If Only....
I have spent many hours researching Neopoets comments and Undiscovered stats.
If only we could politely request that members commented more.
Peeing against the wind springs to mind, it is an ongoing grump from me and many times have I thought to give up on the site, but after 10 years plus I am still here.
We will see how many take the trouble to comment on this.
The stream at this moment has quite a few entries yet most of them have not commented on others works.
Hope we can sort out something, if the regular poets are shy then the new poets are not going to comment.
We must make a PM message that can be sent to anyone that streams a poem to remind them to comment I will look into this.
Take care yours Ian..

If you expect to receive comments and help on your own poems you should extend the same curtesy to others

It's very selfish of me (although there are periods where I try to make up for it), and I need to change the way I think about this site. I suffer from Adult-ADHD, so I produce less dompanine and have a smaller frontal cortex thus making me less motivated to do things. This isn't excusing the lack of comments on my behalf, but it does help to explain it, perhaps granting further insight as to why. I'm working on it, and getting help to create systems that will allow me to plan, and want to reply to others work.

I still feel bad about this, and am working on it. I so appreciate all the comments left for me, and other users deserve the same effort too.

Will work on getting there, your reminder helped me remember. I know it sounds weird, but its how my head works.

I sent a PM to all the new poets on the first page of the stream as follows:-

Please try to leave a comment,
On the other poets,
That are posting on stream.
It will increase the quality of all.
Thank you.
Yours, Ian.T Howard .. Sparrow .. Yenti
I have had 6 replies that are Positive so something like this can be sent as they arrive or once per month.
Take care, Yours Ian..

and so many say I hanker
but every poet must know
he is not wasting others time
he has done so his own
and

Sir moonman

its been since ages
you swept away my pages
do so if you have the broom
my autumnous garden
needs one brush soon

when commenting just feels like a chore.
If I'm in that taciturn mood
my responses can be rather rude.

One thing I do is make myself give at least three critiques whenever I want to post a new one of my own, a small reminder that, as you say, we are all in it together and no-one gets paid.

Another thing is to scan the Stream to find some works from my favourites that I know I'll enjoy and alternate their critiques with ones that are of... um... lesser attraction.

And finally when I'm in the mood I go into a feedback frenzy. This ties in nicely with the high-ends of my Bipolar Disorder, though I need checks and balances because after three days of critique and no sleep I can get cranky and be rather mean.

Oh, and something I learned years back. No matter how enthusiastic I feel never ever try to inform whilst intoxicated!

I've just commented on 2 of Eskers/Stevens. Will work on a few names that are new to me next

Hope you and yours are well Richard

Sincerely J x

But I gave some attention to a few lonely poems tonight, from some new folks. Didn't realize we had an influx of new members, but it's good to see!

Kelsey

I get so frustrated. It is hard to critique new poets that are just learning English. What makes them think that it is a good idea to learn it by writing poems? I try hard to give good critique and still not be too harsh. There are times when I have to go back over it and be a kinder, gentler soul. It is almost like being an English teacher. You have to correct their language skills before getting to the heart of their intent. Still, I will keep trying and hope that I am doing some good. ~ Geezer.
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