Why are people posting poetry in the Philosophy category with increasing regularity?

Question

I have noticed over the past couple of weeks that there are more questions that amount to someone asking for feedback on a poem or song they have written. I am curious as to why this is going on.

I know I have posted questions in this category that do not seem related, but I typically have my reasons for doing so.

So, what is the reasoning behind the poetry feedback questions?

ProArt: This question wasn't posed to down anyone. I am really curious. So, I really don't see how your comment applies.

Gee: You may be onto something. I hadn't really noticed that. :)

Sow: I am not complaining.

Doctor: Yes, I have done it before for that very reason.

Answer 1

People have ideas in their heads about the kind of users who hang out in particular categories.

So it may very well be that when someone posts a poem in this category, they are interested in the opinions of the kinds of people that hang out here as opposed to somewhere else.

You see the same thing quite a bit with religious questions that are posted here instead of in the religion forum - the poster is often seeking a 'thoughtful' instead of a 'dogmatic' answer.

Whether any of these prejudices about the people here are true or not is probably another question altogether.

That's my take anyway, for what it's worth. Peace.

Answer 2

It's conceivable that the poet believes there's a philosopher in the house. Posted here, his/her poem might get the useful readings, from philosophical pros or skilled amateur philosophers, such as are noticeably harder to find in the poet category.

The poet might be posting new metaphor for use by philosophers. That's the usual direction in that trade, from the poet to the philosopher. I heartily approve of the generosity, if that's the case. Some of the metaphors around here are badly bent and creaky with misuse; they should be replaced.

The poet might have spotted a new mystery, and jotted down the notes. Sometimes that's all a poem needs to be: notes on enigma, for later examination.

Just some possibilities. Probably most of 'em are just stupidly posting in the wrong room--the Q-machine will do that to ya, if you don't proofread the question galley. It's done it to me; I ended up confusing the crap out of the zoology thread with a poem that contained this line: "The nose forgot giraffes beneath the pond." Imagine their delight.

Answer 3

It's a question that's answer swings both ways, Glenn. Primarily because philosophy encompasses so many aspects of life, as such there are a lot of varying definitions on what it is. Many people have their own vague understanding or interpretation of what philosophy is to them, but what exactly is philosophy? To get an overall understanding let's take a look at a few of the main definitions pertaining to philosophy itself. The word is derrived from the Greek word ''philosophia'' which translates to ''love of wisdom''. 1. The study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods. 2. Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline. And my personal favorite! 3. The academic discipline concerned with making explicit the nature and significance of ordinary and scientific beliefs and investigating the intelligibility of concepts by means of rational argument concerning their presuppositions, implications, and interrelationships; in particular, the rational investigation of the nature and structure of reality (metaphysics), the resources and limits of knowledge (epistemology), the principles and import of moral judgment (ethics), and the relationship between language and reality (semantics). What we can all agree on is that it is most certainly a study, one that appeals to people who have a passion for wisdom, the qualities of wisdom being experience; knowledge; and good judgment. My personal interpretation between the two are that poetry is the subtle study/art of explaining and revealing the nature of beauty within existence, but beauty is a subjective term. A philosopher has an insatiable appetite for knowledge, and is always analysing the structure of life and our world with logic to find reasonable answers to life and existence. So philosophy can be seen more as the study of life and everything revolving in and around it, while poetry is the art and practice of finding beauty within it. Though of course, we come back to the subjectivity of beauty which allowes it to be applied to anything given the opinion grants it so,If so then one could say that philosophy has beauty and if said person has the imaginative awareness, and the sense to express this meaning felt, then it could be said that, and would be accurate if this person perceived philosophy as poetry, as this is the criteria in which the definition of poetry follows. So in a sense it reminds me of the chicken or the egg causality dilemma, which came first? But in this case it would be which governs the other? There is no right answer. My personal analogy is that poetry and philosophy are like yin and yang, light and dark; they're two sides of the same coin as they can both be applied to each other and be accurate in doing so. See what I have done here? I have with logic and reason given due reason as to suggest why they are connected ; that is the definition of philosophy through action, and that is also poetry, for one is all, and all is one. Don't ever let anyone tell you that the two are not related in any way, of course they are.

Answer 4

Simple egotism. They exist under the illusion that their poetry somehow illuminates a question of life whether big or small. They don't understand that what they write has been written thousands of times before and that they need to find a new angle--and that they need to drop the egotism.
But why so much lately? Because Yahoo is not enforcing their own rules when such things are reported. I know. I reported a big violation, and heard nothing from them, and the problem still goes on.

Answer 5

Probably because they're not aware there's actually a poetry section.

Also, philosophy tends to be a kind of residual category on Yahoo! answers, mainly because most people aren't quite sure what philosophy is. I studied philosophy. I can tell you about 5 percent of the questions here are real philosophy questions, with another 10 - 15 percent who can qualify as philosophical.

Answer 6

At least some of the poetry that has been posted has a philosophical context, but most is just posted here willy-nilly in my opinion. Maybe because poetry and philosophy are listed next to each other on the list?

Answer 7

I have complained too long and too loud about improper posting here. I have finally given it up. Good luck to you.

Answer 8

perhaps because their poetry would stand out more here, than in the actual poetry section

Answer 9

Let me put some hummer to it ----Poetry requires no logic and grammar. Whereas philosophy is demanding.

Answer 10

Sounds like when you point a finger, three are pointing at you!