Nobody but the author of a poem, or story, can really possibly understand it.
So why all the hurtful criticism?
What means nothing to somebody could mean nothing to somebody else.
Poetry is like beauty as it is in the eye of the beholder.
I've finally realized that it can't exactly be dissected or understood, only interpreted and accepted.
I just don't think enough people realize that.

Thanks.

What a stupid post...

Most things I post are.
I like to taint people with my idiocy.
Stop reading my threads/ posts.

You're an idiot..
Unless the poem is random gibberish, in which case it's just that.. Random Gibberish, and not a poem.. You can analyze it based on poetic devices and what it means etc.

You're an idiot..
Unless the poem is random gibberish, in which case it's just that.. Random Gibberish, and not a poem.. You can analyze it based on poetic devices and what it means etc.I'm going with this.

Really, if it is soemthing that only the writer can understand; they should keep it private. I fucking hate overly cryptic symbolism in art (of which, I am probably extremely guilty of at times.)
The best poems are the ones that every one can relate to in one way or another.

Criticism should never be hurtful. Remove the negativity; and take the advice from it. Or, in the case of purely slanderous posts; just ignore it.
Noone has to let criticism hurt them; and you shouldn't put yourself into a field where criticism is a necessary part of growth if you can't handle criticism...

i'm sorry, but if English professors can give you assignments on assessing and analyzing poems, obviously they can be analyzed and assessed. how do you think great poets of our time ever got any better, by everyone saying their work was always wonderful and needed no further improvement?

If only the author can understand the poem, why bother posting it.?
I've posted poetry before, and most of them have been about love, which almost everyone can relate to, they just think about how it applies to them.

Yes, poems can be analyzed (in multiple ways).

That being said, I would guess that if you are being criticized and it is hurting your feelings, it is either because a) the critic is an asshole or b) there is some truth to what they are saying that you would rather not recognize.

Not every collage of words is art - that's just bullshit.

I guess I didn't exactly put that in the right terms.
Basically I meant can a person really say they understand a poem... or any piece of literature... and can they really mark the poem, or whatever, as "bad" based off of whatever assumption may have been made?
I mean... nobody really knows what the author meant or was thinking other than the author...

So yeah, I guess I agree. I'm an idiot.
Yeah, poems can be analyzed, but can we really consider an analysis /true/?

And also... most of that post was supposed to be a subtle way of asking people to practice constructive critism/ be considerate and "mature" by setting aside the urge to be assholes, and actually look into the poem/ song/ whatever, not just look at an opportunity to insult.
However, considering that my post was really stupid and even /I/ disagree with it and would've made fun of me, that kind of backfired.
Oops.

I guess I didn't exactly put that in the right terms.
Basically I meant can a person really say they understand a poem... or any piece of literature... and can they really mark the poem, or whatever, as "bad" based off of whatever assumption may have been made?
I mean... nobody really knows what the author meant or was thinking other than the author...Art is showcased to be perceived by others. If it does not give them any personal message or meaning; then, why shouldn't they consider it bad?

I guess I didn't exactly put that in the right terms.
Basically I meant can a person really say they understand a poem... or any piece of literature... and can they really mark the poem, or whatever, as "bad" based off of whatever assumption may have been made?
I mean... nobody really knows what the author meant or was thinking other than the author...

So yeah, I guess I agree. I'm an idiot.
Yeah, poems can be analyzed, but can we really consider an analysis /true/?

And also... most of that post was supposed to be a subtle way of asking people to practice constructive critism/ be considerate and "mature" by setting aside the urge to be assholes, and actually look into the poem/ song/ whatever, not just look at an opportunity to insult.
However, considering that my post was really stupid and even /I/ disagree with it and would've made fun of me, that kind of backfired.
Oops.

I understand what you are saying, but I think that a good critic comments on the style of the writing as opposed to the topic at hand. If the quality of the writing is what is being assessed and the critic holds no personal biases with regards to the themes presented, then their analysis can be considered true.

That being said, I applaud your attempt to get your opinion across.

I guess I didn't exactly put that in the right terms.
Basically I meant can a person really say they understand a poem... or any piece of literature... and can they really mark the poem, or whatever, as "bad" based off of whatever assumption may have been made?
I mean... nobody really knows what the author meant or was thinking other than the author...

So yeah, I guess I agree. I'm an idiot.
Yeah, poems can be analyzed, but can we really consider an analysis /true/?

And also... most of that post was supposed to be a subtle way of asking people to practice constructive critism/ be considerate and "mature" by setting aside the urge to be assholes, and actually look into the poem/ song/ whatever, not just look at an opportunity to insult.
However, considering that my post was really stupid and even /I/ disagree with it and would've made fun of me, that kind of backfired.
Oops.

I'm just going out on a limb here and assuming that you're trying to say that anyone who tries to express what someone else's poem means could only be their sole opinion, because only the author of that poem knows the true nature of the emotions from which it came. Is that somewhat correct?