What do our poets enjoy the most at MM?, Central theme for IBPC boards Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hello and thanks for reading this thread!

The participating boards of the IBPC (InterBoard Poetry Competition) have been asked to raise discussion around the question, "What is at, or what is it about our forum, that the poets enjoy most?"

To quote part of Rus' email, he mentions that this question comes from two places.

"1. There were 7 forums that did not enter poems this month, some that would have wanted to (and two that withdrew from future comps, The Maelstrom and The Writer's Block). What if they could create activities or formats, something got sparked, that would attract or keep poets at their sites, or would help them rebuild after personal calamities and illnesses and such? If we can learn from each other, perhaps some forums might develop cliques and buddy up with reps who find themselves on the same visionary wavelengths.

2. This a bit more involved: If we all come to a place of keen understanding of what it is about the sister boards that is best for the poets, then the upcoming IBPC blog, Voices in Synergy, succeeds as we all will come to know how to put our best feet forward--and in unison, come from a keen, informed, communal understanding.

To reinterate Rus' closing remarks:
"No matter whether we want growth, or just want to make a place better for our poets, or get some ideas for new features and such, this e-mail loop is to make us all the smarter. It works if we make it work, and the more the merrier and the better we, and ultimately the poets of the community, are for it.

It is only through IBPC that internet poetry forums are truly able to consider themselves part of a larger community. Let's do this thing we have."

I look forward to your feedback - I will be sharing the responses with the IBPC and its forum reps.

Thank you!
~Lori

[Guest_ohsteve_*]

Lori and other posters, I think what has been said here is very true, I have roamed a lot of poetry sites and still post in numerous places, but guess where I always go first? Right to MM, Having been a moderator on another site I understand how hard Lori's job is and have immense respect for what she does. I know that I am a very bad critiquer I don't know enough to tear things apart and show people a better way. But I am trying to learn. I spend a lot of my day alone, I am not too lonely because I have freinds here and other sites, I think a place where people could post and just have comments would be nice, like Sylvia said a place where someone can post under some sort of theme... I also want to say that I have lax in my participation of the challenge spots, but sometimes just a set of words or titles don't alway inspire me, may be we could add pictures, or write to a themed title taken from a well known poet, like 'Birches' by Frost, or a poem based on a book title itself, its hard to say what can inspire one to write. And sometimes people just need an ear to listen to them or vent there frustration on, if that is so then let me say that I have a good ear, and have vented my own frustrations many times... it helps to have some one listen. Email me if you feel that need or send me a IM/PM here at MM.
I like Sylvia ramble on... MM is a great place.
Steve