Ah, how pleasant to be back in one's native land, with the britpos
still twittering amongst themselves in the trees ...
I wonder how many members of this list realise that as listowner, I
can't "leave" or "suspend" from the list when I go away. This means
that on my return my inbox is bursting with all your wonderful
thoughts from the last two weeks... there have been some great
moments... but I wonder if you can imagine the effect of a
concentrated dose of Keston and Stephen and Trevor and Robin (for
instance) delivered in this way...
Now I won't for a moment try to kid you that I've read in depth and
committed to memory all the posts of that period, all the did/didn'ts,
all the you saids and I saids, but it did strike me - in my outsider
mode - that the tone of some postings - from a range of posters, not
just one "side" - was perhaps on occasions hasty and off-putting, not
conducive to dialogue. Now you know me, I like a snappy come-back as
much as anyone, but in all that, the serious matter does tend to go
missing, no? We've had countless opportunities to present, discuss,
close-read the poetries we're concerned for, but instead we get
enmeshed in swiping, and criticising each other, which seems a pity to
me. Only human, for sure, but a pity.
Close reading - or at least fairly close commenting shouldn't be
impossible on this list. The best way (I've found from other lists) is
for someone to start doing it on-list, and for others to join in as
they can. Since this is a mixed-ability group, a degree of charity
will be required from the know-it-alls, a willingness-to-listen will
be required from those in the shallow end, and yes, a certain
"openness" from all concerned. Those infuriated by the lack of pace
can, of course, continue backchannel; and those bored by the whole
thing can hit the delete key and shut up. From the number of people
over the last fortnight who've said in various ways that they'd like
to know more about some poet or other, it seems to me that there's
scope for this, if someone has the patience to try.
Other lists have gone into "moderated" mode to filter off the swiping
and believe me, it's an incredible bore for everyone.
Good to be back...
RC
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