So...

...are we voting for a new mod or what? Do we have new judges in place now? who were the old ones? So much to catch up on...

and...then I get to the part when I ask..Do I really care? No I don't any more. Honestly I have been able to predict the winning poems for months now..it's not the poem...it's the name attached to it now. I know...I know',..times are changing and so is poetry but...there is a difference...the "poems"that seem to be favoured today are meerly strings of thoughts? Anyone can write them in a journal but to transport them to poetry takes a little effort in my opinion and...that is not what is happening on this site just put your ramdom thoughst up here and...you probably have a winner...

I think Sher is back to active modding again so they aren't getting a new one.

I was a judge. Not sure who else. I know I like a very particular style and I did vote for a lot of the same people each time, but thats because I liked their poems best. I voted for a handful of people I had never heard of before, too, but for the most part they were the same ole people because thats what I preferred that week.

OK...so we all accepted the speech by Mel? way back in March last year..it was nice I guess saying Sher was stepping down and...well..it hasn't happened as yet???? Sibs done her speech...took a wee while but it was the holiday season so...she's toast now....

as for the judging...I think I've said enough...

EDIT..

I just have to come back and add here...to admit you like a particular style of poetry is wrong...as a judge you should not have a preference...poems should be judged as a..poem...not on your preference..if and when I've been asked to judge. I have always looked at the content of the verse...not who wrote it...

You beat me to it with the mod announcement, I'm just after posting it!

In relation to the judging for next term Hellon, we have got the majority of the team in place and just have to finalise one judging place. Judges for the last term, you are welcome to disclose your identity here, or take your anonymity to the grave, whichever you fancy :)

As for winning poems Hellon, I think it has always been this way to an extent on PnQ, and its largely not down to bias or poor judging. Mods keep an eye on voting patterns and select the pool of judges carefully to try to get a mixed representation. Fact is some poets are better known than others, some write better poems more often than others might. Better known poets are more likely to be read and more likely to therefore be nominated, that is always been the way, fair or not. Judging is on a week to week basis and the judges do a good job and put in quite a lot of effort. We have had countless discussions on PnQ about the contest and winning poems and it is always decided to let the best poems win and represent the front page and that's what the judges are there for.

Judging panels have changed hugely over the months and years and often the same people and styles pop up on the front page when voted by many different pools of judges. There isn't a huge amount of people posting work on here on a weekly basis so the same names are going to pop up from week to week or month to month. I know examples of people who have came back to PnQ and not told anybody about their identity and still managed to win the contest as 'newbies,' so often their poems and good poetry speak for themselves, regardless of the name attached.

Fact is, you have an opinion on poetry as we all do and are entitled to express it, the judging process may not be perfect but its about as good as we can get. Its true writing styles come and go like fashion sometimes, but if some of the 5 judges in any one week think that the 'string of thoughts' style is worthy of a win, that's what they are there for. These style of poems too are not skill-less just because they are 'string of thought' style.

Sorry for the rambling post.

Well Hellon its a darn good thing I'm not a judge anymore, nor will I ever be again. For someone who never steps up to help or do anything on this site you sure have a lot to say. Nothings ever going to be good enough for you.

I picked poems I thought were the best. Obviously so did at least two or three other judges, because when the poems I voted on won, it was with multiple votes.

I would never vote for a poem that is 'technically' perfect but had zero emotion, no passion, and was stale. Just as I wouldn't vote for a poem full of passion and emotion, but riddled with blatant errors.

Like I said, its a good thing I won't judge anymore. I've had another comment about my judging style before and the mods had to talk me into judging this last term. Apparently I voted too much for TC people. It actually made me second gusss voting for anyone TC, which is wrong because I'm supposed to vote on the poem, not the poet right? Do people really think this contest is sooooo important that it will make or break someone?

What a bunch of garbage to be a few of thousands on the site who actually volunteer to do something, and always get told you're doing a crap job. I quit.

Britt,

I fully agree with everything you said. A poems should be based on emotions and style... Not on the name attached.

I wish Janis would remove the authors name from the poem while it is being voted upon.

And also I want to thank you for EVERYTHING you have done for the site. You have truly went above and beyound what 99% of the members even think about doing.

Thanks Sher. I don't expect fan fare or praise. Its just frustrating to see no matter what nothing is good enough. No wonder pnq is dead with constant negativity.

Since there are obvious complaints, Hellon, how do we fix it?

Britt you simplified what I think I was trying to say from a different angle.

Judges volunteer their own time to help keep the site going. It's unfair for people to criticise judges just because they don't share an opinion with them of what poem should win every week. In the past few months judges have on occasion had to vote on their phones due to computer problems or no internet connection, vote when far more demanding things have been going on in their personal lives, find time after work or study, read through and comment lots of poems every week.

Britt, I'm sure 95% of PnQ members are appreciative of the judges efforts as evidenced by the regular thanks in the weekly threads and sometimes I wish more people would come to the boards to show that judges and site volunteers aren't under-appreciated.

I do not know what is going on in the personal level but in in general I 100% agree wit Hellon. The fact that a judge put forward a great afford and time does not excuse poor judgment. Your argument is like saying I hire a construction worker to be a chief executive of IBM because he is very honest and hard worker. Judging is not easy and being a good judge is a huge spiritual responsibility and strain. If you do not take it serious and let personal interest get on your ways then the stain is going to be on your conscience permanently like a never stopping buzz in the back of your brain, in case there is a conscience , and in case there is not, that person does not have any business being a judge to begin with.

I noticed that specially the last few month the judgment was in very personal level. And to make up for it, some works of unknown members, randomly was chosen as the reverse horse shoe tactic. And this is absolutely nu-praiseworthy for the integrity of this site. And for those good poets that perhaps, their work were un rightfully chosen, because I know they do not wish to win( if it is the case) this way. It is like we're sending the message that wining is more important than the POETRY itself, in place that we became poets to say and act exactly opposite . A poet is a hunter for essentials not for trivialities.

Welp. I was a judge for the last two weeks of this session. I'm guessing whoever else was judging before me had to step down for the holidays. But I can definitely say that even with just two weeks, judging is a pain. It's only worth it if you end up finding some good poems to read. Britt, and anyone else who's stayed on for a full three months at a time is a genuine rockstar.

As for which poems deserve to win, well I'm picky. I'm more interested in critiquing interesting poems to make them great than handing out cakes to people who know how to google 'rhyming dictionary.' If you aren't writing something that I personally find interesting, I'm probably not going to vote for it, because what am I going to say about it? Oh well done, you rhymed moo with poo! I think not.

Anyway, who are you to judge poor judgement? I think your judge-judging judgement is poor, so there. :P

So sorry if you weren't happy with the winners/comments for the last few weeks, but judges are human and therefore not only entitled to their opinions and preferences, but naturally governed by them. To complain about it is to negate what judgement is in the first place, and childish to boot.

RM I both agree and disagree with parts of your posts. I agree with judging being a hard job and you should be comfortable and knowledgeable to begin with to be a judge. I also know you put a lot of effort into your stint at judging and have something of an insight into the process. I think it is important that winning the contest doesn't overshadow the act of poetry itself but that is largely a personal reaction or personal motivations, not sure if it has much to do with judging. Anyway, this next bit is what I disagree with though:

'The fact that a judge put forward a great afford and time does not excuse poor judgment. Your argument is like saying I hire a construction worker to be a chief executive of IBM because he is very honest and hard worker.'

^^
Who says the judgement was poor, Hellon? Who is to say her opinion is any better or worse than 5 of the judges opinions? No matter what poems are picked there will be other people who think that other poems were more suitable. As it is, if a poem gets 2 votes it often wins, even if 3 of the judges didn't vote for it.

Judges choices shouldn't be challenged retrospectively. Unless there is clear bias or clear inability to judge and in that case its up to the mods to sort out (up to mods to pick suitable people in the first place for judging to try and ensure this doesn't happen). If members feel judging is unfair, better options would be to bring it to mods in pm first rather than coming out and insulting people on the boards. If mods are the problem or mods don't give a reasonable response or look into your worries, maybe then coming to the boards is a better option. But this general criticism of judges comes up every few months and it's wrong and its no wonder people are being turned off the idea of judging. Why bother if you are only going to get ridiculed and questioned for doing it.

Does it truly matter who wins and loses. We are all amateur poets and everyome here is just human. Isn't the point of this site to grow as a poet? If not then I guess why are we here honestly?

Dear Colm I have no argument against anything you're saying ~~in the most civilized manner, as a gentlemen and as a mod, I might add ~~ I know how hard it is to find anyone to judge, never mind a good judge, for you guys. But practical obstacle should not lower our expectation of what a perfect judge could be. Like in under develop countries, they could not stop teaching new technology in civil engineering, just because they are not yet ready to execute them. As poets we have to aim high even if it is impossible for us to go there yet. We have to at least be able to learn and discus the criteria of good judgment instead of closing our eyes for the mere reason of practicality.
"Even though a beggar, I would never accept small and shine less agate"
Rumi

About the poor judgment Narph if you read my first sentence you would remember that I was talking in general and was not talking specific. Not being able to make that distinction, judges by itself already, that we are not ready, to take on the job of being a judge.
How is this as a tongue twister??

Hmm. I still disagree. I think that even in general we can't possibly know which judgement is right and which judgement is wrong. The distinction between the specific and the blanket in this situation is irrelevant. So long as you can reasonably argue why X is better than Y, I think anyone can be a judge. All it takes is an opinion and an openness to express the opinion (hopefully without outside criticism).

Poetry is made of many forms and expressive types, and while I do think it's important for a judge to genuinely read and try to understand each poem, ultimately it must come down to how those poems hit them emotionally and personally in that moment. What is poetry if not a means of emotional communication? How can anyone be expected to resonate with a piece if they have to sit down and analyze some preformed checklist of what is and isn't good. It seems pretty silly to me.

We should remember we are not discussing to win an argument we are doing so to shed some light.
I am familiar with this way of thinking. If there are no criteria for judgment than you think the judgment comes from chaos. This is the natural conclusion. Haha the chaos such as: judging the judge, who judged your judgment, it could go back and forth for eternity,~ it does actually,~ or by turning a legitimate general statement to a personal attack, where no attack was meant to begin with. This is some example of chaotic thinking. Another, how could you trust the judgment of a person who can not make the simple distinction between personal and general, who has the tendency to get personal this easily? Most likely that person in going to favor those who favor him/her somewhere in the road. So these are some criteria to begin with. There are many if you want we could discuses them farther. The world is not as chaotic as it looks like my friend.

I imagine mutual appreciation of certain stylistic choices is more likely the cause for repeat winners than personal favoritism. If judges have varied stylistic favorites, then the winners should reflect that from week to week. Personal favoritism has nothing to do with it. I'm unclear as to where the personal attack example came in. And what do you mean by "the chaos"? This sounds a little like something out of a science fiction novel, please tell me more.

You say that judging is very relative and there is no point of comparison. If so then it mean judgment comes from absolute state of chaos.This is how it seem in the untrained eyes. Like when Picasso and cubism came in the first half of the last century people thought: what the heck, even my 5 years nephew could draw better than this. But now we know it is not so . Yet most of us still could not see the difference between a child line and those of Picasso. So those who are numb to these recognitions have no place in the judgment panel.
And yes the Urinal case: a famous artist submitted an unaltered urinal to a famous "Fine Art" exhibition in Europe. And after that so many intellectual relate their anarchistic understanding or lack of understanding of art to that case, in which as far as I know he did it to ridicule the very thing that I am objecting to, The lack of criteria.
You also mentioned that it is not personal favoritism. I hope you are right I myself would be very offended if someone accused me of doing so. In my time I did not once voted for those who chose my work while they were judge, because it happened that they did not come with something as good as those that I voted for in that short time. But I really saw the pressure, the loyalty and things like these.
You go to the board and check it by yourself: that people do not nominate you if you do not return their favor ((except a few)). Do you expect they change over night when they become judges?? The chance is very remote but there are some sparkles. People need to be challenged in order to find the right approaches in the regular bases. Like what we're doing right now.
Here members are divided to the group so they keep their loyalty to that group or club as the code of honor. It is what I warned the previous benefactors of this site.
But instead we have to learn our only loyalty here is to poetry, and to justice, specially as the judges.

Britt didnt say she voted for the name, though she voted for the same people, she clarified it was because she liked that poem the best.

If youre going to say judges should not vote on preference, well damnnnnnn then we have a whole other thing to make a list on..'how to judge and what to judge on" which is boring and bs if you ask me.

When I judged, there were very little people nominating people and the poems picked I thought were shit. Which is harsh, but just a matter of opinion. But isnt that what a judge is? a persons who chooses a winner based on their opinion. And if not, then shouldnt we say each week, Ok guys what poems have the best 'this or that'...In which case, would not keep judging anonymous.

I think there is always a difference betwen a good an bad poem. Do long term experienced winners keep appearing on the front page, porbably...because theyve come a LONG way with poetry. Theyre "experienced."...I dont think a new poet on this site who write something with corny lines and repeated words and jumbled thoughts is a good poem. Its chicken scratch.

I use to write chicken scratch!! But since writing is a passion of mine I was open to learning, open to diving into the depths, learning metaphors, forms, play on words and titles.

Thats the kind of poetry I like and consider 'front page suitable'....but if thats wrong, well then I dont want to be right. Because beginning poetry turns me off. I will always be open to helping a newbie, but I will not vote for them.

Just 1 opinion though....now you got people like sweetheart Maple Tree who I love to death, ANY poetry speaks to her. . she loves it...and she votes for those kinds sometimes when she judges.

Judging is always a matter of preference. If we changed that we are screwed. No one will volunteer.

Fist of all personal attack to any judges is absolutely wrong we are talking general here.
I think I could point out where the confusion comes from. The jugging is personal and merely depend on the opinion of the judges. But the judges are not allowed to brings their bias to the panel with themselves. If I think your poetry is bad in no way I am obligated to vote for it in case of course I know what the good poetry is. (like the Picasso example) but if I do not read the poem of the guy that I do not care or he never cared for my works, or if I dismiss someone's work based on being newbies, or based on their different opinion, because I happen to disagree with them, or if I see a poem and I know it is better then others but I do not like the style, or if I do not like it because the wrong person is written it, then I am at fault. Then even though how clever I could still hide behind the "personal preference" tactic, at least in my conscience, (if there is any) I am guilty.
The sweet Maple Tree is right , she was and is a good judge and it is something we should inspire to become.

Just because I didnt vote for what looked like new poetry, doesnt mean I didnt read it...I read every poem, and did not personally like them.

Now why would I pick something like that with horrible wording and cliche over a poem that Colm or The Huntress writes?....just throwing out names guys.....but they write deep, beautiful, almost strategic like poetry...That is what I, personally am looking to judge it on.

Now thats me, again. Not anyone else. But who is Hellon, or you RM, to say what a judge should vote on?

When Maple judged i didnt say not to pick a poem I thoight was crap. And when I or Britt judge you should not say that either.

Its about preference and if its not, thats why Im saying, enough with judges until you make a list of guidelines that we all have to follow, and when you do make that, good luck with finding judges.

Who is Hellon and RM? in my opinion, people who know how to write poetry with depth. Specially, RM. Way beyond Huntress and Colm.

By the way, Why do you always get so worked out Chelsey?

If i remember correctly even yourself have mention that you thought that one of your poems weren't front page material. That's the issue we are discussing here.

General not personal.

The Weekly contest, it's about making the site stand out. To discover talent not to bury it. There are a lot of Great poems that have been nominated and they didn't even receive an HM. You see, the front page is ( at least in my opinion) supposed to work as an inspiration for beginners to take a look and learn from. But not just for beginners, for everyone as a whole. To make each of us better.

But honestly, there is a lot of favoritism in this site. Whether you agree on it or not. In general, there is a lot of favoritism everywhere and sadly that's separating us ( humans) apart.

I used to wonder why did the site is becoming so ghostly. Now I blame favoritism and the front page. People, specially beginners, try to imitate how the winners write. And take a look at the winners... Sorry

There have been weeks where the winners inspired shallowness.

But also the poems speak not for themselves, one have to know the writer in order to figure out what the poem is about, plus more.. etc

Anywho,

sigh*

"Just because I didnt vote for what looked like new poetry, doesnt mean I didnt read it...I read every poem, and did not personally like them."

I was thinking why you are so angry I was never meant you or anyone in particular and why you taking it so personal. Now I know.
About the list: those pointer are the basic criteria of judgment I dare you to refute any of them.
So if any body is not taking upon her to become a judge if it includes freedom from being bias, so let it be. We do not need any competition in such an environments that only "blackmailers" use others lack of interest to smuggle bias in to the equation. Please I am not saying that this is happening now, I am stating the natural outcome of your argument. But I am afraid you are not going to put any afford to understand that, I am talking about betterment here and maturity. I have no body in particular in my mined specially you. I do not even know when or how you judged, so I could not be aiming at you.

"But who is Hellon, or you RM, to say what a judge should vote on?"

Observers who dare to speak their minds regardless of intimidation and wrangle. Could we show some maturity here now please ?

Thanks Everlasting: finally some one picked the flag!!

I'm also with RM and Lucero. There is a ton of favorite on this site. And I agree with Lucero that this site has become about the weekly contest instead of growing as a poet. The are a TON of poems that have won that are complete shit. And I mean shit. Don't get me wrong the judges are amazing for what they do. But still. Just my opinion though. I love this site but it seems like it's becoming about the weekly is all.

EDIT- I am truly sorry I didn't mean to call any poems crap. I just meant that some poems should have won over others. I know people work hard on their poems.

Haha now with this editing your soul is truly beautiful!!

When I first came here I wanted to grow as a poet. Now I w as like everyone else. In that I am greedy for wanting to win the contest instead of growing as a poet

This is a process in which all the authentic hearts must go through. Not only in this site or any other site, or publisher and so on. There are always your soul for sale and you do not even knowing it. The true virginity is the virginity of our spirits. There are a lots of harlots that their souls are more verging then nuns.
This realization you said is a sparkle of enlightenment, but enlightenment is far far away. but you have to fallow these dots. first finding then fallowing them otherwise you would remain in absolute darkness like others.

An attack that universally condemns the entire judging results of the site will necessarily be perceived as a personal attack as to each judge who participated. To hide behind a general statement which is itself universal ignores the true impact of the statement emotionally on each individual.

The rule is simple, as every judge who has participated knows: read every poem that is nominated, select the 3 you consider the best and vote for them in order.

We do not define "best" and would not substitute our judgment for theirs. That is why the mods rack our brains to overcome the impact of the "glitch" votes so that the selection reflects the votes given to us by the judges.

Anyone who does not agree with the judges' selection should follow the wisdom of Plato, however difficult it is:
"the chief penalty is to be [judged] by someone worse if a [poet] will not himself hold office and [judge]. It is from fear of this, as it appears to me, that the better sort [judge] when they do"
my apologies to the Republic

Hellon's done it again. Every time, like a charm.

It's okay. Everyone has a strong opinion and they are just stating it. People will always agree and disagree. :)

"To hide behind a general statement which is itself universal ignores the true impact of the statement emotionally on each individual."

do you really believe in this dear Larry? what is now back, the old regulations?? Is that we celebrating the lake of liberty to even yearn for betterment in uttering a general statement by being considered ignorant of people's feeling?
edited
getting hurt this softly means something is drastically wrong with our health and emotional well being.
(me, Everlasting and Hellon perhaps, we all have been judges, we know what they go through)
Who we pampering now, a few people who are so sensitive who get hurt by the touch of air, the system, or our disability to digest any negativity even with the utmost constrictive intentions??

Haha Hellon she gets all the credit I do all the hard work.

Of course Beautiful Soul nothing is stronger than this, this is the foundation of our poetical existence. we are so sensitive about it nothing is more important for a poet than winning the poetical trophy, not even the poetry itself!!

I agree that it's nice to get attention that's human nature. But I think what a lot of people fotgot is writing for ourselves not other people. And if we love our poems shouldn't that mattermost no?

Lmao you guys are hilarious....worked up?....thats just me.

as my dad said even in his dying days, "if I was angry, you and everyone down the hall would hear it".

Im not 'worked up'. . Just defending this place as Ive always done....when I say 'who is Hellon and RM to say...' its not me being mean or angry...Its a literal question. you are the two that were posing the questions and saying judges shouldnt be voted on preference.

I was just stating, like who are you? as I would if anyone else said those things....because its like, did someone make rules and guidelines we didnt know about , as far as judging goes? Because if not, judges should be appreciated, anonymous, and vote on their opinions. If we dont like that, then the question shouldnt be why are judges picking the same poets? why are you choosing by preference?...the question should be what rules should judges follow when considering 'winners'...

Im not closed off, so Id appreciate comments like, 'but i am afraid you wont put any afford to understand that'', to cease.

Im open to a lot of things in life, Im even open to a list of what to judge on! But since there is no list on what we should judge on, I would continue voting like Ive done. On which poems I, personally, like best.

General not personal

^^ Bologna, any judge who has devoted 6 months or more of their time (raises hand) should take it personal...never have I understood why people let other people influence their decision to leave this site...Ive defended it and loved it, but after the 100th time of seeing complaints over the same things when I feel I ALWAYS put effort into this place, Im ready to leave too.

I have more supprters on facebook then here.

Being under appreciated or not appreciated at all or a tad harassed for the way you run things (judging) when there are no rules on it anyways, seems so unfair especially if youre one who does nothing around here.

The are a TON of poems that have won that are complete shit. And I mean shit. Don't get me wrong the judges are amazing for what they do. But still. Just my opinion though.

^^ exacrly, see that? opinion....its your opinion...so when you become a judge, you can vote for poems that you dont think are complete shit.

Ive noticed 3 people have the same taste in poetry as I do, britt, POTP; and Jenni Marie....and seriously at one point 3 of us were judges, so thats maybe why you say we have 'favoritism'...we just have the same taste in what we think is 'best quality' poetry.

If more people volunteered and stopped recylcing the same few of us, maybe you'd see more of a diversity on the front page.

Thatd require people to step up though.
Which has seemed impossible the last year or so.

Haha Facebook I know lots of girls in their with over 4000 friends who post for example: I bought a pink lollypop today with a tiny tint shade of blue, or guess what? there was a fruit fly today in my cupcake and get over 500 likes and a little less comment. And I could pour my heart on the paper or post the poem of any writer of your choice in this site , on there and still get no more than one or two.
You have to chose where you belong. Do you really want these appreciations?? And why do you seek the appreciation this hard any way? you haven't find the right approach, therefore you feel this way. if you find it, everything else would fall into its place otherwise there always be a gap left unfulfilled. Your arms would always come short warping around THEM this way.

I dont need appreciation at all. In fact, no one knew when I was judging or how long. I never revealed myself any of my terms I dont believe...so I can go without.

However when negativity is brought upon judging, it sucks, because we try our hardest. It sucks even more when the negativity comes from people who dont do much around here.

I dont know what the hell the lollypop analogy is, but Im not a teenie bop little girl. I post poetry and my songs on facebook and get more responses there than here.

Ive also been a fan of if people read my poetry, I know they were kind enough to take time out and comment, I will return favors...so if you pour your heart out and get little feedback, read/comment others work, and if you still dont get feedback, well how can you expect it when threads like these are running people off?

P.s...dont tell me how I feel or why I feel it. you just dont do that to people .haha

I understand that some members have a preference for certain styles of poetry...I prefer Marian Keyes over Jodi Picoult for example but that is a personal preference and one that doesn't influence anyone else. When you're put in charge of judging a contest then it's a whole new ball game and, in my opinion, you should leave your personal preferences outside the door and look at all nominated poems with a clear head and eye. This has not been happening on this site for a very long time IMO...

With regards to what I do or don't do on this site..how do either of you know what I do or don't do? I am just not as keen to blow my own trumpet as others perhaps.

I think it was a few of the exclamations that caused that effect on me. you sounded Angry!!!

*or was it the mention of - - - Chicken scratch!!*
I don't know.

But ahh I am not even sure if creating guidelines would work. I remember when I started judging, I wasn't sure of what to look for in a poem. Or what type of poems to consider winners, as I have the tendency of enjoying almost any poem that I read, but when I was a judge I became too strict upon myself and I even regret up to this day, not giving a 10 to three poems that I gave a 7. It was until I started commenting on those poems that I found more beauty in them than on the ones that I gave a 10. Plus, I started noticing how they were written and paying attention to the content. There's a lot one can learn from being a judge. It's tough I agree. And stressful specially when all the poems are based on topics that are not of our interest.

However, it was fun to see that other judges agreed with my picks. I think on my term it was when Abracadabra got the top scores. But those poems were good. So I understand the feeling, and the stress coming from both sides: from being a judge and from being a nominator.

I tried nominating poems that either have skill, or emotion, or good rhymes well done with topics that people can relate to and specially poems that are thought provoking to make it easier for the judges to choose from. However, this period I gave my rights to nominate.. so I couldn't nominate poems.

And I noticed... one of the problems is that not many are nominating poems. It's the same people nominating poems from the same people. It feels like people are afraid to comment on people who they don't speak to. Everyone is to blame.

I just rambled, didn't I?