"LIKES"
are nice but they are not helpful in a workshop. Constructive criticism
is the heartbeat that gives life and meaning to the workshop
experience. "LIKES" don't tell a poet how to improve a poem. Sometimes
they can bolster a poet and give them the impression that what they've
written is good, when, in reality, it may or may not be. Sometimes, it
becomes a show of affection and support by friends, indicative of
popularity versus poetic prowess. Workshop participants are here for one
purpose, to learn and improve their art. Some participants will hit the
"LIKE" button, because they "like" a poem and want to tell the poet
they "like" it. This is a nice gesture. If a participant, however, lacks
a thorough understanding of what is and isn't a hokku, their "LIKE" can
cause the one posting a poem to think their poem is a success, when in
essence, it may or may not be.
Some are attending this workshop for the wrong purposes. They are not here to improve their craft. They think they have "arrived", are sensitive to critique, and more often than not, covertly and/or overtly, wax defensive. They look at the workshop as a gallery, an affirmation, nothing more. They defend everything they post. This becomes even more problematic when they and a group of friends do the same in tandem, defending each other's poems, patting each other on the back, and waxing antagonistic towards those who critique said poems.
In every workshop there are swivel chair sensei's who don't post their own poems, who instead, proffer advice and critique apart from the workshop eye, in full disagreement with the workshop facilitator/teachers, acting as cancer cells that divide the workshop into opposing camps. If one is not in agreement with the workshop facilitator/teachers, in this case, Don amd myself, they should leave the workshop and find or create one that mirrors their conceptualizations.
Don and I are the workshop teacher/facilitators. Think of this workshop as a martial arts dojo. Armed with years of experience, training, and education, we offer instruction, critique, and facilitation to those who lack the same ability and understanding we collectively have. In a dojo, the student doesn't argue with his or her teacher, nor does the student defend what other students do. The student never critiques his or her teacher nor does he or she try to instruct the instructor. To do so indicates the student is not attending the dojo to learn, that said student thinks he or she is ready to teach the dojo, and in essence, replace the teacher/facilitators, albeit temporarily, or as co-teachers, meaning they are no longer participating in the workshop as learners.
If you are here to learn, we welcome you with open arms. If you disagree with our teaching and vision, you should go somewhere else. We are fallible, yes, but as teacher/facilitators our time is wasted having to deal with participants who argue and debate the validity of what we teach and/or critique what we post as teaching examples (our own poetry).
If one is ready to critique their teachers and challenge their lessons, it is time for said student to leave the dojo and start their own.
The above is not open for debate.
This workshop has been a positive experience for many. It is exciting to watch you grow. As you learn, you help fellow students learn, as more advanced students should. Don and I commend you for this.
Bowing to you all . . .
Some are attending this workshop for the wrong purposes. They are not here to improve their craft. They think they have "arrived", are sensitive to critique, and more often than not, covertly and/or overtly, wax defensive. They look at the workshop as a gallery, an affirmation, nothing more. They defend everything they post. This becomes even more problematic when they and a group of friends do the same in tandem, defending each other's poems, patting each other on the back, and waxing antagonistic towards those who critique said poems.
In every workshop there are swivel chair sensei's who don't post their own poems, who instead, proffer advice and critique apart from the workshop eye, in full disagreement with the workshop facilitator/teachers, acting as cancer cells that divide the workshop into opposing camps. If one is not in agreement with the workshop facilitator/teachers, in this case, Don amd myself, they should leave the workshop and find or create one that mirrors their conceptualizations.
Don and I are the workshop teacher/facilitators. Think of this workshop as a martial arts dojo. Armed with years of experience, training, and education, we offer instruction, critique, and facilitation to those who lack the same ability and understanding we collectively have. In a dojo, the student doesn't argue with his or her teacher, nor does the student defend what other students do. The student never critiques his or her teacher nor does he or she try to instruct the instructor. To do so indicates the student is not attending the dojo to learn, that said student thinks he or she is ready to teach the dojo, and in essence, replace the teacher/facilitators, albeit temporarily, or as co-teachers, meaning they are no longer participating in the workshop as learners.
If you are here to learn, we welcome you with open arms. If you disagree with our teaching and vision, you should go somewhere else. We are fallible, yes, but as teacher/facilitators our time is wasted having to deal with participants who argue and debate the validity of what we teach and/or critique what we post as teaching examples (our own poetry).
If one is ready to critique their teachers and challenge their lessons, it is time for said student to leave the dojo and start their own.
The above is not open for debate.
This workshop has been a positive experience for many. It is exciting to watch you grow. As you learn, you help fellow students learn, as more advanced students should. Don and I commend you for this.
Bowing to you all . . .
- You, Sasa Vazic, Sandi Pray and 2 others like this.
Robert D. Wilson It isimportantthat every workshop participant read this. Spread the word. Thank you.
Sandi Pray Much gratitude to you and Don for sharing your experience and time with us. Happy Holidays to you and your families _/\_
Pris Campbell I read it. I only hit like when I like it as it is and have nothing constructive to offer by way of change. I recently hit like on three you posted together. How could I improve them??:-) They were excellent.
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