From: Paul<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

mEg,<BR>
   If you didn't take offense, then why is it necessary to imply I'm dumb with the term "duh"?<BR>
   <BR>
   It would seem if a piece of work touches someone positively then its okay to bathe the author in accolades, however, heaven forbid someone should 'take offense' to someone's writing.<BR>
<BR>
    I guess if I was black and someone used the 'N' word I shouldn't take offense.  And if I am, I should hold my tongue.  Otherwise, I'll be percieved as not 'getting it'.<BR>
<BR>
    If the Blender Board is here only for pats on the back, then perhaps Kirk should secure it.  Give only the regulars the password so that poor, ignorant fools (who aren't 'with it') don't fall into here by accident with opinions of their own.<BR>
<BR>
    I didn't attack you.  I didn't even attack the work.  I simply wondered if you had taken the time to step back and wonder if it was YOUR fault for picking the same type man. <BR>
<BR>
    The work didn't say that but I guess I was just suppose to know it.  Tell you what.  If egos here are that fragile, I will refrain from making any more comments at all.<BR>
<BR>
Again, Peace.
<HR>
From: Misti<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Megs,<BR>
  Thanks for the Long Island Ice Tea toast, chica! I still haven't checked my ICQ mail. When I do I'll send ya a lengthy reply, filled with details!<BR>
   Okay...my favorite "In Love" song: "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells<BR>
   "yeah...my my such a sweet thing! I wanna do everything...what a beautiful feeling!"<BR>
   And my favorite "Sad Love" song: "New Kid in Town" by the Eagles<BR>
    "you look in her eyes, the music begins to play... hopeless romantics, here we go again! but after awhile you're lookin' the other way...it's those restless hearts that never mend!" 
<HR>
From: deevaa<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Paul --<BR>
aahhh the age old question of negitive feedback, someone once had the balls here to say they thought part of Misti's screenplay (which seems to have stalled -- will it finish Misti?) was cheesy... I'm all for the constructive stuff, however you may be lynched by the mob at some times.<BR>
<BR>
dee<BR>

<HR>
From: Paul<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Dee -  You hit the nail on the head!  Thank you.  But the debate that took place over Misti's 'cheesy' scene was one of the most interesting reads in the blender.  <BR>
<BR>
And negative comments are just one person's opinion.  If the critisism is helpful then use it.  If it is not.  Ignore it.<BR>
<BR>
You've restored my faith....I just may keep reading.
<HR>
From: Misti<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Dee,<BR>
  Yes, it will finish! I've got 20 scenes left to write. I don't have writer's block, I'm just usin' all my creative energy on poetry and journal entries and e-mails! And Paul has helped me out tremendously...he has sent me revisions that have made me laugh out loud. I'm a very hard person to amuse, so from me he gets MUCH respect.<BR>
  The reason I was so quick to jump to Meg's defense is because I identify so strongly with the submission. And I guess I disagree...I've dated a lot of losers and although I'm the common denominator in my lousy dating history, I think I've been used and abused by a lot of misogynistic jerks. There ARE some good guys out there, I know...Paul, Kirk, mojave, Kevin, the guppy, my brother, my grandfather, George Strait and Pierce Brosnan, just to name a few!<BR>
  Thank you again, Miss Dee, for creating my web page...the results have been astounding! I owe ya BIG TIME!<BR>
   :)Misti
<HR>
From: deevaa ([email-masked])<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Paul - just don't you dare say anything of mine sucks. LOL.<BR>
<BR>
Misti - you're a tough critic to please, thanks.<BR>
<BR>
dee<BR>

<HR>
From: deevaa (again)<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

umm... Misti, that didn't come out like what I meant... what I was trying to say is that artists are always harder to please because they have a picture in their head of what they want, so I am pleased I could produce something you where happy with. (to put it the long way around.)<BR>
<BR>
dee<BR>
<BR>

<HR>
From: Galadrial60<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

All right, ask a goofy question, get a goofy answer....<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
      Absolute all time favorite love song, happy variety----<BR>
<BR>
      Unchained Melody----Oh, my love....My darling..........(Shivers every time!)<BR>
<BR>
      Sad song:    The One, Elton John...<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
     " ...when sex and love no longer jells-----"<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
      And the song that will make me cry every damned time---     "Tears In Heaven"----Clapton..........
<HR>
From: Toklas<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Gala, Kev, dee megs<BR>
thanks for your comments on my poems.  This has been a real spew month for me. But it helps so  much to come here and get feedback. So forgive me everyone if I have been the poetry spammer this month lol.<BR>
<BR>
Hmm, music. Well Tchaikovski's Piano concerto #1 does it for me for both happy and sad. And I am a dunce about modern music--but I have been recently introduced to the Cowboy junkies and I love their Lyrics.  I think the words of one of the songs goes "I think I will fall into a pair of eyes tonite." I love that one!  And another called Rock and Bird is my fav sad one.  <BR>
Tok
<HR>
From: Galadrial60<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Hey Paul...<BR>
<BR>
           Please do keep reading...onve recently I ventured out with a comment found to be critical, and seriously thought I would be lynched, tarred and feathered, and possibly have my eyes put out with hot pokers...<BR>
<BR>
           The souls who inhabit this place are really rather sturdy---but we hate to lose even one, and personally, I'd be happier if the critics were a might bit tougher---on my work in particular. As far as your comment is concerned, I think you were centering more on the "All guys are jerks" theme----and you were not incorrect. But I have read not a few postings that suggested that all women were the word that rhymes with witch...<BR>
<BR>
           Suffice it to say that maybe someday men and women will speak the same language, and the same dialect where love is concerned...until then...que sera, sera..........<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
                                   Gala
<HR>
From: Paul<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Gala,<BR>
   Which is exactly the point I was trying to make.  It is too easy for the author to skim the surface and blame their current rantings on the entire opposite sex.<BR>
   I disagreed with the conclusion of the work.  So I tossed out some food for thought.<BR>
   I tried to buffer my comment but the standard operating procedure here seems to be to attack anyone who doesn't completely agree with a piece.<BR>
   Had someone made such a blanket statement about women I would have come to their defense as well.  <BR>
   I wonder if Kevin realizes just how pompous his statements came across when he implied I only read poetry and didn't write.  Or that he saw women in a different light as opposed to other men.  <BR>
   It was an amazing feat to see someone type without error and still pat themself on the back during the entire comment.<BR>
   Bottom line is: If 100 people read your work and only 1 likes it, you've still found an audience.  It would be impossible to write something that everyone agreed was perfect.<BR>
   <BR>
   
<HR>
From: Galadrial<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Paul----<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
       Suggestion?  Write something. Put it out for comment.You are entitled to like or dislike whatever you choose. You're even entitled to comment. But if you're being critical, why are YOU so damned afraid of criticism  in return?<BR>
<BR>
       Attacks for the sake of attacking is snert behavior, pure and simple.<BR>
<BR>
                                   Gala
<HR>
From: Paul<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Gala,<BR>
<BR>
I am NOT afraid of critisizm at all.  I wrote, directed and produced my own play in Dallas that was ripped apart in the Dallas Morning News.<BR>
<BR>
I submit screenplays yearly to screenplay competitions which are disected to bits.  <BR>
<BR>
Are you suggesting that anyone who is able to read should not have an opinion?  Misti said she identified with the work.  I didn't.  Why does that make me such a bad guy?<BR>
<BR>
Do you want me to post a screenplay?  It would take up a lot of your precious space but I would love for you to comment on it!<BR>
<BR>
Are you te
<HR>
From: Lady E<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Is PAUL pdw?
<HR>
From: Paul<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

LadyE,<BR>
   Forgive me but I haven't a clue what pdw is.  Anyway, I just gave Gala her wish....have at it.
<HR>
From: From Lady E<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Well Paul, you certainly caught the deep emotion that tears at the heart. Experience leads to pain~~where is the solance?
<HR>
From: galadrial<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Okay Paul:<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
      Interesting syntax.....slightly discordant rhyme, but that can work....Honestly? Show--don't tell. Make me feel the hunger you remember..what is vivid to you isn't showing.<BR>
<BR>
      Not a bad piece---but no one else lives in your soul but you...<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
         Oh and P.S.---Never did a screenplay---but did take third place in a one act competition---was a real kick to see my characters become real....<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
                                     Gala
<HR>
From: Paul<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Thanks Gala,<BR>
  It was lyrics to a song I did when I played in a band.  So I was forced to fit the words with the music.  <BR>
<BR>
And I agree with you about the 'characters coming to life'. Outside the birth of my sons it was my greatest personal achievement.  I look forward to doing it again.<BR>
<BR>
  Now see...that didn't hurt. 
<HR>
From: Paul<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Gala,<BR>
  P. S....<BR>
   The reason for "show" and not "tell" comes from my screenplay background.  I was taught that if you can say 2 lines with one, you do it.  If you can say a line in three words, you do it.  And if you can show it rather than say it, you most certainly do it.<BR>
   The phrase 'I love you' is worn thin in movies so it is emphasised upon us new writers to come up with creative ways to SHOW the feeling.  It's too easy to simply say it.  Wouldn't you rather your lover show you how much he loves you rather than simply say it?<BR>
   I can tell my wife I love her and it sounds trite after a while...but when I leave a rose on her pillow when I come home from working all night...it says far more than those 3 words ever could!
<HR>
From: mEg<BR>
Date: 1 April 2000<P>

Paul:  <BR>
You weren't giving me a "critique" of my submission - you were trying to give me a "critique" of ME (see what you wrote). I laugh at the idea that you were slapped on the wrist for just giving an opinion... you were trying to dig at me cause my submission really pushed your buttons.<BR>
<BR>
You told me that "I" am my PROBLEM.... Remember?  <BR>
<BR>
(to quote -- from Paul's post)<BR>
<BR>
"Now, please, don't take offense but....the one common demnominator in all this is YOU."<BR>
<BR>
That's a shade different than giving me a critique of what I submitted.  You don't know whether that submission was fiction or real.... you don't know what the "all of this" really encompasses...  <BR>
<BR>
Thanks, Paul.  I'll be sure to remember that I have to disclaim all my writing with the statement that I am the reason for any negative relationships in my life.  Will all others follow?  Will the "do not generalize or say anything that will offend anyone" police please raise their badges so that I can be sure to defer to you for personal insight on my love-life.... real or on paper.<BR>
<BR>
I don't consider you the arbiter of what is trite, over-used, appropriate OR..... TOO GENERALIZED.<BR>
<BR>
Perhaps, as I stated earlier, it's SUPPOSED to be dramatic? To have a sense of ..... "typical frustration".....perhaps the inspiration for writing that wasn't my own relationships but the after-glow of an evening hearing friends bitch & moan about men for 4 hours?  Perhaps it has nothing to do with me (the common denominator to all of "this").  <BR>
<BR>
Obviously, you are pretty sensitive about the whole male-bashing thing... I will say loud and clear.... I adore men. I love them. I love playing, working, laughing and living with them. I love all things about men.<BR>
<BR>
But unfortunately, even in the modern attempt to be open minded... to not offend "sensitive men".... the honest fact is there are some guys who are pretty messed up.... to OVER UTILIZE a word... they are complete "jerks".  <BR>
<BR>
There are women like that...hell, people all over the world are like that of every sex,etc...... but guess what?  I don't have to write about them. <BR>
<BR>
I decided earlier I wasn't going to write anything else about this particular topic, but things change. I hope that you, Paul, are reading every submission and letting individuals know from your analysis what their "problem" is... <BR>
<BR>
I'm not slapping you on the wrist for having an opinion. I'm saying that you can't tell diddly about me from that submission. I just think in an effort to give me some analysis, you forgot that not every work of prose or poetry on this site is pulled from personal experience ONLY.<BR>
<BR>
I love men and I'll continue to write about my experiences with them.  ((( AND HOPEFULLY THE FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS WILL BE NEITHER DISAPPOINTING........... OR TYPICAL....... AND hopefully all my girl friends will find fabulous men and stop bending my ear for hours on end with complaints))<BR>
<BR>
Typical, mEg<BR>
<BR>
<BR>

<HR>