The Rolls

[phantasm]

I was just thinking about the members on this site generally.
Working my way through the rolls I mentally remarked how long it's been since many of them have posted. Some of the names I recognized from my Beliefnet days. Regardless of weather I knew them or not, some of them go back at least a year since they last posted and they haven't posted since. Most, the time span is a good deal longer, at least 3 or 4 or 5 years.

I came back looking for community. The way I figure it, after my little exercise, counting me, there's maybe 7 or 8 users who are current posters. That includes Sabrina and her David.

I'm not writing this to draw any conclusions......... I don't quite know why I wanted to start this thread, I just wanted to. Take it as a random rambling if you want.

[anirbas]

At least half of the initial members, within one year ambled back to the poetry sites David had "headhunted" them from. Many of these other sites issue "awards" for various reasons and although many members came here to get away from this system, soon, they were requesting we invent an "awards" system.

We, didn't "open" this place to inspire needless competition, we "opened" it, to inspire people to share their poetry here with other poets, their own herd, so to speak. Not to foster jealous squabbles and needlessly harmed feelings. Because, poetry, at it's essence, it's all about perspective. Much like a painting, each viewer/reader sees something other than the person next to them. But, we all know that.

Anyway, long story short, most of them, gravitated back to the sites they drifted from in the first place. And all, beautiful places. I have visited them quite often until recently to continue reading some of these poets...

We lost another large section and John Yamrus, because, God love John Yamrus and I adore his poetry, he just couldn't stop being a hard nosed critic, as well. And some, just can't handle scrutiny of that calibre or, frankly, just don't give a damn and don't want to hear it. But, lost another chunk to the Yamrusian Wars. God, how I miss John Yamrus. "Like a fat kid misses cake", I miss that fabulous smoking pen. But, I also miss the fabulous work of those that sunk below the surface, before he left...Loretta...One of the best infusions of a natural sense of humor I had ever seen knitted into poems. What a gem! God, miss that smoking pen, too! Miss 'em all...

And the last member to leave, had the audacity to tell me in private messages, that, to whit, this place doesn't have awards or enough other people reading. It's a pocket site? Hip pocket site?

Most of those left here, originally came from Bnet. I like to think the folks that are left here are here for poetry and poetry's sake only. Not for the empty accolades of internet poetry site awards that are meaningless other than for stroking the ego. Poetry is to individual an experience for me to start labeling it with awards...Unless a nice, fat assed check comes with it! That's not an empty accolade...Right? lol

If I had time, I would go on a "headhunting" venture and try to steal some new blood to bring home. I'm not above doing it...Just to tired and no time at the moment. Care to be the site "headhunter"? lol

Beyond the above, I couldn't say why we lost the ones we lost...Maybe we are just a pair of douchebags and we ran everyone off betwixt and between us? gigglegiggle Ya think??? lol

Random ramblings are not frowned upon here...We promote a lounge atmosphere where members are free to share poetry, commune with one another or play poetry games, and ask any questions, they dratted please...

Peace out, dude. lol Nir.

[phantasm]

I have no idear how to be a headhunter. Off with their heads? Shrink their heads? Take their scalps? Eh, I don't know..... ;D

[anirbas]

hehehehehehehe...good one, PHant...good one...giggling my head off at the computer right now...must go to bed...work and all that rot...