wrote, I would stop writing. I think that we really need more of this, and I plan on implementing more classical criticism in my forum browsing. And Action Man, if you ever feel the need to tell me something about my writing, feel free... anyone. It'll only make me better.
 
ok cool. thanks for the replies. i'm just sensitive to hurt feelings. i have pretty thick skin, but i know others do not. i wanted to put the feelers out, because critiqued poetry can be sensitive. i think we have a pretty good group of people who come here though, and the feedback is usually just that, good constructive criticisms.

lord knows our brains sometimes can not see things outside of the creation. having some feedback can give us that perspective our brains would never go to on their own. once some new way of looking, constructing, or interpreting a poem is pointed out, we can gain greater insight into our own work.

i like it when someone takes a completely different view on what i was saying in a poem. they sometimes ask if that was what i was writing about, or intended to convey to them, when in reality it does not matter. the thing is they took something away from the piece, and better yet if it is something i had not seen, and they point out to me. i always think of poems and art in general, as free for interpretation. the creator may have something in mind, but the interpretation of it to everyone else is open so they can take away whatever they needed to.

there is never a wrong interpretation.
 
The following is taken from the guidelines for the Words forum.

2) POSITIVE CRITICISM ONLY
We, the moderators, would like to keep the atmosphere in this forum as POSITIVE as possible. We don’t want to discourage anyone from posting, and we understand that some matters are very personal and may be difficult for the person to post. Therefore, please only reply when you can do so in a POSITIVE nature. If you don’t like a poem, then move on. Negative comments will be modified or deleted as the moderators feel necessary. There will be NO DEBATING in this forum. If you want to debate or discuss an issue, we refer you to The Lounge, where discussions are welcomed. And if you have a comment you want to share with the author that you don’t feel meets these guidelines, then by all means, take it to email. NO DRAMA IN THIS FORUM.

3) CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
If you have a work that you WOULD LIKE to have critiqued, and you are open to ALL FORMS of constructive criticism, then we encourage you to put “PLEASE CRITIQUE” either in your title or at the top of your post. We will do our best to offer you suggestions. Also, you might want to submit your work to the Portfolio Forum, where artistic critique is always offered.

~

Basically saying that your comments must be positive unless the author specifically asks for all forms of criticism. Yes constructive criticism does help us improve as writers.... however not everyone posts their words in here in order to be critiqued.

Hope this answers your question :)
 
I've only posted one poem so far. But I'd like any and all comments, be they good or bad about my poetry to be shared with me. I'll just have to leave a PM negative comments to me please footnote on them or something.

Eh, I need to get myself to spend a little more time in the Words forum here. I'll figure it out sometime, and then I'll get some stuff out there for critiquing. :)
 
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