To congrat or not - Jack Horne's Blog

Hi all,

I read Chris' blog with interest and I wanted to thank him for bringing this to light. I'd love to know how you all feel about 'congrats' messages in general.

Personally, I'll admit that I find it very hard to keep up with all the congrats and often stare in horror at the number of contest results I've missed - sometimes too many to even personalise a congratulatory message. I feel awful when that happens, but I don't wish to upset anyone by not being sporting. Particularly when Soup is on a go slow, I find by the time I've congratulated winners there's little time left to actually read poems and leave comments - and no time to write a poem, LOL.

I know I'm not alone in struggling with sending congrats, so, do most members happily accept copy and paste messages of congratulations? Or would you prefer not to receive them, unless they are tailor made for you?

Also, I've often wondered what the correct etiquette is: should I congratulate the winners of every contest, or just the winners of contests I've placed in?

Finally, I've noticed that some members leave a 'congrats to all' comment under the sponsors' blogs. To me this seems like a very good idea - and leaves time to read poems and comment individually. What does everyone else think?

I hope I haven't upset anyone with this blog - the whole point of this is to not upset anyone!

Happy Sunday : )

Jack

Cory Long Date: 11/20/2011 1:29:00 PM I have often-ed wondered the same questions jack. I try to stay on top but find it difficult.. cory Login to Reply

Sara Kendrick Date: 11/6/2011 6:07:00 PM Jack, Thanks for stopping by my blog..I am glad that you are going to enter my contest..Looking forward to reading your work...Sara Login to Reply

Sara Kendrick Date: 10/12/2011 5:11:00 PM It is nice to receive a congrats written taylor made..I try to do that some but I can't do it on all..If I have already commented on the poem, I do not feel that I need to do anything but congrats..I don't know how to copy and paste..Thanks for stopping by and wishing me fun at the fair..Sara Login to Reply

Jack Horne Date: 9/19/2011 4:39:00 PM Thanks, everyone, for your advice and opinions : ) Login to Reply

Nette Onclaud Date: 9/19/2011 4:53:00 AM personally, i write congratulary remarks with my own special notes.. if i have already read a poem and commented on it with depth before winning , that's the time i validate it with a simple kudos message.. i won't sweat the stuff if one sends me a "copy paste" congrats--the effort alone is more important to me esp if there are many contests going around, whew!... so far, i am late now in sending my cheers to winners but i try when time allows, more so when soup behaves as it's errors continue.. i do send my cheers to all through sponsors' blogs... happy week, jack! :) huggs Login to Reply

Andrea Dietrich Date: 9/18/2011 8:49:00 PM Jack, I like your blog and short on time tonight so will probably only comment to yours. When I first came to Soup, I got so many congratulations, I just started doing it because everyone else was! but I actually have a specific reason for so doing it too. If there is a contest I particularly enjoyed, it's my chance to finally see as many of the poems entered into that contest as I can possibly see at one time; therefore,I use my time viewing winners' lists to catch poems that I truly enjoy (for example, tanka, dodoitsu or even longer forms if the theme is a good one for me). LIke Francine said below, I don't congratulate poems I have not already read or am reading for the first time on that winners' list. In rare moments I find I do not like a poem on the list. I will either ignore that one or try to think of something to say, but if rushed, I'll simply say congratulations. I won't fault people who leave copy and paste congratulations. It's just not something I understand. But if they like doing it, more power to them! Luv, Andrea (by the way, I have hardly had time any more for winner lists and I really miss going thru them!!) Login to Reply

Debbie Guzzi Date: 9/18/2011 8:47:00 PM I like comments which show me the reader has read the verse more than 75% of the comments don't do this. Jack..set yourself a # of comments to write I do 10. Then I write my daily verse and after that if I have energy I write a blog & work on my contest entries [reading the submitted poems] only after that if I am not too tired do I comment more & then to the folks who commented to me. All of that is about 4 -6hours!! Login to Reply

James Fraser Date: 9/18/2011 7:22:00 PM Jack, I've copied and pasted in the past. Purely due to the time factor. I have not been here recently due to events in my life. But when I do comment now, it's because I've read the poem concerned. In the past I was in seek of present new and past poems. Why, because I needed to learn. Now I just comment on who comments on mine, right or wrong. I do also seek out new members to welcome them, as I was once a newbee. Koolio blog, do what you have to when you can. Either way I'm behind you. I so enjoyed my Raleigh days :) Login to Reply

Tracy Edwards Date: 9/18/2011 6:55:00 PM I dont see what all the fuss is about and Thank you or Congrats whether there copied and pasted or not still comes from someone's heart, They've taken the time to seek out your page read your poem and leave a message...Isn't that enough? I dont see why its such a big deal. xxx Login to Reply

Natalie The Rogue Rhymer Date: 9/18/2011 1:48:00 PM Hi Jack-You are such a cutie, btw! I am sort of discriminatory...If I read one I like, I comment. If I read one I don't...I don't :) I think whatever you decide is fine. Login to Reply

Lee Ramage Date: 9/18/2011 1:40:00 PM First Jack, I love Plymouth, spent time there two years ago, when my daughter lived in Plymouth, we did a 3900 mile trip around the UK. Next, I would say, you do what you feel you can do. I read every poem that I comment on. Sometimes I don't understand the poem or meaning behind it, so I say congrats and move on... sometimes time is short and I say congrats so they know I read it. Sometimes I am moved that I have to write. So do what you can do, enjoy the poetry, don't make it work or you lose enjoyment. Take care. Lee Login to Reply

Linda-Marie Sweetheart Date: 9/18/2011 1:33:00 PM CONGRATS ARE UP TO YOUR DISCRETION JACK AND TIME IS THE ENEMY OF US ALL NOT ALLOWING ENOUGH TO CONGRATULATE ALL WINNERS OF ALL CONTESTS.. THE ONES U WIN IN ARE USUALLY THE ONES TO FOCUS ON LUV.. AND IF U HAVE EXTRA TIME ..THEN SAY A SHORT CONGRATS TO WINNEERS OF OTHER CONTESTS... I AM TRYING TO MOVE A WHOLE HOUSE AND DO SOME CONGRATS IN BETWEEN.. WE TOOK SUNDAY OFF TO DO OUR THING BUT TIME IS ESCAPING..LUV.. SOMETIMES JUST DOING A BLOG CONGRATS TO ALL IS A GREAT WAY TO SPREAD THE LUV ... Login to Reply

Jack Horne Date: 9/18/2011 1:10:00 PM Thanks, everyone, for responding to this - it's great to hear your thoughts and so reassuring to know others feel the same. LOL, good pun there, Frank - I only like blue cheese with port - but, seriously, no one is whining: the debate is on how to send congratulations, not the quantity of comments received. Login to Reply

Francine Roberts Date: 9/18/2011 12:17:00 PM if I've left a comment then I have read your poem, I never leave comments on anything not read, ever. if the comment seems generic, my apologies, but please know I did read your work, and I would hope that no one leaves comments on my work if they have not really read it, a congrats to all in the blogs would be good enough Login to Reply

David Williams Date: 9/18/2011 12:09:00 PM Jack, how we English worry. i personally don't paste and copy, i read every poem that i comment on, sometimes it is just to say "congrats" as time may be short or, there are lots of winners to congratulate. i am happy to recieve short or long comments, praise or critque, at least i know someone is reading them (apart from me).. Login to Reply

Kabuteng P.Ink K. Date: 9/18/2011 12:05:00 PM Thank you as well to you for bringing this up... You and Chris brought up very interesting issues that has also been running thru my mind... Thanks as well for all your comments, sorry for the double pasted thing, this is really weird,...i didn't copy paste anything!? Login to Reply

Kabuteng P.Ink K. Date: 9/18/2011 12:01:00 PM I certainly know what you mean, Jack!!! As for me, i honestly just can't keep up anymore, haha. I even stole a page from your book heehee and just add to my comments sometimes, congrats on all your wins too! I honestly feel bad sometimes when i start to comment on a winners list and leave somebody out? Shucks but it is very time consuming since i leave customized comments and i really do want to read thru the poems. So sometimes well lately, i just say a general congrats on the sponsors' blog or also comment on those who left me comments lately... Eep. Is that so bad? I hope not....I certainly know what you mean, Jack!!! As for me, i honestly just can't keep up anymore, haha. I even stole a page from your book heehee and just add to my comments sometimes, congrats on all your wins too! I honestly feel bad sometimes when i start to comment on a winners list and leave somebody out? Shucks but it is very time consuming since i leave customized comments and i really do want to read thru the poems. So sometimes well lately, i just say a general congrats on the sponsors' blog or also comment on those who left me comments lately... Eep. Is that so bad? I hope not.... Login to Reply

Carrie Richards Date: 9/18/2011 12:00:00 PM Hi Jack, I am in agreement with your concerns, and with those who have responded to your query. I wish it were possible to comment, and show my support and admiration to all the wonderful poets, but time will not allow. I try to offer my congratulations as often as I can, but it seems to be the best soloution to look for the sponsor's blog, and leave my thanks and congratulations there, more often than not. I am not a fan of receiving copied and pasted comments myself...I would rather have just one sincere comment, than a dozen that have no meaning. So that is something I won't be doing. Thanks for this chance to express our thoughts. And thank you for your own kindness to my work! Login to Reply

Francine Roberts Date: 9/18/2011 11:22:00 AM I would love to have the time to congratulate the winners of all the contests < I just don't . I used to try to congratulate everyone who won in a contest I was also a winner in, now I don't seem to have time to even do that, I admit it lately I go in and read the poetry of those who have commented on mine plus a few favourites and comment on those ( and I am even way behind on that) I am a BAAAAD teammate these days. I do try to post congrats on the blogs and I always congratulate individually all winners in my own contests Login to Reply

Nancy Jones Date: 9/18/2011 10:36:00 AM Don't sweat it, is my advice. You write some really great stuff and your comments (at least on my writes) are sincere and indicate that you've actually read and digested my work. I think there's some kinda point acquisition game goin' down that impedes artistry from gettin' the recognition it deserves, but whatever... we're all in it together. Happy day to ya, Jack. Sincerely~N Login to Reply

Joyce Johnson Date: 9/18/2011 10:29:00 AM Dear Jack: You bring up a good point. Certainly what started out as a nice gesture has become rote as we try to respond to every win. I am retired and my time is my own and I find it frustrating. I don't know how a person with a full time job can manage to spend so much time. It is a way of course to get us to read other folks offerings and to not get lost in a big crowd. Love, Joyce Login to Reply