questions about contests, opinions sought........

1. there's far too many backslapping, sucking up and bogus choices......
2. most of the contests promote bad poetry and selecting poems with bad grammar, spelling mistakes, etc....become detrimental to writers who need or want to improve.....
3. Very few contest are judged on literary value, and most end up being judged on the sympathy spectrum
4. They are still fun to see how you stack up against others
5. It takes courage to enter them
6. the judges are idiots, especially Bob

1. I can tell usually. I entered a contest recently when it was cosed the judging took less than five minutes and the poem that did win was written by somebody who had been told over and over again in the past how great their poem was. The poem itself had a weak ending.

2. I've entered a couple of contests and lost just about every one of them, which I don't mind. It's just if I'm going to lose every place at least let me lose to a poem that makes me want to improve instead of ones that repeat I,I,I,I and,and,and,and and etc.

3. I agree but if someone wins because of sympthy let it be a poem that has literary value as well. One that is skillful and focuses on connecting the two.

4. I love seeing other people's poems. If I find one I like it's a great chance to see a new poet.

5. I think for only the ones basing on literary value. But it's nice to see how much I've kind of grown in writing.

6. lol not a sa judge. As a person I'd have to ask Sunny.

what do I know though lol I'm just an idiot with a typewriter

1. You have no idea how true that seems to me as well.
2. It's so true it's disgusting.
3. And most are judged on a sympathtic spectrum, and none (or barely any) are based on literary value.
4. They ARE just for fun. Really it's only a person's opinion if you're better than someone.
5. It doesn't take courage to enter them, no. I diagree here... How hard is it to enter a contest? Not very at all.
6. I couldn't tell you if he is or not. I'll take your word for it; you seem pretty intelligent.

Now, I still enter a lot of the contests... But for me it's just for fun and something to do. So I'm kind of back talking myself here, but who really cares?

xDarkSuicidex

1. there's far too many backslapping, sucking up and bogus choices......
2. most of the contests promote bad poetry and selecting poems with bad grammar, spelling mistakes, etc....become detrimental to writers who need or want to improve.....
3. Very few contest are judged on literary value, and most end up being judged on the sympathy spectrum
4. They are still fun to see how you stack up against others
5. It takes courage to enter them
6. the judges are idiots, especially Bob

1. To me it seems as if the same people win contests over and over
2. alot of the winners have bad language skills and it makes me want to correct there language
3. the saddest poems get more sympathy, and thats why they may win
4. they are lacking fun because there is no competition, you know who will win, its the same people
5. it doesnt take much courage to enter a contest, but its hard to win them
6. and the judges arent idiots, they just vote because they generally like a poet, not on the poem content

I agree. I found the results to this contest I entered. Did I expect to place? Nope and I'll admit that. But I did expect some outstanding poems to at least place.
http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/topic.html?topic_id=54827

Well, I tried not to let a few grammar or spelling mistakes affect my judging. though it did annoy me when some really great, original pieces were so full of spelling errors. and it's easy to just judge by the poems when the poet is nothing more than a brain in a jar. I mostly look for originality and authenticity. Writing about feelings is not enough. You must be able to do so with an original word choice and maybe rhyme (but not always), but atleast rythmn. but if it just seems like the poet has thrown out their favorite words from the thesuarus, I brush it off as well.

I agree with you wholeheartedly Bob, except for # 6.

I think that this place needs a judge like you to set amateur poets like me straight. Lmao.

ps I just started a contest in Bob's wake, and I would be glad for ALL to enter!

Hahaha, somtimes they do get on my nerves...I guess it all depends on what kind of mood I am in. I mean, if I see a whole load of I's in a row, It really does bother me. But if I see reason for a lot of I's then I am fine with it.

Hahahaha.