Does the truth really hurt that much?

I was just browsing the site and i thought of this question i would like the answer to.
Does the truth really hurt that much? What i mean is would poets on this site rather hear the simple "good poem, well done" rather than the honest detailed truth, which in some cases (not all) may be that the poem needs work.
I was just thinking because i've read some poems which i would consider not as good as they could be, and they need work. However the comments left on the poem do not reflect that and most of them say "good poem..."
Just a thought because i know i would always like to recieve constructive critisism rather than the simple "good poem."
Hmm...well that's it, so what does everyone else think?

i agree with you!!

Exactly K! I would definitely prefer an honest assessment of my poetry... what I don't like is when someone says, "This sucks" and nothing else... tell me why you think it sucks and what could be done to improve it... and of course, people can be polite in their comments even if they hate the poem.... it really won't hurt! :o)

For example: Instead of saying "this sucks, don't ever write again"... say, "I really didn't care for this.." or, "This is not really my style" and then if you have suggestions, PLEASE add them!

Another thing is when you disagree with the subject matter... again, politeness is a start... and then critique the WRITING... not the subject matter... of course, it's ok to say that you disagree, but no need for people to say "you are wrong or stupid" for writing something.

Ok...I'm done....

Thanks girls for your feedback. I couldn't agree with your points more. I'm just glad someone agrees with me.

anyone else?

Yeh I agree, and I give out constructive criticism on everything except for emotional and personal pieces, because those reflect a specific state of mind, and the writer has a connection to those specific words, and they probably wouldn't change it anyway. But any poem is that sufficiently distant enough from the writer (in my opinion) gets a fair and impersonal review from me (as much as that is possible).

yes i agree you should deffinately be honest, but sometimes you can be truthful without having to be nasty. and say for example someone writes a poem, to the best of their abilioty, and it isnt actually that good and eveyone slates it and says its awful, basically peopple are tearing apart something you have created and which you appreciate. i personally think its quite hard to ignore peoples honest opinions.

Good post, well done.

: )

I think the truth does hurt but like animals even we learn from pain

Truth hurts so much it stops hurting for a while, just to make you numb. Peace, love and empathy.
-Belle Misericordia

I love it when everybody agrees on the same thing so they dont look like the odd ball:p. I "honestly" dont believe some of your answers here.

I think if someone asks you to critique their work it's one thing, but just because they post it doesn't mean you have to pick it apart...your not obligated to do that. Actually, I dont think alot of ppl here are qualified to do that. The sad fact is most of the ppl that like to criticize others do it to make themselves feel better. Just because they say "have a nice day" after they rip apart what you wrote does not mean their intentions were good. Example "Kill You" by Eminem:P...after threatening to rape and kill, he says "I'm just kidding ladies, you know I love you":p..lol *Love eminem* Just because someone didn't write something the way you would have, doesn't make it bad, just different.

If the only thing you can say about a poem is the comma's and periods are missing or are in the place...then keep it to yourself. If it's published in a book I'll make sure to tell my editor to keep an eye out for your corrections:p

All I'm saying is, you can get better on your own if you have the support of your peers/fellow poets.

Kind comments will always inspire a person to write more *the more you write better you get*
Criticism doesn't have that guarantee..and that's the truth:p

only if you accept it. then i feel you go-on from
there never looking back-memories make eloquent
affairs-but truth lies in the eyes of the beheld
not those who hold you back.-i listen to myself
but never listen to what the voices are telling me-
i'd rather be damned than distressed.-peace

Man i always leave an individual comment if i have the time to read someones work, and lets be honest, we all have a vain estimation of our own wit, and a distanced view of other peoples...

I've been slammed so many times for being honestly critical, or saying i think the writing ain't a poem but a song or bit of nice prose....i garantee most folk who think they want honest answers wouldn't like them from me...

Thanks for the feedback people. I'm so glad this post hasn't got lost in with the rest yet.
Thanks keep your opinions coming.

I agree with u 100%

I really wish that someone will tell me how to better my poem or what spelling mistakes i have etc.

you are onje of the few, Mich... Most people say they want feedback and suggestions, but then if anyone says anything slightly negative (even in a polite way) they get upset because we are picking their poem apart... especially if we mention spelling/grammar/typing errors.

Hey it's me again.
Friends~ i agree with you and i do the same thing. I will offer criticism to anyone who asks, well if they need it. But as I’m reading random poems i look for the positive, as hard as it may be and i point both out, the strengths and weaknesses of the poem. I know if someone only gave me negative feedback i'd be devastated as i'd think there wasn't a single aspect of my poem which was good. I just hope pointing both sides gives the poet confidence that there were good parts somewhere in it, and so maybe the criticism won't be too harsh.
You see i'm a nice person really, and i hate being on the wrong side of anyone, but i want to help fellow poets to achieve their potential. I think everyone deserves the opportunity to get better and improve. So what better than polite, constructive criticism, but of course in small doses. Then applause and encouragement with their strengths and improvements....
Ok i'm done, take care,
Silver

im actually guilty of going along riting good poem coz i just thought a lot of people would be offended if i sed anything else. you mad me think.

Critique is difficult. There's a fine line between making a comment of value and dissecting a poem, even to a point of being destructive.

I know that I am guilty of just finding the positives in a poem and leaving the critical critique aside. And I definitely will do so if I see positives but can't quite come to any definitive suggestions for improvement.

I've read a great many of Kevin Murray's comments on others' writing and respect what I've read. It's generally informative, thoughtful, and as constructive as possible while retaining critical analysis. My kudos to his ability.

I think there's definitely an aspect of one's own ego in good critique as well. And I don't mean in a comparison of your poetry with another's poetry.

But something someone emailed me struck me... she stated that she didn't want to be disliked. After all, if you write a true critique of someone, and they take it poorly, then as Friends commented, you have likely made an enemy on the site.

And while there is definitely the possibility of retribution, I think many of us--being human--don't want others to think poorly of them.

So there comes a point where all of us who are posting here have to rise above our natures and both critique in honesty and, by virtue of our having lain ourselves open to critique by posting here, have to be mature enough to take it.

After all, if you're here to truly share and improve your poetry, then you have to leave your ego out of it, even though the content of your poetry may be highly personal in nature.

But if you're posting here for purely personal pleasure or for therapeutic expression for yourself, then why are you offering your poetry in a public forum?

hi silver um i agree with you but i dont think people should be too harsh for example if you dont like the poem say i didn't really like it because..... i think t is really insulting if you get a comment saying this sucked you are horrible.

Please at least comment why you didn't enjoy a poem. Was it the structure? Lack of rhyme? The fact it rhymed? You simply don't like the subject matter? You hate emotion in poems?

Whatever it is that you like or don't like, at least explain why... otherwise there is nothing of value to the poet in your critique regarding how you feel they could improve it (if they choose to change it). But without explaining, you don't offer them the chance one way or the other.

I agree with you. i would rather hear the truth about my poem. i would want people to tell me what i need to improve on, so i dont make the same mistake with my other poems.

Agreed. I want to learn how to write better so i don't make the same mistakes again.

I completely agree my poems often need work and being told this helps me become a better poet of course having some one tell you a poem is good is nice but you need to know why and what is good and bad about it. Also when you get constructive criticism from a more accomplished poet often they have had these problems in the past and can tell you how to correct them so again you become a better poet.