this!
11/30/2002 04:27 a.m.

Oh, wow. I just need to use this space to relax. I'm a little up in arms about this age thing and it's starting to feel more and more dangerous, the more people discuss it. Not that I oppose the discussions; on the contrary, I think they're important. I do, however, see a problem in the way some are approaching the discussions.

Some people are throwing in little commentaries before reading eerything that has been said, and thereby allowing themselves to ask unnecessary questions or restate things. This also leads to misunderstandings and assumptions. This is a minor irritation of mine.

Some are indeed complaining about other members, viewpoints, or comments without offering anything of substance; essentially, they are just whining, bitching, whatever. Also minorly irritating.

Most disturbing to me: some members are just outright ridiculing and attacking people for what seems to me to be no reason at all (other than perhaps personality conflict or a feeling of innate superiority.) No one is more deserving of the right to be here than another; not because of poetic talent, not because of intellectual or moral superiority, and certainly not because of age. We all came here out of a desire to create our poetry and share it with others. No one is here to hurt anyone else. And no one is here to be scorned by anyone else, either.

If some of us feel attacked or threatened because others are attempting to stand up for themselves(mistaken or not), I think it's time that we grow up.

And it's time to remember why we came here. Remember? Ok, good. We all love one another.