I have not been on much lately and not had much of a chance to read stuff, but I will. I was on today, and seen a subtle change in the clap rating that wasn't there before. A ten is now outstanding and a seven is excellent. Perhaps that was always the interpretation anyway, but I never seen it this way, I would have thought a really good/excellent piece worthy a ten before and so today, when I clapped a poem I would normally have given a 10, I rated it 7 and I felt terrible! Why? It is still an excellent rating,and basically still the same as I previously considered it.
It got me thinking, perhaps I should be more careful how I rate things in future because as I see it, to get a 10 now (as outstanding) should be quite difficult and considered an achievement. Outside of here, I have still to find my favourite poet worthy of a 10. And so I thought, perhaps to grow as writers we should only use the 'outstanding' rating if it really hits that rating, so as to be authentic to the poets and writers and give them an accurate reflection of how others view their work.
Just my thoughts.
But know this... It is going to be very difficult for me not to be given you the full clap. (no pun intended)
I have been busy latelyAnd not really had the timeTo be writing or be ponderingPoetry on lineAll has been neglectedWhile the summers been and goneAnd there has been some changesSince the days I have been onThe changes have been subtleBut I noticed one todayIt left me in a quandryAnd I don't know what to sayI read a poem I enjoyed a lotAnd with which I could relateAnd it came to the applauseAnd decision how I'd rateNow, in all honesty,All the writers are uniqueAnd I don't think I'm that qualifiedTo be dishing out critiqueBut I know it is importantBecause we flourish on feebackIf a piece needs a little polishingIt helps us get on trackWe use the system as a guideTo what has hit a nerveAnd if we get a low ratingWe know it's one to swerveOn saying that, it's preferenceAnd all comes down to tasteYou might not have got a clap at allBut it still not is a wasteWhen I looked back at some old piecesSome favourites of mineI didn't get a 10...I didn't even get a nineSome didn't get a clap at allDespite me thinking they were greatAnd at the very least,I'd have rated them an eightI admit I'm happy clappyI'd clap and clap againAnd mostly I'd find everythingWorthy of a tenA sign it was enjoyableAnd a piece that's really greatEither I connected with it Or found it worthy of the rateBut today it came to clappingAnd that is when I noticedTen is now 'outstanding' And I don't know how to vote thisSure, there's poems that are excellentAnd writes that are just greatThere's some that's bloody brilliant And some that just narrateThere's some I've still to come acrossAnd some I've read, and read again And some that could fall underThis new rating for a tenBut I think from here on inMy claps will be like cashAnd I won't spend so freelyMaking ratings in a dashI want to be a better writerAnd I'm sure you all do tooSo if a piece is terrible Don't be scared to give a twoI think our skin is thicker now From when we first all startedI don't think a lower ratingWould leave us broken heartedThe reason why I'm toying now I'm wondering now then when, Anyone, no matter how good they areWill be worthy of a tenThe reason why I say thisI shall tell you loud and clearI've yet to find my 'Go to poet' When outside of here...I'm still looking for the oneWho inspires me to writeWho leaves me feeling breathless With every word they writeI'm still looking for the oneWho's words will touch my soulAnd whenever I will read themWill leave me feeling whole I'm looking for the oneWho's words will be like heaven And from a rating one to tenI'd be given them eleven And that will be my basis now Be it good or be it badI'll give you a seven if it's excellent So please do not be sadYou see, I'm hoping it will help you growAnd you'll do the same for meIf it is excellent - a sevenAnd if it needs a lot of work - a three. I think this new ratingWill help us find out what we likeAnd it will help us to all to growAnd improve on what we write.
