I looked at a poetry group on Facebook this morning and it was someone soliciting an illicit hookup. I was like… “Oh no! Not again…!”
It was a bit shocking considering the picture, but in today’s world… very little is shocking anymore.
This could become a problem… but that’s room for an entirely different blog…!!!
Yes, art is subjective! One person’ trash is not necessarily another another one’s treasure, but this seems to be a reoccurring theme on some poetry groups today.
I’ve been modestly helping to moderate Invisible Poets And Wheelsong Poetry on Facebook, and am just now starting to get a taste of how nasty and belligerent some people can really be!
In a faceless forum, once can really attack without any real world retribution. This puts us all under the gun really. I know I have taken a number of unnecessary shots in the past. It only makes me try all the harder.
However… a poetry group is not the place for hookups. Or relationship crystal ballers… Or selling magic beans… Or any other such scamming rubbish. It is a place for sharing poetry, or simply reading a favorite or a number of favorite poets.
I must confess I don’t buy as many books anymore when so much poetry is right here at my fingertips! Though books work better for me really… I like to read in the bathtub, and that could get rather ugly with a phone in the bubbles and a klutz like me!
Anyway,…!
This morning a member of one of my groups commented to me saying she was going to leave. I asked her to message me for privacy. She told me about a group she was in that had told her that her poems weren’t poetry. I reassured her that our group would never do that.
Some groups will pounce if they think the content does not match their idea of what poetry should be, or if others complain too much about something, even if it is not founded in truth.
I, however, do not believe in this at all. EVERYONE should have their shot at writing whatever they like. Writers hands shouldn't be bound to write only what is deemed acceptable. Art is a big wide world and there is enough room for all of us to live comfortably without judgement or abuse.
Nasty content is not allowed on our groups AT ALL. A bully meets the same action as a pervert… they are kicked off to harass someone else. Also, poetry is not to be judged according to any other measuring stick than that which we all can reach. No poem, unless it has inappropriate references in it or excessive expletives, will be turned away.
In our groups, we prefer poetry that has no expletives, for that is a reflection on the moral standard and mission that we all stand for at Wheelsong. It isn’t right or wrong. It’s just who we are. We are a charitable group formed on the basis of bringing in quality top class poets from around the world, children and teenagers included.
When I taught, I told the kids that people use curse words because they can’t find the appropriate words for the situation.
Dark poetry is a poetry unto itself, and requires its own group. This is the only grey area I see with the whole idea of poetry groups that have to moderate their content in an appropriate way…
What do you think? Are there better methods out there to gauge what is right and what is wrong? Have you ever experienced this? If so… what happened? Let’s start a friendly dialogue!
Please leave your comments in the box below… and thanks for reading!!! Have a wonderful day… and write on!! 🚀
Moderatin’ Matt Elmore
In another poetry group I once had someone say one of my poems was depressing. It was about grief and loss so it wasn't going to be all singing and dancing that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteThis group is not like that and actively encourages people no matter the form or context. I personally think if you are writing for yourself or just for others to read in these groups any form of art is fine (as long as its not racist, sexist, homophones etc). Some writers write as they speak so not always grammatically correct but it's their work and sometimes part of the poem.
The issue sometimes comes when they want to send poems off for competitions, as they may want all the punctuation and grammar to be precise. X
Hi Donna! The therapeutic qualities that writing has to offer is amazing, and is a large part of what we do. The kinds of poems that delve into reconciling emotions should never be rejected because of that sort of premise! Reconciling emotions is what we do… 🙂
DeleteThanks for this post Matt. As you rightly say, Wheelsong Books is a charitable organisation, and we run it voluntarily on the same basis and with the same ethos as we manage its offshoot projects: Wheelsong Poetry and Invisible Poets groups. Whilst we don't censor swear words, a poem containing foul language will never feature in Live Poets Society, because as you state... that's not who we are. My view is that in poetry just about everything goes, but the onus is on poets to find the language to express their emotions or enhance their message. If all they can come up with is a few expletives...then why are they involved in poetry? Just my opinion of course, but these are my projects, and so I guess they hold some water!
ReplyDeleteI think there are quite a number of us that are along the ride with your vision on clean precise poetry that has all the effect without any unnecessary artificial shock value. That why I am so honored to be a part of Wheelsong. I can go out and talk to children and adults at the local library about writing poetry and be proud of the roster of poets I represent.
Delete