[Laura Heidy-Halberstein]

Originally Posted by Janet Kenny

I
It's acceptable for a judge to add to the discussion if that's what the judge wants.

It's not OK for a selector to take the place of the judge. I'm sure Cathy didn't realise what it implied when she suggested it.

If there were a separate contest judged by Cathy it would be entirely a different matter. Those would be the terms of admittance.

Janet

Of course, it's acceptable for the judge to add to the discussion - that's why people entered their poems, wasn't it? To hear what a well-known or well-respected person thought of their offering.

As for the "selector" taking the place of the judge, isn't the "selector" the very first judge the poem must get past? If he/she doesn't judge it one of the best it ain't gonna go no further.

"Terms of admittance?" Now we have "terms of admittance?"

The terms are pretty straightforward, Janet, send the "selector" (otherwise recognized as the "first judge") your poem and take your chances. Either the poem gets picked or it doesn't. Either people agree with the selection or they don't. Either the person who entered the poem is happy or he isn't.

What the hell is wrong with posting a few others? I believe Rose did the same thing last year when she posted poems she truly liked but did not feel comfortable sending them on the the "Second Judge" (otherwise known as the "Important One.") We all commented on them and congratulated the authors when it was over.

Some of us even liked those better than the ones ultimately judged by the "Important One."

What on earth is the big deal????

It's a wonder anyone at all ever agrees to screen poems here. It's like cutting a birthday cake for 10 starving 5 year olds. "I want the bigger peice." "No, I want the bigger piece." "Why does she get to say who gets the bigger piece? " "Because it's her party." "I don't care whose party it is, I want the bigger piece."

It's nice to be invited at all. One should be grateful for the opportunity.

One should say so.

Thanks, Catherine, for doing a thankless job.

I'm outa town for a few weeks -and outa puter-range, as well.

Ya'all have a good time.

Lo

[Janet Kenny]

That's your way of looking at it Lo. I think I am out of place here.

Janet

[Quincy Lehr]

Originally Posted by Janet Kenny

That's your way of looking at it Lo. I think I am out of place here.

Janet

Janet--

Does this describe you?

THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY

by Ray Davies

We are the village green preservation society
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
We are the Desperate Dan appreciation society
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways for me and for you
What more can we do
We are the draught beer preservation society
God save Mrs. Mopp and good old Mother Riley
We are the custard pie appreciation consortium
God save the George Cross and all those who were awarded them
We are the Sherlock Holmes English-speaking vernacular
Help save Fu Manchu, Moriarty, and Dracula
We are the office block persecution affinity
God save little shops, china cups and virginity
We are the skyscraper condemnation affiliate
God save Tudor houses, antique tables and billiards
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways for me and for you
What more can we do
God save the village green.

If not, I suspect you're out of place here. But you knew that.

[Janet Kenny]

;-)

Hmmmmm

Hello Quincy

I'm becoming a little strange. Hard to know what to do about it.

My condition worsens every day.

Pay no attention to me.

[Janet Kenny]

My comments absolutely do not reflect on Catherine's critical ability. I just don't want a rejected poem which I valued enough to enter in a contest to then be discussed at length as a flawed poem. It is always a matter of taste and opinion and it is not part of the contest in which the poems discussed should be the selected poems. That is the point of the exercise.

Those who want their rejected poems to be further discussed must of course proceed as suggested.

[Michael Cantor]

Originally Posted by Janet Kenny

Pay no attention to me.

For Chrissake's, Janet, that becomes a little difficult when there are 21 responses to Catherine's post, and eight of them are by you, and all you are doing is making it clear over and over again that you are massively uncomfortable with the notion that, God forbid, somebody should find fault with a poem and focus on the weaknesses rather than smothering the poor thing in praise before - possibly - hesitantly - offering a teeny suggestion. The purpose of this site is to improve each other's poetry by critiquing it, and once you get past the beginner's level, that means by reacting honestly and professionally, not simpy offering encouragement. If - as part of that process - a contest judge, or a selector, is willing to work overtime to comment on additional entries, I think we should be delighted.

You're discomfited by this because the whole world may learn that somebody's poem only made it to fourteenth place because Catherine deemed it lacking in this, that, or the other thing? That she might forget to say Every single poem that was entered was magnificent, but a few were just slightly more magnificent than the others? As Rose said - lighten up!

Finally, I think this concept of yours that, "Once an also ran poem has been kicked about here it's finished for submission elsewhere. Not because it's unworthy but because it's over-exhibited" is wrong, wrong wrong. Do you think that every editor in the English speaking world is monitoring this contest? That more than one or two are paying any attention? That they will pay more attention to one individual's reaction to the poem here than to their own judgement? That they will even remember in six months? And there is also the possibility that the "kicking about" will result in revision and a stronger poem.

Harrumph, and all that.

[Janet Kenny]

Michael,
I added my comment because a private email had suggested that I had been rude and thoughtless to Catherine which hadn't been my intention.

Just as I'm sure that your intentions were equally lofty. Some people enjoy letting off steam and those who do have done so as usual.

I consider contests to be formal events with rules. The forum is another matter.
Janet

[Mike Todd]

Some people enjoy slyly doing what they do do and those who do have done so as usual.