Eratosphere - Out of the pool!

Eratosphere (https://www.ablemuse.com/erato/index.php)

- General Talk (https://www.ablemuse.com/erato/forumdisplay.php?f=21)

- - Out of the pool! (https://www.ablemuse.com/erato/showthread.php?t=15019)

Maybe one of Yogi Berra's famous comments explains what happened with TDE:

"Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded."

Doesn't it kind of make sense that the Deep End would receive less traffic if it's for polished poems and in-depth critique? Both of those things take time.

I'm in the minority in thinking that the Deep End and maybe Metrical should be harsher, colder, snobbier. When I joined in 2005, I liked the feeling that I was in way over my head. I don't feel like that anymore, because I've either gotten better or everyone else has gotten worse.

To the Way Back Machine for some perspective . . . (Long-term members, prepare for a wave of nostalgia at the old Blue Screen!)

http://web.archive.org/web/200502100...use.com/erato/

http://web.archive.org/web/200504030...use.com/erato/

http://web.archive.org/web/200506080...use.com/erato/

I mean, my God, look at the stats for June 8 there! It's 90 to 22. Met is DEAD! Time to fold it up, and just forget about the whole thing. Right?

Wrong.

Met is a great poetry board. But then, so is the Deep End. Participation on each goes in cycles, and sometimes, yes, it really does look like one is being outpaced by the other. But it's not a race, and all that really matters is that good poems get posted, and with a little helpful critique, maybe even get better. The two boards represent different "philosophies" as to how best to enable that process (though naturally, there's a great deal of overlap between them) and some people prefer one to the other, but that's no reason to attack--or eliminate--either.

This is where you lose me, Walter:

"snobbier"

Wow, Stephen! Yep, a trip down memory lane. Now I'm thinking that one metrical board that set high standars for critique is probably enough.

Thanks for the link.
Donna

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orwn Acra (Post 209627)

Doesn't it kind of make sense that the Deep End would receive less traffic if it's for polished poems and in-depth critique? Both of those things take time.

Orwn, I haven't seen a real difference in the quality of poems or crits between the boards. Except when those new to meter and/or to the Sphere usually post to Met. And sometimes those poems are beginnerish flops. And most new members (and some old too) don't dive right in with tell it like it is, detailed crits on either board. FV included. Funny light poems get posted more at Met, but I don't know why.

Glad to hear your thoughts on this.
Donna

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Murphy (Post 209613)

I appreciate the efforts being made to keep the Deed End alive, especially by Stephen, John, Cathy and Michael. I still post an occasional poem for auld lang syne, but I think this board croaked about the time Carol Taylor, Alan Sullivan and Jim Hayes abandoned it. People who could not be replaced.

So on one hand you thank them for their "efforts," and on the other hand you tell them that they've failed?

Is that it? Have I got that straight?

The board croaked when Alan, Carol and Jim "abandoned" it because they were irreplacable?

They were all good people - no doubt about it.....but the people here now are good people, too. Widely published, knowledgable and extremely generous with their time and talent.

Besides, it's summer and summer's are notoriously slow everywhere.

That and we're all getting older.

I think Alex should just secretly -- in the middle of the night when no one is watching -- switch the titles of the the two forums, and see if anyone notices.

David R.

David, that made me laugh first, hmmm? second.

Cheers!
Donna

Yes, the discussion comes up regularly. But that should tell you something, shouldn't it? It's obviously a question worth asking repeatedly.

As for myself, I haven't posted in either crit forum for a very long time. I have my reasons. A lot of it is due to the level of harshness I received when I first joined Eratosphere -- though to be fair, I jumped right in without getting a feel for the place first. I think my first ever post was in Accomplished Members. More fool me.

I can see the merit in having two separate metrical critique forums, but I don't think either of them are well-defined. Perhaps having more definitive standards would help. Like...those with ten or more publication credits can post in the Deep End. Though that excludes some great poets who don't actively submit their work. Perhaps 20 poems are required in Metrical before a poster can post in TDE? Well, there are downsides to that as well. Some "new voices" to Eratosphere might be very old voices in terms of poetic output and/or ability.

So what is the harm in merging the two? Well, you'd (theoretically) get dilution of quality work, but then again we can all pick and choose what we'd like to critique anyhow, can we not? And merging the two would (for good or ill) get rid of the occasional perception of cliqueyness in TDE.

I dunno. I don't have a dog in this race, really. It would take a lot for me to be persuaded to put my work up for critique again in either case.