Praised comments? Help!

Hi all :-)
I'm interested to know more about how the system for praised comments works. I've had a good look around the site and found this:

"Finally, we tightened up the criteria for approving praised comments. Mere glowing praise for a poem, however long, should not be approved, even where the poem is extensively quoted. There must be some cogent analysis, some meaningful feedback or at least substantial suggestions for improvement. Each comment is assessed on a case-by-case basis. With seven mods and since it is a subjective process, the results must vary."

My issue is thus: as a newcomer to poetry, I feel totally unqualified to be analysing or suggesting improvements to anyone's poems? I'd feel awful if I inadvertently offended a seasoned poet with my clumsy, unknowledgeable 'critique' of their work!

Also, I have no idea of whether any of my comments have been praised so far, I can't find a count anywhere ... so I have no idea if I'm even on the right track?

I'd love to hear all your thoughts on this you lovely bunch! :-)

Kitty =^.^=

I'm kinda with you on this but then it doesn't really affect me as my fall back response is usually

!wow!

This will never change, I either like something or I don't, I certainly can't critique someones work as mine is so often full off errors, some deliberate;-)

I just enjoy poems for what they are

Craig x

Completely agree with both of you.
Craig and kitty

You can critique somebody's poetry simply by stating what you think worked, then what you think didn't. But tell them why it didn't in your opinion.
I find it helps if you read it aloud to yourself.
Is anything a bit rambling? Does the pace change mid stanza etc.
Just be brave and point it out.
When I last judged I was a bit of an arse but I at least tried to explain myself.
I feel that too many people leave no comment rather than potentially offend.
If you want to tear my stuff to shreds then feel free.
Sometimes a second pair of eyes and an entirely different POV helps.

"When I last judged I was a bit of an arse"

Laughing mine off at this

:-D

I've gotta be honest though I'll deliberately change tempo at times, although I've not done so for a while.

I've seen me start off with the first verse/stanza rhyming then break it into something completely different.

Dunno why. It just sometimes feels like the right thing to do.

Hey ho I never claimed to be normal.

Craig

Well, if you write what you think the poem is about and explain why you think the meaning of the poem is what you think, then it can be praised by some authors.
Also, if you offer suggestions as how to improve the poem, grammar wise or give any tips. It might be praised by some authors.
Preferably, write interpretation and offer some suggestions so if the author praises it, then the mods approving the comment can also agree with the author and go ahead and let the comment be praised.

When I started, I gave my interpretation and explained why i came up with it. I quoted lines from the poem and included them in my explanation. I also gave a few suggestions grammar wise.

I hope this helps.

The only problem with writing what you think it's about is you could be completely wrong. People hide things in the form of metaphors. I know this for fact because I'm one of them.

That said I do elaborate on another's poem from time to time usually when it's what I call a sledge hammer poem.

Ya know the type that just kinda floors you.

Craig

That's really helpful Darren thanks .. and brace yourself! Lol
=^.^=

I'd hate people to think I'm a grammar bore (I am though!) Lol
Thanks that's all helpful :-)
=^.^=

Well thanks Craig! Lol
Now I'm confused! Maybe I'll try and decipher the metaphors of one of yours ;-)
=^.^=

In my opinion, there is no right nor wrong in terms of interpretation.

I also write mainly metaphorical but not exactly intentionally. I mean, I don’t write to hide. I write to uncover.

Hmm come to think about it, what do you think is a reason why readers intérprete a poem totally different to what the author intended? ( that is, if the author intended to write it a certain way)

Ha good luck with that, the randomness of my head confuses even of at times lol

Craig x

People often write one meaning and do not realize wholly different meanings they have inserted to the poem. They may have inadvertently done so or, much more likely, their subconscious has laid a gloss over their intentions.

I guess that's the beauty of poetry, as with any art, the reader finds meaning of their own which could be wholly different to what the writer intended. The only importance being that meaning of some sort is found?
=^.^=