Monday, April 11, 2005
I'm just writin bout Foetry (now gimme some hits)
So the many of you who follow this online poetry stuff know that Foetry has been outed. Kevin Walzer has a summary of the action and a commentary in the post I linked to and the one before it. I agree with much of what Kevin has to say.
While I disagree with the way Foetry went about things, I think the fundamental idea of exposing the unethical connections responsible for some poetry contest selections is one that needs to continue in some other form. Foetry did post too many unsubstantiated rumors and did let things get too personal (the same could be said of the "other side" too), but the conversations it sparked on ethics in the poetry world have been invaluable, and it also exposed some rather definite misconduct.
Much of the response to the outing of Foetry so far has been reasonable discourse from a variety of perspectives, but there's also been enough venom directed at the now-exposed Foetry administrator and his poet wife that I can understand why he wanted to remain anonymous, even if he didn't conduct himself as well as he should have while anonymous. I feel bad for those who are unable to take the high road on whatever side they're on.
I hope people won't take Foetry shutting down to be a sign that we can stop discussing the issues it raised. Having no significant other right now to worry about hurting, I'm happy to continue to discuss the issues in an open and (I hope) productive manner.
And lest you misunderstand what I think, Jim Behrle's foetry dot com comics have been very amusing to me as well.
While I disagree with the way Foetry went about things, I think the fundamental idea of exposing the unethical connections responsible for some poetry contest selections is one that needs to continue in some other form. Foetry did post too many unsubstantiated rumors and did let things get too personal (the same could be said of the "other side" too), but the conversations it sparked on ethics in the poetry world have been invaluable, and it also exposed some rather definite misconduct.
Much of the response to the outing of Foetry so far has been reasonable discourse from a variety of perspectives, but there's also been enough venom directed at the now-exposed Foetry administrator and his poet wife that I can understand why he wanted to remain anonymous, even if he didn't conduct himself as well as he should have while anonymous. I feel bad for those who are unable to take the high road on whatever side they're on.
I hope people won't take Foetry shutting down to be a sign that we can stop discussing the issues it raised. Having no significant other right now to worry about hurting, I'm happy to continue to discuss the issues in an open and (I hope) productive manner.
And lest you misunderstand what I think, Jim Behrle's foetry dot com comics have been very amusing to me as well.
Comments:
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Here's a hit for ya! Thanks for being a part of all of this, Steve. You are right on many counts, and I hope the discussion generated will continue.
Peace,
Al
Peace,
Al
That wsn't discussion any more than national enqrer is news or $24 is manhattan. It was run by a bitchy hypocrite. Let's be clear about that. In the end, it was about him and nothing else. Walzer backpedals- * a cruel dilemma * my foot. The site was all about the thrills of destroying- people are starving? burn the bakery!
At the end of the day what has it accomplished? Nothing more than Walter Winchell.
At the end of the day what has it accomplished? Nothing more than Walter Winchell.
# posted by 
: April 14, 2005 7:33 AM
: April 14, 2005 7:33 AM
I'm afraid I disagree with you, Captain Haddock (is that your real name, by the way?). There was plenty of valuable discussion on ethics generated across the po-biz world.
I've already stated that I disagreed with much of how Foetry itself ran. It is kind of funny/sad to watch people engage in the same unfortunate tactics now that they have the chance, though.
I've already stated that I disagreed with much of how Foetry itself ran. It is kind of funny/sad to watch people engage in the same unfortunate tactics now that they have the chance, though.
Several years ago there was a discussion of contests and ethics in Poets & Writers after someone wrote about Maxine Kumin awarding a contest prize to a student, Kumin & student having worked on the manuscript together. My respect for Kumin certainly took a hit. That sort of thing is one reason I hate contests. I think a publisher ought to publish what s/he LOVES. Or what s/he thinks will make the most money, or some of both. But when publishers defend contests they often say the contests merely break even. If publishing poetry is hard work that almost never makes money (or breaks even), why not only publish that which you couldn't NOT? There are so many contests these days it seems like every book is a contest winner. Everybody loves a winner, I guess.
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