Fred -
I read the poem you recently withdrew as well as the entire thread with Simon's comments - plus every other thread of your poetry I could find - and I think you are greatly over-reacting.
Over the past several months you have received a good deal of excellent, honest, and mature criticism from a diverse group of poets on a number of your posts. Many pointed out problems and difficulties with your work. (You post ambitious, but often difficult and/or confusing poetry, and I don't think that's surprising.)
Some individuals were contentious. Grown-up poets disagree and argue - that's life. But what I essentially saw was a series of mature comments on mature poetry, with the basic aim of providing guidance that would help you with your work. I urge you to go back and look at your posts that are still up - the totality of them, not a few comments - and rethink your reactions. If you really want to announce that you will pull your poems whenever you receive what you perceive as an ad hom or spiteful remark, I suspect you will see more of the, "I really liked your images. Thank you for sharing," stuff and less real criticism, and that would not be helpful for you or the Sphere.
I can't comment on your "sensitivity", except to say that I honestly feel that - if the kind of crits and back-and-forth I see on your posts is that disturbing to you - you are letting it get in the way of improving your poetry; and possibly you have to consider what is most important to you.
Michael Cantor
[This message has been edited by Michael Cantor (edited September 19, 2004).]
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