Comments on: Overheard in the hallway http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/overheard-in-the-hallway-2/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:40:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Wendy Babiak http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/overheard-in-the-hallway-2/#comment-25099 Wendy Babiak Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:08:25 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4993#comment-25099 Thanks for the chuckles this afternoon! I "liked" all your comments! And look, I'll use one more exclamation point! Thanks for the chuckles this afternoon! I “liked” all your comments! And look, I’ll use one more exclamation point!
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]]> By: john http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/overheard-in-the-hallway-2/#comment-25097 john Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:20:06 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4993#comment-25097 Ah, the Dislikers will predictably Dislike a critique of Disliking. We mustn't discuss what's going on here -- we're poets, after all, not novelists. Reflecting on group dynamics is boring. The first time I saw the Replacements, in 1982, I didn't know who they were -- a friend had dragged me to a club to see the band they were on the bill with (the Slickee Boys, I think). The Replacements were doing their raging melodic punk small-club thing, compellingly, and someone (not me) was booing them, and between songs the singer said, with sour, sarcastic, self-mocking but sincere and unforgettable humor and poignancy, "That hurts my feelings." A great, complex moment. I can't do it. Y'all's Dislike is funny! Ah, the Dislikers will predictably Dislike a critique of Disliking. We mustn’t discuss what’s going on here — we’re poets, after all, not novelists. Reflecting on group dynamics is boring.

The first time I saw the Replacements, in 1982, I didn’t know who they were — a friend had dragged me to a club to see the band they were on the bill with (the Slickee Boys, I think). The Replacements were doing their raging melodic punk small-club thing, compellingly, and someone (not me) was booing them, and between songs the singer said, with sour, sarcastic, self-mocking but sincere and unforgettable humor and poignancy, “That hurts my feelings.”

A great, complex moment. I can’t do it. Y’all’s Dislike is funny!
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]]> By: john http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/overheard-in-the-hallway-2/#comment-25095 john Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:01:16 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4993#comment-25095 I voted "Dislike" on my last comment. It *is* telling that Harriet gives top billing to Dislike -- I *do* think that the Harriet-meister anticipated that bile would get more play than sanguinity, and even wanted to encourage that biliousness, and I *do* dislike that encouragement. But I also dislike the last sentence of my last comment -- too bilious. Maybe it's contagious! I think it is. Giving top billing to Dislike is so negative! So anti-lyrical, anti-diological (in the Buberean sense), so I-It rather than I-Thou! And I-Thou *is* the lyrical posture, O tall tree in the ear, O nightingale, O fleecy cloud, O Harriet! 'Tain't a lyric age though. Nope. I voted “Dislike” on my last comment. It *is* telling that Harriet gives top billing to Dislike — I *do* think that the Harriet-meister anticipated that bile would get more play than sanguinity, and even wanted to encourage that biliousness, and I *do* dislike that encouragement. But I also dislike the last sentence of my last comment — too bilious. Maybe it’s contagious! I think it is.

Giving top billing to Dislike is so negative! So anti-lyrical, anti-diological (in the Buberean sense), so I-It rather than I-Thou! And I-Thou *is* the lyrical posture, O tall tree in the ear, O nightingale, O fleecy cloud, O Harriet!

‘Tain’t a lyric age though. Nope.
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]]> By: john http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/overheard-in-the-hallway-2/#comment-25093 john Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:33:50 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4993#comment-25093 It's also telling that "Dislike" gets the top of the ballot, "Like" gets the bottom. Harriet calls 'em like she sees 'em, oh yeah. It’s also telling that “Dislike” gets the top of the ballot, “Like” gets the bottom. Harriet calls ‘em like she sees ‘em, oh yeah.
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]]> By: john http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/overheard-in-the-hallway-2/#comment-25092 john Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:31:10 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4993#comment-25092 The "Like" / "Dislike" binary is trivializing. Poets are all about our feelings, right? That's what Harriet's anonymous comment-on-the-comment system implies. I "Like" this, I "Dislike" that. In other words -- that is so lame, that is so hot -- whatEVer. The “Like” / “Dislike” binary is trivializing. Poets are all about our feelings, right? That’s what Harriet’s anonymous comment-on-the-comment system implies. I “Like” this, I “Dislike” that.

In other words — that is so lame, that is so hot — whatEVer.
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]]> By: john http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/overheard-in-the-hallway-2/#comment-25089 john Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:03:13 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4993#comment-25089 If I recall correctly, Terreson, Harriet introduced the Chicago-Roman-imperial thumbs in response to lots of complaints that some people were commenting too much and at too great a length. Rather than introduce a policy limiting numbers of words and/or comments per day per commenter, Harriet decided to let the mob make its feelings known through anonymous peer pressure. I don't like it either -- in fact, all you "Dislikers" out there -- I Dislike your Dislike! If I could vote on your Disliking things, I would! Thumbs down! Throw the Dislikers to the lions! (I've used the Thumbs too, Red and Green. Guilty. But I've got a deal with the lions, see . . . ) Anyway, Terreson, I have no idea why anybody would dislike your comment. Such gratuitous, senseless, anonymous Dislike really is lame. It enables and enacts some of the worst of web culture. (Of which, yes, I am also guilty, as well as other aspects of the worst of web culture.) Let it all hang out, people! Anonymously! Thumbs down away! If I recall correctly, Terreson, Harriet introduced the Chicago-Roman-imperial thumbs in response to lots of complaints that some people were commenting too much and at too great a length. Rather than introduce a policy limiting numbers of words and/or comments per day per commenter, Harriet decided to let the mob make its feelings known through anonymous peer pressure. I don’t like it either — in fact, all you “Dislikers” out there — I Dislike your Dislike! If I could vote on your Disliking things, I would! Thumbs down! Throw the Dislikers to the lions! (I’ve used the Thumbs too, Red and Green. Guilty. But I’ve got a deal with the lions, see . . . )

Anyway, Terreson, I have no idea why anybody would dislike your comment. Such gratuitous, senseless, anonymous Dislike really is lame. It enables and enacts some of the worst of web culture. (Of which, yes, I am also guilty, as well as other aspects of the worst of web culture.)

Let it all hang out, people! Anonymously! Thumbs down away!
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]]> By: John Oliver Simon http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/overheard-in-the-hallway-2/#comment-25081 John Oliver Simon Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:47:17 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4993#comment-25081 The snark was a boojum, you see. The snark was a boojum, you see.
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]]> By: Wendy Babiak http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/overheard-in-the-hallway-2/#comment-25078 Wendy Babiak Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:43:10 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4993#comment-25078 Yet it also helps to be able to vote AGAINST snarkiness, so it's a double-edge, don't you think? Some people respond negatively the spectacle of someone praising another; maybe they wish they were receiving praise? Maybe they perceive sycophancy? Though the praise itself could be perfectly merited and genuine. I wouldn't worry too much about the "score" of your comments. What does it matter, really? Yet it also helps to be able to vote AGAINST snarkiness, so it’s a double-edge, don’t you think?

Some people respond negatively the spectacle of someone praising another; maybe they wish they were receiving praise? Maybe they perceive sycophancy? Though the praise itself could be perfectly merited and genuine.

I wouldn’t worry too much about the “score” of your comments. What does it matter, really?
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]]> By: Terreson http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/overheard-in-the-hallway-2/#comment-25072 Terreson Sat, 05 Sep 2009 04:52:59 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4993#comment-25072 So, once again, what is to dislike about my compliment to Brouwer's blog? I ask the poet to keep it up and I respond to what he says. But I get a negative vote. Once again, Harriet people, I ask you to reconsider this new feauture of yours. It manufactures snarkiness. Terreson So, once again, what is to dislike about my compliment to Brouwer’s blog? I ask the poet to keep it up and I respond to what he says. But I get a negative vote.

Once again, Harriet people, I ask you to reconsider this new feauture of yours. It manufactures snarkiness.

Terreson
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]]> By: Wendy Babiak http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/overheard-in-the-hallway-2/#comment-25067 Wendy Babiak Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:26:45 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4993#comment-25067 Here's one overheard at the convenience-store counter, spoken by a clerk training another clerk, typing in the info for a money transfer: You can't trust them Chinese. They don't even need u's for their q's. Here’s one overheard at the convenience-store counter, spoken by a clerk training another clerk, typing in the info for a money transfer:

You can’t trust them Chinese. They don’t even need u’s for their q’s.
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]]> By: Terreson http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/overheard-in-the-hallway-2/#comment-25066 Terreson Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:59:13 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4993#comment-25066 I am enjoying your 'overheard in the hallway' notion. Do please keep it up. I think I get what you are after. It's got poetry. "Music never makes me cry anymore." That kind of hurts. Terreson I am enjoying your ‘overheard in the hallway’ notion. Do please keep it up. I think I get what you are after. It’s got poetry.

“Music never makes me cry anymore.” That kind of hurts.

Terreson
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