Den Politics – Redux a.k.a., Den, and the Art of Politics
by Jeff Mason — Read all 207 poems by Jeff Mason
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed herein are solely mine, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Author's Den nor of anyone else. NOTE: My opinions will almost certainly differ from yours.
Tuesday, January 6, 2004
Dear Den Masters and Authors:
I have seen a number of instances of people on the Den being slammed for their political views; for freely expressing political and personal opinions. Just as someone can be slammed for a viewpoint; that person being slammed should still have the right to hold a viewpoint that is controversial and contentious. One of the base principles for the founding of a number of societies and countries is that of dissension. I do, indeed, have every right to disagree with you. You do, indeed, have every right to slam me for my disagreement. I respect that.
At the same time, we should not let prejudices and politics affect our feelings toward others, and I think that, in the past, and even currently, some people have allowed prejudices and politics to enter into their feelings toward fellow Den members. I think we should all consider ourselves beyond that point and we should realize what an incredible pool of talent we have on this Den.
Contests are just that: Contests; i.e., not necessarily judgments regarding level of talent; merely a judge's opinion of what he or she believes exhibits quality characteristics of authorship and creativity. Even in the best of worlds, objectivity often yields to some inherent form of subjectivity. Show me a single person who is completely objective, and I will show you a liar who is simply failing to admit that he or she holds some form of internal bias or prejudice; ever mild though it may be. We are all prejudiced, toward certain things: biased toward those we care about. That's called admiration, adulation, adoration, respect and, in its purest form, love.
I do understand that one of the issues at hand is the fact that there has been the appearance that Author's Den judges may not be judging in a fair and unbiased manner. I can simply state that Author's Den is no better or worse than any other place on the 'Net or in the poetic and journalistic worlds. Each place has its ups and downs; it's pluses and minuses; it's champions and detractors.
A quote from Walt Kelley, (copyright O.G.P.I and Marilyn White):
‘There is no need to sally forth, for it remains true that those things which make us human are, curiously enough, always close at hand. Resolve, then, that on this very ground, with small flags waving and tiny blasts of tiny trumpets, we shall meet the enemy, and not only may he be ours, he may be us.’
As years passed, the final paragraph was reduced to “We have met the enemy and he is us,” ...believing as I do that we are all of us responsible for our myriad pollutions, public, private and political.”
End quote.
May we ALWAYS strive to learn from our mistakes, and to learn from one another.
May we ALWAYS be biased toward those we care about.
May we ALWAYS continue to freely express our opinions and viewpoints, and
May we ALWAYS have the right and the opportunity to disagree with one another.
What are you waiting for? Get back to WRITING!!
Respectfully,
Jeff Mason - opinionated, as always
Copyright . 2004 Jeff Mason
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I like your winning poem and I share your viewpoint.
Truthfully, I suspect we live in vastly different Americas.
I have NOT read the replies below because I didn't want to bias my response.
But, we do agree we should all get back to the business of writing.
Yes, true, I have, my own agendas, and for good reasons.
True, I may use AD as an avenue to expose great riffs in my world Back America. I readily admit it. I shall continue this path, for it is not one I chose for myself, but must travel for the good of my "Black" peoples. I shall continue to use AD as "a" forum and expand out. I SUPPORT YOUR VIEW, FOR IT IS MINE. I have the right to speak my mind too, both in my poems, and in my articles. My view should be heard by white people WORLDWIDE, not just because white people started it, but because from great tragedy, mine, great lessons can be learned about who we really are, and who we pretend to be. I've heard from a well-respected author on AD that that's the way things are. No, that's the way we allow things to be. Sometimes, a shame really. Sometimes, an AVOIDABLE shame. I say to you, your article has already changed AD for the better.
Where you have many people you will have problems and prejudices along with cliques. Yes, its human nature. But, we should all be tolerant to the opinions of others. I am! With all that other stuff going on, I am here for one reason - good poetry and articles. No one has attacked me here on AD, even with my aggressive poems. They can read if they want to read. Fair? What's that? Haven't seen it in many years. Poetry is my relaxation and hobby. I hope AD continues to be a good place to exercise it! Peace!
I write about 'things' absurd, unreal, funny, sad, heartbreaking, etc. merely to share these things with you all, to open myself to friends.
That phrase: "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." is a lie!
Lies, words ... can be as deadly as the axe that murdered my son ... My daughter suggested Doug's fiancee' claim to be 'pregnant with Doug's child' to get Jeanine's 'other beau' to 'teach Doug a 'lesson'; perhaps the 'girls' didn't mean to get Doug killed ... but it happened anyway.
WHAT we say and HOW we say it can be as important as WHO we say it to.
Love you all!
:)Sandy
I have a big opinion about the other controversial matters, but I dare not speak it, lol. I didn't join AD to fight or to prepare for law school. I joined AD to, 'I am here for only one reason: to practice and expand my knowledge of the craft I love. I am driven, to excell. Anything else, doesn't matter.' As Carmen said it.
But I saw some peopel who needed to see it did review it.. I only hope it sticks to their minds.
Brittany
mainly because I have entered the comps here a few times.I did it for the fun of it and didn't expect to win so I was not disappointed and in fact I was VERY happy to see some of my favorite poets win.
I guess I can honestly admit that my opinions at times (political and spiritual)have indeed been slammed hard at times but I couldn't care less really about that as I feel that if I have stirred anyone to fire up in thought due to my ideas then I have done well and my writing has not been for nothing...my ego gets over being slammed pretty quick and I learn from stuff like that.I have in fact learnt from many here who have clashed with me,they made me stop and think and re evaluate my ideas,some ideas I changed...others I kept.I need honest feedback even if it's SLAMMING.I like growing,I don't grow much if everyone agrees with me,that's too easy,we are all here to fire each others thoughts,(like this piece of yours is doing right now,it's good).
I am not one of the gold members and have never been a featured author here but I feel the judges on A.D. are fair and I am not bothered by not being a winner here. I love what I write and still think it's good even if no one else feels the same,I think it's worthwhile and that's number one priority of my writing to me(being true to self)even if my stuff comes in last I rightly consider it's in 'bloody great company!' and I am as pleased as punch just to be able to express my feelings and have my work side by side with the poets here (you included)and to be read by anyone but especially by my peers here,in the end we are our OWN judge and THE BEST ONE AT DOING THAT.The comps are just for fun as far as I'm concerned and if I EVER fluke it and win the dough would be nice,also....I don't think you are opinionated Jeff I think you are just being an honest openhearted writer and I appreciate your thoughts,thanks,a very good article Jeff!
Best regards,
Leland
into my library it goes!
vesna :)
However, you did please me with your commentary.
Ted Sheridan
TRASK
Now, I must be a sleepwalker, because even though I hear things here and there, they seem to go in one ear and out the other. I somehow end up missing the juicy stuff.
I stay focused on one thing: I AM A WRITER -- I AM HERE TO WRITE, AND TO LEARN, AND TO EXPAND. I am very single minded in that respect. Anything else goes over my head.
I've never been personally slammed, or, in as much as I read in this site, I've never seen others being slammed. But then again, I do sleepwalk a lot. If I was ever so injured, I must have had my nose in a book at the time, because I sure missed it. All this to say, and not to doubt your words: I've never experienced it. We're always going to find disagreements and discontent in groups like this. But as Joseph just pointed out, we're adults. I'd say let's act like it.
As far as the contest goes, I'd like to know that it is being judged fairly. If they claim that no one in the pannel of judges is an AD author, I'd like to know that that's true. But, as I said in the above paragraph. I AM A WRITER. I WANT TO WRITE AND I AM VERY SINGLE MINDED: I WANT TO BE THE BEST DAMN AUTHOR I CAN BE. That takes time, concentration, and hard work. I don't have the time, or the inclination to worry about a poetry contest. I agree with what's been said: I wish they also had a contest for short fiction. But again, I tend to focus on my aim and the rest of it is someone else's problem if they care to make it one.
As far as critiques go, you've often seen a footnote to my work: "Harsh criques are invited" I mean it. Some of you, yourself included, Jeff, have posted additional comments to my message board offering suggestion to improve the work. I value that very highly. No one goes out of his/her way like that if they didn't like you, or your work. That some people would be offended by it, well, it happens, but that's their loss. I've grown a lot in the last few months because some of you were caring enough to stick your necks out. I've never noticed people removing review -- I don't look for it. I have personally removed one. And the reason I did, was because that person posted a personal rant on my reviews section. Had that person posted it to my board, or otherwise sent it to me, it would have been different. But I didn't feel that someone's personal rant belonged there. It had nothing to do with my work. Honest reviews, whether favorable, or unfavorable, stay there. I am open minded about that, and respect other writer's opinions, as I want mine to be respected.
I am here for only one reason: to practice and expand my knowledge of the craft I love. I am driven, to excell. Anything else, doesn't matter.
Something else I'd like to ad: I've made a few good friends here. People I honor, people of incredible talent, and I am proud to be even a small cyber part of their life. Now, let's go write something.
Carmen
I will just write right on and let well alone...my fingers far too short to put into this pie right?
Warm Love Tinka
I am fully with you..But I want to add..that it is not merely a brainchild of USA or any single nation..It is evolution of man..that endows man to think independently as compared to lesser creatures..
Since we are many so chances of a unique choice(Solution) is impossible..no three body problem in this universe is exactly solvable..so why try for one and waste time..It is the outcome of physical laws that we have learned to respect others, that made us to accept differences..as you have said..as Floria has said..
Now your discussion brings to mind the question--what makes a poet..
Some assume that writing heartwrenching verses..beautiful lines..beautiful words(I am the biggest defaulter) makes a poet..
These are all necessary ingredients..but not sufficient to make a POET a true poet..A POET HAS TO BE AN EXAMPLE..his/her actions should reflect the thinking machinery behind his/her poetry...A poet should have vision..and not necessarily knowledge..IT IS A BIG RESPONSIBILITY TO BE CALLED A POET!
Regarding contest! I won't comment...I left a statement on roundtable longtime back..it was in the form of a small numerical problem..
Let us face it Jeff with a brave face..I respect your stand..and would be sad if you endure same treatment I endured at the same venue..
It is not a government or an organization that can curb natural instincts..adaptations needed to maintain economy of a system in order requires acceptance of differences..
I beg your pardon if I spoke way too much..
Best Wishes,
Debashish
a well stated article; this needed to be said, and you said it very well!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in tx., karen lynn. :D
And if you're terribly thin-skinned and sensitive and just cannot deal with "negativity" (translation for "negativity": anything that takes me outside my comfort zone or demands I think outside the box or smacks of criticism...), then you need to SERIOUSLY re-think becoming a professional writer!
Writing, like Life, is a contact sport -- wear a cup.
And for Heaven's Sakes, if you're going to bore us all with your views, please PLEASE have the decency to express them with intelligence and style! That means grammar, that means spellcheck, that means thought and composition, that means logic, that means WRITING!
People need to grow up and leave High School behind... you are ADULTS, more is expected of you! Time to evolve.
Enough jabber -- now WRITE something, people!
I came here to write....and I do. As far as the contests...I think people enjoy them..And I agree it's not so much on talent as what stirs someones soul....But isn't that what poetry is all about?
So let us write, I agree.....simple as that.
Good write Jeff..Ty, Dani
I joined AD because it's supposedly a "Creative Writing Site," with free thinking, tolerant, open-minded, creative authors. I, too, have found some really irritating things going on.
One of the things that irritate me, besides the personal attacks you mention, are when authors delete reviews they are not totally happy with. On a creative writing website, I would hope every author and reader would be allowed to write and think and say whatever they desire, as long as it does not personally belittle or attack or libel a particular individual by name.
If someone doesn't like what one writes on AD - just don't read it! But don't attack them. And if someone takes the time to read what you write, and leaves a comment that does not belittle anyone, don't erase it either.
Some folks on AD crave harsher critiques, and others panic when the reviewer doesn't slobber all over themselves with praise.
As far as the contests go, I'm just glad to see we have them. Would like short story and article contests, too.
Kudos again, Jeff. Let's all grow up - please!
I choose not to voice them and then to allow others their views I find peace in that. Good write Jeff.