[Rory Waterman]

I couldn't disagree more either, David. But that is, certainly, what he is most remembered for and I think it's probably his funniest book. I feel fairly sure he might have agreed, in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, with Jake (let's not forget that this comment is said through the periscope of a character; he didn't necessarily think of Mozart as 'filthy', either): most poets of the Movement in the 1950s (and Amis was a fine poet) would surely have had little time for workshopping - or the term itself which is, frankly, vile. But it is interesting that Lucky Jim was heavily influenced by Larkin, who wrote all over tss, demanded more of this and less of that, etc. The difference is that Larkin was one respected peer and friend with a considerable emerging literary talent of his own.

I don't workshop poems, even here, though I respect the decision to do so and I can see what the considered thoughts of John, Janet, Susan, Janice, Mike, Clive and a great many others can do for a poem and its author's inspiration. I do, occasionally, show my nearly finished poems to respected peers, and of course I submit poems to magazines, etc: there's no point in hiding them in a drawer like dirty postcards (who said that? About Housman?). Whenever I have been in a workshop environment in the real, non-internet, flesh-and-faces world I've found myself in a back-patting set. Eratosphere differs because there is no social awkwardness about not patting backs and it is much, much more than just a workshop.

[David Landrum]

I had forgotten about Amis' poetry. What I've read of that I have liked. I did not know the connection with Larkin, though I'm sure there was this kind of cammeraderie in English literary circles. I imagine I'm being too harsh on him and using just the kind of hyperbole and overstatement he used when he made the remark about workshops.

[A. E. Stallings]

Unfounded praise is to be avoided, of course, but there is also a place for encouragement of promise. Some of our posters here are as young as 17--though this is not always announced. And a lot of folks here have come a long way since they first joined. Sometimes it seems there is an attitude of "scare them off" or trial by fire to new members who haven't yet got their footing, without giving people much of a fair shake. (Sorry for the three or four mixed metaphors there...)

[Steve Bucknell]

I agree with Rory that most face-to-face writing workshops inevitably(at least in England) involve a lot of enjoyable ego-stroking and networking. Real frankness can be tricky to achieve. I think Eratosphere offers us the chance to give and receive straightforward opinions and critiques buffered by the distance that the net provides. Of course hackles can still be raised and our sensitive egos can be bruised; but, in my short time here, I have seen people mostly treat each other with consideration.

I think the moderators do a thankless job really well. I agree with Alicia that new and less experienced members need encouragement, and I've seen them get this at Non-Met.(I don't vist Met as often.)On the other hand, I sometimes think that people post rudimentary-looking first drafts which don't even look spell-checked. I find this irritating and disrespectful to other members. I feel relieved when moderators -or someone- has the cojones to point this out to the poster. Steve.