Why does this forum have so little traffic?

plnelson · Sep 4, 2007

So far I like AW, but the main kinds of writing I do are blogging and poetry, and the poetry discussion forums - this one and the Poetry Discussion sub-forum - seem to have very little traffic, like maybe a couple of messages a day. The Critique Forum is a lot better, traffic-wise, but it's not a place for general poetry discussions.

I'm looking for a place where I can discuss poetic forms, typographical conventions, markets and publishing, legal and copyright issues, workshops and teachers, the history, philosophy and social role of poetry, etc - all the stuff that doesn't really go in a Critique forum.

Obviously I can start threads on those things here but the traffic is so low I despair of getting a very lively discussion with lots of points of view going. Are there other more active places to have lively, high-quality, poetry discussions?

ddgryphon · Sep 4, 2007

Start a conversation and they will come.

III · Sep 4, 2007

I like to lurk in the Poetry forum and learn, since I really don't know much about poetry and don't have much to add unless I like a piece on a visceral level.

I recommend saying something really snotty about Haskins. That'll get people in the door.

dclary · Sep 4, 2007

I was going to post a reply here but decided not to, so as to not disrupt the OP's preconceived notions.

Dude, you want to see "no traffic?" Go hang out in sports writing.

rhymegirl · Sep 4, 2007

It seems to me that most people just begin a topic here and see what happens.

Either that or you could try posting a shirtless pic. (just kiddin', of course)

poetinahat · Sep 4, 2007

I'm glad you started this thread, pl. You're right -- too many serious discussions go dormant here. There's a lot of play in Critique, but the discussion threads seem to come and go.

Maybe it's because poetry is only a sideline or diversion for most, or they're more interested in writing than studying or discussing it. Also, some of the regulars who discuss it a lot haven't been around.

Of course, discussions run their course, and maybe it's just time for new ones.

We've had a workshop or two on poetic forms; it's been a while, though, and we need volunteers for more.

I hope you don't give up on poetry discussion here; perhaps we just need some more grist for the mill.

veinglory · Sep 4, 2007

It comes and goes. I mean there hasn't been a post in 'erotica' in days. So is poetry is officially more interesting than sex?

Unique · Sep 4, 2007

III said:
I recommend saying something really snotty about Haskins. That'll get people in the door.

rhymegirl said:
Either that or you could try posting a shirtless pic. (just kiddin', of course)

veinglory said:
So is poetry is officially more interesting than sex?

But, wait! There's more! If you post a pic now, flexing your pecs, while insulting Haskins, ignoring our host (hi, poet!)and then invite everyrone to the erotica forum and post lewd limericks - well, dang!

You'll have most of the bases covered and you could charge admission!

quit looking at me like that - it's true and you know it!

poetinahat · Sep 4, 2007

veinglory said:
It comes and goes. I mean there hasn't been a post in 'erotica' in days. So is poetry is officially more interesting than sex?

More interesting than sex, or more interesting than erotica? Hmmm.

Then there's the Western forum. Hey, maybe we should join forces. I mean, Western Erotic Poetry -- who wouldn't want to be there?

dclary · Sep 4, 2007

I honestly believe that poetry discussions get passed up -- much as most works get very little honest criticism, because most of us here don't feel adequately educated or qualified enough to talk seriously about it, and then on the few occasions we might hazard an opinion, one of the "poetry is dead, just write from your head" crew hops in and throws everything off-topic.

dclary · Sep 4, 2007

poetinahat said:
More interesting than sex, or more interesting than erotica? Hmmm.

Then there's the Western forum. Hey, maybe we should join forces. I mean, Western Erotic Poetry -- who wouldn't want to be there?

I believe this forum is held in Nantuckett.

poetinahat · Sep 4, 2007

dclary: pillar of society, or court jester?... ladies and gentlemen, he's BOTH!

dclary said:
I honestly believe that poetry discussions get passed up -- much as most works get very little honest criticism, because most of us here don't feel adequately educated or qualified enough to talk seriously about it, and then on the few occasions we might hazard an opinion, one of the "poetry is dead, just write from your head" crew hops in and throws everything off-topic.

dclary said:
I believe this forum is held in Nantuckett.

... there is a proposal to move it to Havana this year.

dclary · Sep 5, 2007

poetinahat said:
dclary: pillar of society, or court jester?... ladies and gentlemen, he's BOTH!

... there is a proposal to move it to Havana this year.

Every village needs an idiot.

I'm just doing my part.

Unique · Sep 5, 2007

dclary said:
Every village needs an idiot.

I'm just doing my part.

and you're so good at it, too! That's why. . never mind.

So let's talk about poetry. I like it. I never have had any formal classes in it (high school does not count)

Strophe, eh? Well I say it's a stanza and you can use any terminology you like because... no ... I don't speak Greek either.

aa
bb
bb
aa

and you call it what? Whatever. I like it cuz it rhymes and I don't care who says rhyming poetry is out of fashion - sometimes I want to write it that way and I like it when other people do it.

I don't have the patience to write an epic poem but I admire people who can - (hi brokenfingers :hi:

) (he has more patience than I do)

so let's see your rocks.

Hillgate · Sep 5, 2007

The ink's not dry just yet, my love,
So let us wait awhile;
They're dotting 'i's and crossing 't's,
Their smile betrays no guile;
But hark! What's this? A FedEx truck!
Its motor burns my ears,
I hope its contents are for me,
It feels like it's been years.
The Gods have tried me, yet again,
I cannot breath, I am in pain,
The envelope, it's CAA,
Two million bucks: hip hip, hooray!!!
But soft, the addressee's not me,
Fleeting fortune, hallucinatory...

NeuroFizz · Sep 5, 2007

Unique said:
But, wait! There's more! If you post a pic now, flexing your pecs, while insulting Haskins, ignoring our host and then invite everyrone to the erotica forum and post lewd limericks

I thought these were prerequisites for doing a flounce.

Norman D Gutter · Sep 5, 2007

PL:

Some of us are just tired of talking and arguing.

Start a thread on a topic of interest to you and see what happens.

NDG

plnelson · Sep 5, 2007

rhymegirl said:
It seems to me that most people just begin a topic here and see what happens.

I did. I started a thread on whether posting a poem to a critique forum might make it un-publishable in print by certain publications (after being told in a personal conversation by the editor of one rather prominent publication that this was their policy!) . I started it on the same day I started this thread (which has 15 responses by people trying to prove my premise wrong

). That posting has received only one response so far.

Either that or you could try posting a shirtless pic. (just kiddin', of course)

Go to my pnArt website if you want to see shirtless pics (of my models, not of me). Just avoid the last three galleries if you go there from your work if you work in a cubicile or you might get fired. And I'm not kidding!

The reason why I don't have a a picture of myself in my profile here is because the one I normally use is the one in my bio on my website and I wasn't sure it wouldn't violate AW's community standards.

dclary · Sep 6, 2007

Actually, upon review... I think part of the problem is that we've got a "Poetry Discussion" subforum here.

What is the difference between "Writing Poetry" and "Discussing Poetry" when 99% of the threads in the other writing forums is "Discussing XX?"

I vote we get rid of the Discussing Poetry forum and merge it with this one.

plnelson · Sep 6, 2007

dclary said:
Actually, upon review... I think part of the problem is that we've got a "Poetry Discussion" subforum here.

What is the difference between "Writing Poetry" and "Discussing Poetry" when 99% of the threads in the other writing forums is "Discussing XX?"

I vote we get rid of the Discussing Poetry forum and merge it with this one.

I second that! (I can 'second' things now that I've graduated from being an AW "Esteemed New Member" to "One of the Locals". At this rate I'll be a "Crotchety and Annoying Old Fart" in NO time! I'm 54 and I've been a curmudgeon since I was 12.

)

But anyway why DO we have these two separate forums?

poetinahat · Sep 9, 2007

dclary said:
I vote we get rid of the Discussing Poetry forum and merge it with this one.

plnelson said:
I second that! (I can 'second' things now that I've graduated from being an AW "Esteemed New Member" to "One of the Locals". At this rate I'll be a "Crotchety and Annoying Old Fart" in NO time! I'm 54 and I've been a curmudgeon since I was 12. )

But anyway why DO we have these two separate forums?

We already had this vote. I appreciate your viewpoint, but the question's been asked and answered. And, honestly, is it that big a deal? Both the main forum and the Discussion forum password-free.

I guess not everyone's going to be happy with the way things are done here. We do try, though.

dclary · Sep 9, 2007

poetinahat said:
We already had this vote. I appreciate your viewpoint, but the question's been asked and answered. And, honestly, is it that big a deal? Both the main forum and the Discussion forum password-free.

I guess not everyone's going to be happy with the way things are done here. We do try, though.

I admit to having been ignorant or forgetful of said vote. My apologies.

plnelson · Sep 9, 2007

poetinahat said:
We already had this vote. I appreciate your viewpoint, but the question's been asked and answered. And, honestly, is it that big a deal?

I just think traffic is kinda light - I ask questions and get like, one response.

But anyway, I didn't know about the vote because it was before my time - I'm a newbie, a babe in the woods, an AW virgin, as it were; innocent, unspoilt and unsullied by the desperate struggles and spilt blood that has happened here before.

Anyway, I'll limit my postings to this forum in order to concentrate whatever few fading drops of wisdom and wit I still have to offer before the whole thing comes crashing down around us like the Jets' defense in the face of Tom Brady and Randy Moss today..

JRH · Sep 9, 2007

Personally, I don't see this as a "Discussion Forum", nor should it be as you have one of those.

I see this Forum as a source of general information on what is going on Poetically overall, and a "chat" and "gossip" forum for those who prefer such, as opposed to any valid meaningful discussion, (and I'd rather see such here than cluttering up the "actual" Discussion Forum.

Moreover, I think that "real" attempts at discussion like DD Gryphon's "Modern Poetry" thread should be directed there, where they can do the most good.

Think about it.

Jim Hoye (JRH)

poetinahat · Sep 9, 2007

plnelson said:
I just think traffic is kinda light - I ask questions and get like, one response.

But anyway, I didn't know about the vote because it was before my time - I'm a newbie, a babe in the woods, an AW virgin, as it were; innocent, unspoilt and unsullied by the desperate struggles and spilt blood that has happened here before.

Anyway, I'll limit my postings to this forum in order to concentrate whatever few fading drops of wisdom and wit I still have to offer before the whole thing comes crashing down around us like the Jets' defense in the face of Tom Brady and Randy Moss today..

But if everybody limits postings, well... where's the traffic going to come from?

And me, well, my wisdom and wit increases with everyone else's postings, not with my own. Don't give up on the rest of us, PL; give us something to think about and respond to.

We all share your frustration, I think; discussion threads die too fast. The best we can do is keep going; if it's a worthwhile forum to have, then it'll thrive eventually. But we all have to put in.

Of course, if the Poetry Forum is becoming irrelevant, then we'll all wander off somewhere else.

Why does this forum have so little traffic?

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