Why do people get upset when I tell them what I really think about their crappy poems?

Question

It seems to me that people don't REALLY want honest opinions about their poetry, they just want people to indulge them and tell them how wonderful their poetry is.

I'm sorry, but 99% of the poetry I read on here is pure crap. People think if they piece together some emo crap and make it rhyme then they have created a poetic masterpiece.

Give me a break! Does anyone else notice this?

Hey Todd, what you didn't see was the e-mail that was written to me after I answered that person's question.

And just because I haven't RECENTLY answered questions regarding poems does not mean that I haven't done so in the past.

You really need to think before you respond.

Answer 1

Crappy poetry, crappy attitude. A lot of people on here write poetry because it thinks it makes them deep. Unfortunately, their poetry exposes the opposite. My personal "favorite" is the ee cummings wannabe. "Hey, look at how edgy I am! I don't know why I skipped all the capitalization and punctuation, but praise me because my poems are so avant-garde!"

No offense to those who actually know how to use alternative forms.

Answer 2

I don't know what "emo" means, but I think it means "sentimental." Is that right? If it does, then that probably answers the question. The poems might not be written that well, but they're usually drawn from the person's real life (fights with friends, troubles at home). That means that they have a lot of feeling behind them. The writer is trying to work out personal conflicts, and the result feels wonderful to them; writing it out has relieved some of the burden. So, when they post the poem here, they are too emotionally involved in it, and too high off that feeling of relief, to think the work is anything but brilliant.
When you tell them the poem is crap, what they hear is this: your life, and the decisions you made in your life, are crap. They can't separate their lives from the poem. It would benefit them, and everyone else, if they put their poetry away for awhile, got some distance from it, and then posted it if they still wanted criticism. (I know that when I get done writing a story, I hate criticism at first, but as I distance myself from the piece, it's easier to take).
Still, it's probably wise to give constructive criticism-- give specific examples of what you didn't like and why it didn't work. And if there are lines you like, mention those as well.
Just telling them that it is crap (though that might be true) doesn't help. You have to go through and tell them why it's crap! Or why it's sentimental, or... emo.

Answer 3

Yeah I wrote a poem about this stuff on another site. I was trying to make fun of the whole thing but then somebody was like don't give up. I think it really has to do with the ego then anything else. Oooh did you hurt baby's feeling sorrreeey for that.

I don't like that attitude I've posted some really harsh things on this website for people that said they wanted a honest reveiw partly because I was tired and partly I was fed up with what was being written but I have yet to get a really mean e-mail from someone telling me that they didn't like what I wrote. I'm sorry that I didn't look at your profile before I started to answer this. But if you give somebody some really good advice usually they like it because like somebody said here it's better then I liked it keep writing. Unless that's the question then I'll answer yes I liked or no. Unless I feel that it's really bad and I mean really bad to like some of worst stuff I've read.

Maybe you need to try to use a little more tact. But I could be wrong like somebody else said it seems like all they want is an ego stroke.

Answer 4

Hello Trish,

When I saw your question, I thought well let me get a sense of how she critiques so that I could put my answer into context. Outside of today's comment on a joke poem (Bugs Bunny) which I doubt that person was submitting as a serious piece. I didn't see an answer for this section related to a poem in the last 20 pages of your history--I gave up at that point. If I missed something I apologize. I'm guessing than that you are not talking about any responses you have recently got from people.

While I'll admit that many post for vanity. Some people want validation even if they say be honest, but there are some that do work to improve. I mean if the sum total of your critique is it's crap. That's a response they can use--it's a reader reaction at least, but it doesn't take them anywhere. I have and will continue to post crap by comparison to the published authors I love (and most early drafts are crap anyway), the measuring stick is never us against each other.

Writing poetry is a life long skill and everyone starts somewhere. The tone of your question strikes me more as baiting then trying to have a discussion.

But maybe I've read your tone wrong.

Edit: I changed my mind on anwering back to you trish in any significant way. I hope you see some irony in your reaction though.

Answer 5

I haven't been here in quite some time, but I'm sure things haven't improved since I left...

Things used to be good here, trust me. Now there seems to be this little group of people that are suppose to get worshiped by everyone, including each other...

But anyways, there's criticism, constructive criticism, just plan being mean and just plan being stupid... Perhaps at times, you can go over the line between 'constructive criticism', and 'just being mean'. I'd understand that, though. I've seen some pretty dumb 'poetry' on here before. ('n like I said, I don't think things have gotten any better.)

Although the people should actually be happy they got real responses. Not, "great! I love it!" or, "it's crap" or even, "amazing! Keep writing!". To point out the fails 'n try to help them with that, is something they should take to heart.

But these are stupid high-school students half the time! What do they ever take to heart?? Yeah, your right: people usually just want praise for their 'work', when in reality it's not even 'work'. They can't really handle criticism, even though they think they can before it comes...

I've been there, I've seen that, but I've also seen some pretty good work on here... Yet it left before I did. So are ya gonna do, really? There's usually only 1 chance to get your point across and/or tell someone what's wrong 'n what's right. It’s best just to keep a level head 'n be as polite as you can...

Fire will never put out the flames, they say.

Luck.

Answer 6

I have noticed that plenty of the poetry here is just ridiculous. People feel, though, that if they let a lot of people see it, that they are putting themselves out there and deserve a good review. They forget that they only deserve a good review if their poetry is good. People want to feel good, and they think that by having other people tell them they are good at something, that they will feel good. Unfortunately, an honest opinion of a crap poem makes them feel bad, and so they get upset.

This is a little off topic, but poems do not have to rhyme. Rhyme is somewhat superfluous in most cases. As long as the point is made and there is some sort of rhythm, the poem is already somewhat decent. Most poets cannot even do those two things.

Answer 7

I know it is easy for me to say now that you have done it, but, a few days ago, I really wanted to post a question on this same topic . I replied to a poster's question (let's call him 'O.B.'). It was one of those 'Honest critique of my poem' demands. So, I replied in an honest way. I said that the 'poem' was pretentious and that the words employed were archaic and it was clear that he did not know what they meant anyway. Within an hour, I had received an email attacking me, my family, my job and basically everything I had ever done in my life. If I remember correctly, about 4 other similar emails arrived - each one more bizarre than the one before - and so, it did not take me very long to work out that this person has some type of mental disturbance. Not an imagined disturbance like so many of the 'cutters' and their poems on here would like us to believe they have - but a real, profound mental illness. I was not disturbed by the emails themselves, however I was very disturbed to note the failing of the care in the community services leading to a person like O.B. operating without any type of security control.

Answer 8

I had a poetry lab and in my class there was a girl whose work wasn't very good. She produced "moon, June, spoon" stuff that was difficult to critique seriously. The poet instructor, however, directed us to take each poem on its merit, for the worth of the work, and look to improve it. There were times it was VERY difficult, however, I think it made me a better writerto review a not-so-good work and treat her with dignity and respect. By the end of the course she had improved and was beginning to produce better work.
One of the other strictures of the class was that we weren't allowed to respond until everyone had made a comment, and we weren't allowed to be defensive.

That was a classroom setting, with a direction and a leader.
This is a free-for-all.

You're right, there are too many people who want blanket praise and there are many--several have answered this question--who will give an asker exactly what their asking.

That someone would go off the board and complain to you on email is immature and unacceptable.

I try to be humble but there are times when I want to say:
"I'm sorry but 99% of [fill in the blank]
is pure crap."
I try to find the the good work, and make comments to those, who, like the girl in my class, had a spark that only my instructor saw.

Answer 9

Although I agree with you in part, let me say, that I write. I don't write to get praise, I write for fun and my own enjoyment. Some feel that my stuff is not-so-good, and others, if they are being honest think it the greatest thing ever. I have my own personal likes and dislikes in the poetry world, and I write in more than one style, although many now know my opinion of free verse, so I won't go into that again now. Many of those who say " Be brutally honest " think that by saying that, you will give them a break. I don't generally ask for critisism, but I get it anyways. I read it, I consider it, and if it suits me, I learn from it. When they tell me "rhyming sucks", I put it down to the ignorance of someone who can't rhyme. When I get te comment about rhyming being old and boring, I tend to be a little more receptive, although I grew up with rhyming poetry, and I like it. I also read a lot of non-rhyming poetry that I like, but I have seen more than a fair share of essays filled with returns at inappropriate places.
Nuff said afore I git stoned with rocks by the free versers. lolol

Answer 10

sometimes if it's a good theme,i try to rewrite it from the inside out(rarely do)and ask politely,,may i?and in so many words say ,here ya go,try this.i am by no means a writer,but enjoy an unusual,twist of words to convey thought and emotions,and on rare occasions,can come up with such.
most are just stabbing in the dark,it will most likely sound genius to them inside there minds,but fail to look at in an objective opinion.
if it's not worth reading,it's not worth an opinion,positive or negative.

one might dub this,the decade if I-IS-UM.

d.