If you’re a Harriet regular, you’ve probably noticed a few new-ish names over in the right-hand column. One of them is mine. That’s because I’ve taken over for Emily Warn as the manager of the Poetry Foundation website. You will probably continue to hear from Emily now and then as you do from other former Harriet bloggers; and now and then, you’ll likely hear from me. You might enjoy that because I tend to open my mouth and what I think comes out. If not, you’ll have to take me on in the comments section. But be nice, or I might ban you from the blog.
Speaking of the comments section, I’m impressed by the lively discussions going on here, and am especially happy with the tenor of the comments since our latest batch of bloggers began. I’d like to thank them (and all of you) for creating an environment where everyone feels they can contribute to the discussion.
So even though we’ve all been here a while, welcome to me and to our latest batch of Harriet bloggers: Camille Dungy, Martin Earl, Annie Finch, and Jason Guriel.
I hope you’re not serious about banning people from the blog.
Posted By: David Krump on February 22, 2009 at 11:31 amMaybe banning bloggers is part of managing this website. I hadn’t thought of that.
Wouldn’t banning people from the blog ruin the opportunity for discourse between the “nice” and the “not nice”?
It’s always been my opinion that the “nice” can take care of themselves fairly well.
I prefer civil discussions, but I appreciate reading heated posts too.
Ban is such a dangerous word.
Doesn’t “[this] environment where everyone feels they can contribute to the discussion” include the “not nice”? I’d like to think so.
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Hi David-
Posted By: Cathy Halley on February 22, 2009 at 2:40 pmIndeed, I was being flip–I’d hate to ban anyone.
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Cathy, whatever you do don’t lower the level of “flip” – a hard tone to master, but once mastered, amazingly useful. Thanks so much for the introduction. I think now we can really start to talk.
Posted By: mearl on February 23, 2009 at 8:25 pmmartin
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I’m watching this documentary called “The Source”, dealing with the writers, the artists of the 40s, 50s, 60s and so on. Watched Ginsberg on trial, watched protesters and one writer talk about how he enjoys his routine of non drug abuse, taking at least one of every illegal drug a year. But only once.
Posted By: Michael J. Martin on February 24, 2009 at 2:29 amThanks for the introduction Ms Halley.
I’ve been encountering a mad, mad I tell you amount of articles and information via this blog. It’s nuts!
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Cathy, thanks for the welcome!
Posted By: Jason Guriel on February 24, 2009 at 4:03 pmReport this comment
Hi Cathy,
Posted By: thomas brady on February 28, 2009 at 10:27 amA mechanical question: are these threads meant to expire after a certain time?
I want to make sure I’m not oblivious to a ‘OK, everyone, party’s over, thanks for coming’ while I’m chatting away as the clean-up crew sweeps around my feet.
I made a post on a thread recently, replying to other posters, and it never saw the light of day, and then I noticed a post which had the author of the thread (Jason, as it happened, in this case) thanking those who had been in the discussion; is this a clue that no more posts are wanted and the discussion is over?
I’m OK with that, although it does seem a bit party-pooper-ish, but I just wanted clarification. Sorry if these were in guidelines somewhere that I didn’t see…
Thanks a bunch…
Thomas
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Hi Thomas-
Posted By: Cathy Halley on February 28, 2009 at 12:11 pmThese threads are not meant to expire. If you still see the thread, you should be able to respond to it. We approve virtually all comments as long as they are signed and aren’t abusive. It’s possible someone deleted the comment by accident. I’ll have a look and see if I see anything from you.
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I save my posts, so I can re-post.
Posted By: thomas brady on February 28, 2009 at 8:21 pmYea, maybe I forgot to sign my comment…
Thanks, Cathy!
Thomas
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Thomas, my apologies if in thanking people it seemed like I was shutting down a thread. By all means, please keep it going!
Posted By: Jason Guriel on March 1, 2009 at 4:29 pmReport this comment