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Pugilist's Secret Plan
Although I know there are more than two types of people in the world, for this I am going to assume there are only two types of people in the world, those who listen to what people say and those who hear what people say.
Those who listen to what people say run everything said through a filter to determine what it really means.
Those who hear what people say do not filter anything.
I am a "hear what people say" person.
Now, before we get out knickers in a damp and crusty twist, this is not about a literal interpretation and playing gotcha because someone said they "loved" something when they only "liked" it. This is about assuming people mean what they say and refraining from "reading between the lines."
As an example, if I say:
"I despise strawberries."
It is because they taste vile to me. It's not a judgement against people who like strawberries, it's not a cry for help, it's not a secret code that means I am in love with someone. All it means is that I despise strawberries.
Fine, fine fine. What does this have to do with my secret plan?
Everything. Because I have no secret plan.
When I tell people I do not want to be elected to the AEC, I am telling the truth. I'd much prefer never to have to serve on the AEC again. I am quite happy running the contests and expanding mentoring and critiques for those who want them.
OK, if I don't want to be on the AEC, why do I run?
For the same reason I give blood even though I hate needles, hate getting stuck with needles, and hate the process of giving blood. Since I am an O- blood type, my blood is beneficial as a universal donor. This means, in an emergency, anyone can use my blood without fear of an adverse reaction.
I give blood because it is a community service and I value what society provides me so this is one small way I can contribute to the society that protects and fosters me.
I run for the AEC because I am good at it. With all my flaws, I don't hold grudges, I don't use my personal feelings to make policy decisions, and I am willing to sacrifice my time and be called names and be accused of all sorts of things because Neopoet, as a community, is valuable to me and serving on the AEC is one way I can contribute to the community.
For all of you trying to discern my secret plan, the secret is that there is no secret.
I do not have any motivation above being involved in a poetry workshop. I do not wish anyone ill, am not looking for anyone to be banned, do not wish to solicit your praise or accolades.
I am here for the poetry workshop. Sometimes the comments will be good, sometimes less so, and sometimes they will say what I have written is complete and utter crap. If they can do so with some sort of coherent reasoning above "you are a bad person, I hate you" I'll listen.
But for even the people who hate me, who have demanded that I be banned, who have gone to great lengths to call me names, I do not harbour any anger or spite towards them. I may find their actions tiresome, and I do, and I may remind them that they are not near as clever as they wish people to believe, and I do, but I do not pursue and harass and solicit anger against them.
Because I have no secret plant, I'm just here for the workshop.
Someone will decide this is just a distraction from my secret plan. It has become obvious to me that some people are so damaged and so unfulfilled in their lives that they must assume an attitude of superiority over others through a pretense of "knowing what they really mean."
You people let me know what I really mean when I say that I despise strawberries. I'll add it to the collection of stupidity I sometimes quote to piss you off when we argue.
Those who listen to what people say run everything said through a filter to determine what it really means.
Those who hear what people say do not filter anything.
I am a "hear what people say" person.
Now, before we get out knickers in a damp and crusty twist, this is not about a literal interpretation and playing gotcha because someone said they "loved" something when they only "liked" it. This is about assuming people mean what they say and refraining from "reading between the lines."
As an example, if I say:
"I despise strawberries."
It is because they taste vile to me. It's not a judgement against people who like strawberries, it's not a cry for help, it's not a secret code that means I am in love with someone. All it means is that I despise strawberries.
Fine, fine fine. What does this have to do with my secret plan?
Everything. Because I have no secret plan.
When I tell people I do not want to be elected to the AEC, I am telling the truth. I'd much prefer never to have to serve on the AEC again. I am quite happy running the contests and expanding mentoring and critiques for those who want them.
OK, if I don't want to be on the AEC, why do I run?
For the same reason I give blood even though I hate needles, hate getting stuck with needles, and hate the process of giving blood. Since I am an O- blood type, my blood is beneficial as a universal donor. This means, in an emergency, anyone can use my blood without fear of an adverse reaction.
I give blood because it is a community service and I value what society provides me so this is one small way I can contribute to the society that protects and fosters me.
I run for the AEC because I am good at it. With all my flaws, I don't hold grudges, I don't use my personal feelings to make policy decisions, and I am willing to sacrifice my time and be called names and be accused of all sorts of things because Neopoet, as a community, is valuable to me and serving on the AEC is one way I can contribute to the community.
For all of you trying to discern my secret plan, the secret is that there is no secret.
I do not have any motivation above being involved in a poetry workshop. I do not wish anyone ill, am not looking for anyone to be banned, do not wish to solicit your praise or accolades.
I am here for the poetry workshop. Sometimes the comments will be good, sometimes less so, and sometimes they will say what I have written is complete and utter crap. If they can do so with some sort of coherent reasoning above "you are a bad person, I hate you" I'll listen.
But for even the people who hate me, who have demanded that I be banned, who have gone to great lengths to call me names, I do not harbour any anger or spite towards them. I may find their actions tiresome, and I do, and I may remind them that they are not near as clever as they wish people to believe, and I do, but I do not pursue and harass and solicit anger against them.
Because I have no secret plant, I'm just here for the workshop.
Someone will decide this is just a distraction from my secret plan. It has become obvious to me that some people are so damaged and so unfulfilled in their lives that they must assume an attitude of superiority over others through a pretense of "knowing what they really mean."
You people let me know what I really mean when I say that I despise strawberries. I'll add it to the collection of stupidity I sometimes quote to piss you off when we argue.