Workshop...

There have been many debates over the purpose of this site in the past few months. I for one have tried hard, not to be one of those so called mutual masturbaters. I suppose I have fallen short of this goal many times. I simply do not have the technical expertise that the founders and mainstays of the site posess. I wish that I did, but I do not.  There are many here that are so much better than I technically, and know so much more than I about poetry, that I am lost, other than to say, I love what you said, IT SPEAKS TO ME. I try hard to say something positive to those that are just starting out to be true poets. Some may have [like me written off and on for many years, and others may just be finding their voice]. I can only speak to what moves me, and the little technical skill that I have with puncuation and that sort of thing. I know what sounds good to me, and what might sound good to the rest of the world. I am having a lot of difficulty with the thought that I am not measuring up to the aspirations of this site. I have no problem with people critiquing my work and making suggestions. I will even try to implement some of the changes that they suggest. However,  I resent that I am made to feel like I am indulging in a mutual petting session everytime I say, " Awesome!" Great work! This is not my life, and it is not the thing that drives my waking and free time. I enjoy most all of the poetry that I read here, and I wish I had the time and inclination to read everything on the site, and use what little expertise I  do have to encourage the little guy just starting. I have many friends here that outstrip my ability to say more than, I really like it! What am I supposed to do? Not commenting on their work, makes me feel like a jerk. I have already had the experience of someone asking me what they did wrong, just because I had skipped their work accidently. This is not a rant, just wanting everyone here to know what I feel. I don't expect anyone to come up with a solution, because I think that we all have been over this many times before, and this is just one more time. Thanks for reading this far, ~ Geezer [Guy]