Harry Rutherford over at Heraclitean Fire has doused my blog in flames by graciously decorating me in the “nicely designed but seriously poor content” award! Oh, how I do appreciate an honest review. Conversely, upon such a statement as “seriously poor content,” I would have liked to have seen some paradigms to back up his perception of my poor content. I know I am no Shakespeare, but what constitutes as “poor content?” I simply post my poems. So Harry is saying that my poems are seriously poor, in other words, they suck. No problem. Just tell me what sucks, and I will do my best to improve.
I understand that he is making an example out of my literary works in reference to 9rules. The 9rules network claims to be a community of the best weblogs in the world on a variety of topics. I submitted my blog to 9rules when submissions were open, and I was chosen to meet their quality requirements, and my blog was accepted. So what Harry is saying, is that he feels that my blog and poems do not meet these high standards that are advertised by 9rules. Keep in mind that 9rules sorts through the blogs that are submitted to them, and chooses out of these submissions. They do not go out on the web and just start adding blogs to their network. Anyways, Harry featured me in this post of his, and it is only right that I reciprocate.
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Hi. I’m sorry about all this.
It’s true, I don’t think your poems are very good – it’s a bit late to pretend otherwise now. But it was a mistake to single out you and Robert. My gripe, such as it was, was with 9rules and, more broadly, the way poetry is presented in our culture. Picking out your poems was graceless and probably unnecessary. Especially since I failed to think through the point I was trying to make before posting, so the post just came across as a random piece of flaming.
I suppose I could have backed up my criticism with details, although to be honest I think it would probably have come across as more hostile rather than less.
No problem Harry. It’s cool to know that someone sees my poems as being of poor quality.
How can one judge a poet by two poems and how can one judge a blog by two posts? I’ve checked out 9Rules (even submitted there but never heard back) I’ve read many of their blogs and found them to be pure crap– should my review of the entire network be based on two crappy posts from two crappy blogs? I should think not.
Fact is: 9Rules is hardly more than a link exchange. Are they writing big checks to their members? Are they even paying anyone at all? As a link exchange I’m sure they’re doing an okay job driving traffic to their members etc. but to call themselves a network… well that’s a bit…
Anyway, I’ve been reading your works for quite some time and understand full-well the gems that remain hidden in your gravel pile. No, not every poem is your greatest but over all your works are well recieved.
Remember: Those who can, write– those who can’t, review.
Thanks Billy! …and I’m sure even the best poets and writers write some crap sometimes, or have before. The first step in becoming a good writer or poet, is to write.
Write on Travis…the world is filled with far too many critics and far too few poets!
To Paraphrase Wilde…. The only thing worse than a bad blog review is no blog review at all.
Nice one Glenn.
Hey Billy, so many people submit their sites to 9rules that the ones who do not pass our standards for quality might not receive an email back, and for that I apologize.
“Fact is: 9Rules is hardly more than a link exchange. Are they writing big checks to their members? Are they even paying anyone at all? As a link exchange I’m sure they’re doing an okay job driving traffic to their members etc. but to call themselves a network… well that’s a bit…”
We do a lot more than “link exchange” but you can feel free to see 9rules however you wish. The real benefits of 9rules are apparent in our private member forums where people can connect with other members from around the globe. In the past members have landed new client projects, full-time jobs, venture capital financing, book deals, and other fun stuff just from conversing with other members, so that’s a pretty big benefit. Of course non-members don’t see that part of 9rules until you get accepted, so it’s just something you’ll have to take at face value :)
Mike, It’s an honor to have you visit my poetry blog! As a member of 9rules, I must agree, the private member forums are a huge benefit to its members. We all contribute to, and benefit from the network. Not only do I write poetry, but I am also an all around designer and artist, and this light of mine is something I enjoy giving to the community.
OH TRAVIS guess u should write stuffs and poetries for less advanced souls like me too…cos i sometimes get the vibeS or whatever ….and WE need it for simple reason. TO EXPAND… WHETHER ITS UPTO THE MARK OF 9 RULES OR NOT IS NOT OUR PROBLEM I GUESS
I’d start worrying the day one man’s opinion can change another’s being. It’s like that old Eleanor Roosevelt quote, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” or no one can make you anything without your consent.
Harry sees bad poems. I see good ones. In the end the essential question is what do “I” see. In understand the point Harry was trying to make and it’s worthy of disscusion but, for me, “good” and “bad” poetry is besides the point. For me, honoring the medium is more along the lines of “this works for me” and “this doesn’t work for me.” Standards are fine and serve a purpose but it’s subjective. Even an “excerpt” can miss the moon in the words.
Keep on creating Travis.
Well said Amos!
… but poorly spell checked :)
You always make me smile
But seriously he is not worth the effort of getting heated up over. Poetry is a journey and is about exploring the soul. The commentary an expression of what catches the moment.
Keep the poetry up, your blog is a welcome rest stop for me and a true expression of one’s Personal Tao if I ever saw it!
peace!
Thank you Casey!
Very nice site! Good work.