"Yes, how selfish of someone to spend time giving an informed critique of another's work."
- Aidan Tynan (2002)
If you have not read about "Convenient Poetics" please take a moment to do so.
Let us know when you're done. We can wait.
I was over at the Saint's house watching him work on some correspondence. He is one of my favorite humans. It seems that a ConPoet had written a tiresome blog and invited the Saint to comment. With his characteristic tact and precision, my friend alerted the blogger to a number of factual errors. Rather than show gratitude, the ConPoet ignored the corrections entirely.
Over the next few weeks the pattern continued: a requested opinion of some nonsensical, self-absorbed blather (e.g. "Why I Write Poetry") meeting with polite, intelligent compliance that is disregarded. After many iterations it became obvious that the Saint was wasting his time. Ever sensitive and helpful, he provided the blogger with a short list of informative articles. This provoked a haughty response, the ConPoet informing my buddy that, unlike academics, real poets don't read about poetry.
LOL! They certainly don't hesitate to write about it! They just don't care to read anyone else's contributions. Got it.
I was already laughing when the Saint delivered the punch line. He turned to me, nodded towards the text, and asked: "Would you believe this guy is a retired college teacher?"
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