Dear YDD

Hats off to you SavgeWolf!!!!!!

Seems YDD is only making comments to stay at the top of the comments list. Ahh payback... Don't you just love it???

I love it. I have to say, it's one thing to critique someone. It's quite another to just hack at their writing. There is also a NICE way to critique someone. (As anyone with HALF a brain knows, when you critique someone, you should ALWAYS point out the GOOD points along with the BAD, without putting too much emphasis on the bad!!!)Just because someone has misspelled words, et cetera, does not give anyone else the right to put them down as being "uneducated" or an idiot. I feel sorry for people who have nothing better to do than to put other people down. I truly believe it's just a typical a case of insulting someone to make themselves feel better about their sorry existence.

I had read some of his caustic reviews. Althought I believe in free speech and encourage comments on my stories, I do not like someone acting like they are on a personal mission to attack fellow writers or poets. I still would like to see something written by YDD. It must be exceptional.

Not sure it's a poem or what, but I've been fascinated by comments made by YDD on poetry before. It always bothered me that YDD was continually talking about using to many pronouns, etc. and wondering if the poet had a general audience in mind without considering that sometimes people write for their own enjoyment, maybe for just one other person or whatever reason other than a general audience. It used to bother me YDD didn't have any poems posted on the site. Me personally, I enjoyed the read even though it seems more of a rant than anything else. On the other hand, when you put something on here, people are going to take shots at it while others will love it. I've put some poetry on here but it's basically shit and I'm not sure YDD has ever commented on it-probably has I guess. So, I've read what he's written on other poems that seemed to come from the heart and I disagree YDD has made positive comments except to a few select poets, but that's okay. I never thought I'd say this, but there's a place for the YDDs of this world and besides, it's a fucking website that doesn't get that many reads on poetry anyway. The fact is, there are some good poets on here, at least ones I've enjoyed reading like Lauren, sweetsubsarahh, Angeline and a couple others. So shit, now I'm coming to the defense of YDD but still enjoying what you wrote. Some have and some haven't. On the other hand, I hate the anonymous people that post comments and I don't agree you should turn off the public comments or block a particular person(didn't know you could do that anyway). Those suggesting that are guilty of what you say YDD is guilty of. So, like I say-a fun read written by you for you or for others and not for the world in general-but that's okay. Now to make myself anonymous...lol

I woke up this morning...they let me know you were gone...

oooppss...

that's not my thoughts...that's a song blurb by Taylor...damn how the two become entwined when you can identify with them...

anyways...

I woke up this afternoon after sleeping in till noon, my first off day in six days (no rest for a postal worker).

I signed online and checked the status of my writings...to my amazement I had 18 comments...on a piece! Including my new found critic YDD! I skimmed over the comments...signed off line. I had a couple cups of coffee and a few smokes while reading the paper. I then stepped in the shower (love it hot with a bar of Zest soap), got out...dryed off, and continued with the rest of my routines such as shaving, brushing teeth...etc. I put on my "off day" jeans, faded...worn...holes here and there. I picked out my favorite Metellica T-shirt, the one from the 'black album' tour, to wear. I pulled on my cowboy boots...broken in to perfection....and a final splash of English Leather, a spray of hold to the hair....and now I'm starting my one glorious off day.

Well now...back to you all!

First off...for my dissenters...

I understand how upset you might feel if I sliced and diced a critic that just wanted to help improve my writing with a few simple suggestions. But...I suddenly realized, if you don't follow my work nor read others comments to each work, then you wouldn't have any idea of what I'm writing about. So here's my new found best buddies (YDD) comments to some of my works...........

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A rant

04/21/04 by YDD

Much anger and many mistakes

So much it hides any truth.

Written in the style of an angry young man who quit school too soon.

Delete the above comment.

~~~~~~~~~

A working list poem

04/22/04 by YDD

By filling out the repeating line with well developed thoughts you make it work.

This poem is not dark nor full of expletives.

I think it one of your best.

while to old folks" - the "to" should be "two"

"I am

a womans brother

whom she's relyed on for comfort

to see her through a rocky marriage

with nothin to offer but love and support

I'm he"

"womans" is possessive

"relyed" has no "y"

and I believe "whom" doesn't want the "m" ??

Delete the above comment.

~~~~~~~~~

Story notes

04/11/04 by YDD

This is straight description. It leaves nothing for the reader to imagine. The words might be good notes for a future sex scene in a story, but I fail to see the poetry. Perhaps you should expand the length and resubmit it as a short story.

~~~~~~~~~

Meandering muses

04/23/04 by YDD

Ramblings and memory rumblings,

something most have had.

You can see the mind jump and thoughts,

almost stream of consciousness.

Worth reading.

edit:

"as I will long after your gone" - "your" should be "you're"

"nolonger" is two words

"as Frost once wrote...Nothing golden can stay" - The correct quotation is "Nothing gold can stay"

~~~~~~~~~~

Ira Hayes was a Pima

04/21/04 by YDD

Another rant that holds some truth,

stronger this time,

but again the errors distract from the message.

~~~~~~~~~~

three...I'm out

04/21/04 by YDD

You are correct.

This is a story far more than a poem.

Have you considered collecting all of your work,

redacting the duplication,

and making something of story length?

~~~~~~~~~~

okay....what were the poems? One was about eating out my wife, another about my two suicide attempts, another about my American Indian blood line, another about the disconnection of ourselves from each other though we share the same moments of each day, another was about the god so many whorship but who isn't there for us when we need him most...

while it's true, he (YDD) didn't carve me up with a hunting knife, it is also true I resisted the temptation to do him the same, in my poem. YDD got off with a little 'tweak' to the nose...if you want to see an example of what I can do with a knife, using only the truth...read my poem "slut"...you'll understand after reading that one...I used as friendly and as civil a tone as I'm humanly capable of. YDD and I have, in an inadvertently way...helped each other...go figure.

anyways.............

If YDD could show his right to critique a poem, by showing he's an expert at "writing" himself, as well as show a little respect for someone's feelings by starting out his critique with "Dude! I love this and this about your writing...here's a place you could change or edit to make it speak louder"....but YDD doesn't show why his opinion should matter, nor does he show any human feeling for the ground he walks on (which is the heart and soul of others).

We all experienced those teachers that cared nothing about their students...they wanted summers off, and picked a job that could give them that...they, if anyone, are the worst of people on this earth...next to child molesters and rapists...they take the future out of anothers life, usually another that is incapable of defending themselves, just to feed their own need for satisfaction or fame, just to inflate their own ego to a size they desire and using the blood sweat and tears of another to do so. They do not create...they steal...and use for their own good...to achieve their fame.

Now....on to the comments delievered upon me by you readers. Thank you. Thats all I can say. You took the time to read my work, my writing, and again took the time to respond. While reading the various comments, the good and bad...a symphony played in my head...I heard the solemn keys of 'Chopin's' piano, I relished the sound of 'Metallica's' guitar strings, I felt the soulful feelings in 'George Jones' tones....

another comparison maybe some of you will relate too....

One of my favorite movies is "Barfly"...Mickey Rourke (sp?) played the main character...he was an alcholic with a genius mind. Anyways...in one scene, after a night of fighting and drinking, he is returning to a bar with the sandwiches two fat businessmen are paying him with drinks to go and get....he is stumbling down a sidewalk...past a van with a dog locked in it. The dog (a german shepard or something simiar) starts growling and barking, Rourke stops, squints into the dogs eyes and growls back...the dog goes nuts barking and growling...Rourke smiles to himself and says "Beautiful"....as I did while reading all your comments. Eve was right...I am satisfied with the results of my writings...I'm being read. And, as I've stated in the past...if at least one person enjoys what I've written...I'm happy and my work is justified...for life is only worth something if your making someone happy...I've done so. The rest who belittle me or my writting...hey...what can I say...the jokes on you if you really feel that way...you took precious moments from your life not only to read it but also to respond to it...and I thank you.

There were a couple comments that were down right attacking...and you folks know who you are. Ask yourself these thoughts..."what was it about this writing that disturbed me so?, is it something I want to do but am afraid to do that made me react that way?" "Did something he say hit a nerve, that is so tender and vulnerable that, just seeing it touched in a poem drove me to strike back?" ....ask yourselves these two questions. I don't ask you to do this as a retaliation...I ask you to do this only to help you reach a greater understanding of what your running from....and do not doubt it for a second...each of us is fleeing something...that something only differs as we differ.

Peace to you all...thank you once again for your time.

Wolf

Reading through these comments, I have to ask who is anyone to hold a standard of what makes a piece good, bad or otherwise? One thing about the great poets of time was they were different than everyone else. They carved their own niche. You're entitled to your opinion, but people take whatever they want from the written words. What is bad to one person, may be spectacular to someone else. To each his/her own.

Bonus points for the poem though. I enjoyed it.

"Do you love it? Do you hate it? There it is. . . the way you made it!" - F.Z.

As far as I know, I have never denigrated a poet as a person, and I apologize if my writing has been so ambiguous as to be misconstrued in that manner. I do not make arguments Ad Hominem. I do make comments on and suggest potential corrections to poems. My comments are meant to be constructive, and if I can, I try to say something positive about the poem or to the author.

I decided to start giving some honest opinions on poems because I found too many comments were just superficial "atta boys" and "way to go girls". I do believe that the level of commentary has become more honest and constructive since I began, and I think this is good. Don't all poets want to improve?

I generally do not vote on the PC forum unless a poem is very exceptional. I think my comments should stand unrelated to a judgement of value. I would prefer the option of turning off the thermometer, but since it is unavailable I leave it at default.

I don't post as "anonymous" because I feel a critic should be identifiable, but I have chosen not to post any writing under this sobriquet because I am certain that anything by "YDD" would be attacked by too many because of the author, not evaluated on its own merit.

If my PCs on your efforts bother you then you have the option of not allowing public comments, or you can just delete them when you encounter them. But why do you post on a public forum if you do not want to be read by, and have an effect upon other people?

I must be doing something right, my commentary inspired you to write a poem.

Thank you for the effort. This time I will assume any errors are intentional. ;)

YDD

I would love to read some of his work, but there isn't any. I would like to see what this "master critique person" has to present to the mix. His comments also remind me of the red pen. Thanks again!

So SavgeWolf, you would like to remain true to yourself? Well, your state of mind indicates an ignorant being. 'A little education is a dangerous thing'applies in your case.

I have no idea who YDD is -totally unrelated to me. However, I can tell you that some of us will allow for the odd typo here and there, but personally I really can't be bothered reading contributions from people who didn't pay attention in grade school and failed spelling and grammar.

I suggest that you do some serious studying before you try writing in a public arena again.

What has defending one's country got to do with showing yourself up as being arrogantly uneducated? Surely, you're not suggesting that you have to be this way inclined to be in the armed forces?

such a thing as common politeness in giving critiques

An acid tongue, pen or whatever the medium doesn't make a proper 'constructive' critique.

This is what people are 'whining' about... His TONE is off-putting and needlessly cruel to make his point to most of aspiring poets.

Who the fuck wants to take pointers from someone who uses a pitchfork?