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Kool-Aid - Rob Carmack's Blog

About Rob Carmack

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I reside in Maryland, with my dogs Echo & Tango & Anchovy
Never forgetting:

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. ~ Ecclesiastes 9:10

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Kool-Aid

Blog Posted:12/20/2015 5:00:00 PM

A pitcher is filled with ‘Haven’. A nice ideal that will never be had no matter how much you drink. A hope stated that can’t be delivered. Favoritism is a foe that can’t be defeated. All that was accomplished yesterday, was a loss of a liberty. For those of you that think you scored a victory yesterday, my condolences in regards to your delusion and short-sightedness. Everyone lost yesterday. Left unchallenged, sooner or later, they will get to a liberty you care about. This site belongs to everyone, for without us, doesn’t matter who owns it, for we make it a success. For those of you who are apathetic, lazy or too dense to see the real ‘issue’, you fit right into the herd. Happy grazing.

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Richard D
Seal

Date: 12/21/2015 2:58:00 PM

All things change, as this site has changed. From its humble beginnings to the present day this site has grown into a world renown poetry site. The contest set up was probably adequate back then but it's become outdated. A more professional and fair system needs to be introduced. The site has advertisers and sponsors, do we really want to make PST look like a kiddies playground with all the squabbling, bickering, back biting, falling out, of its members? This is my last word on it. Take care, all of you, Richard

Richard D
Seal

Date: 12/21/2015 2:48:00 PM

Ian, I'm sure your idea to judge the sponsors will go down like a lead balloon with them. My argument for blind judging is in part to give the sponsors some protection against the abuse they receive, I can imagine how disheartening that that be and also create a sense of fairness for the contestants.

Richard D
Seal

Date: 12/21/2015 1:56:00 PM

Ian, I can see the little grey cells have been whirling but two forms of contest are only going to make things even more complicated and will not change the situation as it stands now. I can see why Rob is so keen to agree to this. Blind judging is the only way to go, with an agreed formula for the placements. I think Robert's idea below has merit on that. One to ten reduces the burden on the sponsors judging.

Robert
Stoner Jr

Date: 12/21/2015 1:22:00 PM

The no names issue seems to be universally accepted protocol on other top sites as well as contest submissions to publications. The issue of multiple winners per placement I feel should be 1-10 and Hm's for complying entries. PS has established in the Members Area, how many top ten placements won. If all entries will be first place the contest should read no placements, poems to theme only. This is not my site in ownership, I am a PM under the ownership of Poetry Soup. I have no rights to democratic input. I feel PS is upgrading the integrity of the site to our advantage and setting real world expectations in contests. If I am dissatisfied with the PS terms I am free to pursue other sites.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 12/21/2015 9:38:00 PM

Craig, I lean to the left and you to the right, and it shows in our contest judging. They just can't regulate "personality." I even heard it's in our genes~! Did you know that? This is off topic, but I read some articles that they are finding out people with a certain type of DNA will most likely grow up to vote Republican and other types will not. JUst look at all the difference of opinions in these blogs. I am so glad I am not in charge of trying to regulate all this crap going on! What will be, will be. I will go along as a judge once I see if they come up with something I can handle!

Robert Stoner Jr
Date: 12/21/2015 3:39:00 PM

Craig, I agree there should only be single placements and I agree there there should be no 35 first places. I do feel 1-10 is compliant with the Members Area community points Top Ten Wins protocol. Top 10 is 33% aprox of the average 35 entries allowed. As for HM, only compliant work and as the sponsor deems worthy of recognition. I like to see people get a read and recognition, lol.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 12/21/2015 2:47:00 PM

Craig, I have always thought those giving only one to three wins were very stingy. Five borders on stingy in my opinion, as well, but I respect any judge's feelings on how to do their contests, so I will still try to enter yours! Personally I need ten spots at the very least and being able to give at least one tie with those ten placements would be peachy keen for me!! It's such a shame the judging cannot be professional. What I mean is those contests where people sometimes have to pay just to enter them. Three different judges view all the entries, and it's all anonymous. This is impossible to do at a web site like this one, so allowances, I feel, have to be made to have less stringent placement rules.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 12/21/2015 1:56:00 PM

oops, I meant to say 20 out of 35, and of course HM's could be as many as one wanted. But some poets have come to me and said they hate HM's and others say they WANT them. So the judges are very confused what to do about HM's!!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 12/21/2015 1:51:00 PM

Robert, I like the way you stated your thoughts here. those who are dissatisfied can go elsewhere. Regarding placements, maybe there could be some kind of compromise. Don't allow more than two multiple placements at each number of placement. The list could still end up with 20 "good" winners, but for me, that is often how it ends up when I am judging. I often have 20 out of 30 that truly deserve top ten! Maybe giving all number one wins could be considered a fun thing, not given as much weight as a more serious contest. Just some thoughts! It's all in Soup's hands but they need to keep in mind that it is very difficult for people like me to narrow down to just ten winners when I have so many that seem equally good to me!

Jan
Allison

Date: 12/21/2015 11:43:00 AM

Rob no one has yet raised this point - sponsors do NOT have to put on contests for us - some spend a considerable amount of time and effort creating challenging contests for our enjoyment yet they end up with moaning about placements. Some are even having people withdraw poems if they consider they have not placed highly enough after they have been judged - I have witnessed this VERY recently and on more than one occasion - Not only is this childish behaviour it is denying another member the chance of entering the contest. People on the blogs are very quick to criticise yet some have never even sponsored a contest.

Jan Allison
Date: 12/21/2015 11:58:00 AM

But you have the choice to enter the contest or not Craig - if you know a sponsor will give everyone first place then it is simple, don't enter the contest - its not rocket science:-) hugs Jan xx

Jan Allison
Date: 12/21/2015 11:44:00 AM

If it is clearly stated on the contest rules the placements will be 1,2,3 or all first place as the sponsor judges lightly or there will be a range of different winners I really cannot see what the issue is - we have a choice to enter a contest or not.

Skat
A

Date: 12/21/2015 10:20:00 AM

WOW, I just came from the contest page. Is this really about favoritism or wanting to be loved by the community, when placing 25+ poems with 1st - 3rd place wins. I know I'm not about favoritism. Because, I don't trAlly@$$ with anyone on this site. Rob, I don't know who or what started these blogs. I feel I have a say so, after all, I've been hosting contest on Poetry Soup since 2010. By the way, Many spew my contest, because they feel I was not fair or I don't have interesting or inspirational themes. Which is better for me. I enjoy hosting contest for fun. ---Based on my experience some poets have extra thin skin. Get hurt easily, especially when not placed. That's why I stretch and give extra placements 8-13 and HM's at times. I don't mind supporting the community in that way. Many join because they like keeping ahead and contest might be his/her specialty. Thank you for listening. SKAT

Richard D
Seal

Date: 12/21/2015 2:24:00 AM

I'm not responding to personal attacks Rob. In the end it is not the sponsers fault, I know most try their best to be fair and I'm sure they are. It's the system that is at fault. It is open to abuse. Even the sponsors advise people to choose the sponsor carefully, what does that tell you? Then there's the issue of helping contestants. Is it right to contact a contestant that has made a minor grammar error and advise them to alter it so the write can be placed higher, yet at the same time not advise another contestant their write is total rubbish. Sponsors aiding contestants, What's that all about? The contests are sullied and the system needs changing.

Rob Carmack
Date: 12/21/2015 3:05:00 AM

There is no better system. Every system is prone to corruption and abuse because we are the infection. The contests are no longer only ours. The more rules they add, the more the contests become theirs. Now they are considering placement protocols. What's next and when do the rules stop? They should have never moved on this. They have steered the ship into a mined harbor.

John
Lawless

Date: 12/20/2015 9:24:00 PM

DON'T DRINK THE KOOL AID!!!!! Alas, with or without names they are just poems......our poems. Let us treat them with respect and honestly appraise them for their substance, spirit, cadence, rhythm, rhyme, form and format....their creativity. I have never documented the identity of any supers......one of you could have written all the entries....There are sufficient poems authored by anonymous....

Rob Carmack
Date: 12/21/2015 3:12:00 AM

Welcome to the Peoples Poetry Soup Project. I wonder if it started with them, like it is starting with us?

Eve
Roper

Date: 12/20/2015 6:57:00 PM

Rob, :) thank you

Rob Carmack
Date: 12/20/2015 7:15:00 PM

You're welcome Eve.

Jan Allison
Date: 12/20/2015 7:02:00 PM

Another poet suggested the 'blind' judging idea on another recent blog - I think it is an excellent idea but I am blocked by the blog writer and am therefore unable to comment but I did tell the person who suggested it that I thought it was a superb idea. I have asked TPS to have blocks apply only to our poetry so that we can respond to comments made by other people who have not blocked us but they tell me it is the prerogative of the poet to block. It really is a sad state of affairs:-(hugs jan xx

Richard D
Seal

Date: 12/20/2015 6:49:00 PM

Dense, no I don't think so. We see the real issue here Rob. Favouritism. Even the sponsors say they won't enter certain contests because they know it occurs with that sponsor. How is anyone supposed to have confidence in the system knowing this? Those that say the contests are for fun are deluded. People don't enter contests for fun, anyone placing 12th won't think that's funny lol. Seeing poems appear in the new poems lists and then entered into contests has always seemed a crazy idea to me. PST needs to devise a method where the contest poems are blind to everyone except the sponsor and appear only when the contest is finished and result posted. Take care, Richard

Rob Carmack
Date: 12/20/2015 8:22:00 PM

The fault lies with those that have the power to revoke, the bad apples are used to shift blame. You must be corporate in profession, for you think and rationalize just like them. Not going to root out Favoritism or eliminate complaints, just going to eliminate freedoms in futile efforts by trying.

Richard D Seal
Date: 12/20/2015 8:15:00 PM

Thank you Dianne, I do not think we would have any control over where poems are posted but some method where only the sponser viewing contest poems could be set up.

Richard D Seal
Date: 12/20/2015 8:09:00 PM

I did not say anything about the no names rule changing anything Rob. I'm more than aware by itself it will not. If you feel the fair sponsers are to be denied to carry on as before, that's the fault of the bad apples in the barrel. The complaints will continue until favouritism is rooted out, because that is that only real issue here.

Rob Carmack
Date: 12/20/2015 7:13:00 PM

Richard, favoritism is not the issue, it is the excuse. The no names rule will not change favoritism. They have denied a liberty to those that could judge fairly with names because of those that abuse the right. This is a bad way to manage anything.

Jan Allison
Date: 12/20/2015 7:02:00 PM

my comment has jumped up to Eve's comment:-(

Jan
Allison

Date: 12/20/2015 6:38:00 PM

There were no winners yesterday but I feel the site will be the biggest loser Rob. I have never had an issue with 'no names' the new rule will not get rid of the perceived bias of favouritism. What concerns me is that TPS informed a member and allowed them to inform the soup world via two blogs yet TPS still have not officially informed ALL the members as many soupers do not read blogs. We know sponsors have different judging styles - some will give everyone first place, some will have multiple placements and others will give 1,2,3 placements. If members are made fully aware of how the contest will be judged then they have the choice to enter the contest or not.Happy Christmas:-) hugs Jan

Rob Carmack
Date: 12/20/2015 7:17:00 PM

I agree Jan, but some people just don't understand or want to see, the cost of freedom.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 12/20/2015 6:24:00 PM

Rob, you are a great friend who has a very intelligent way of thinking. Love seeing your thoughts here. WRITE ON!

Rob Carmack
Date: 12/20/2015 7:19:00 PM

Thank you Andrea. You have been a true friend to me. Even when tested, we remained. I am honored to have you as my friend.

My Past Blog Posts


Song I - Cold - Quiet Now Contest Results Date Posted: 9/23/2020 5:05:00 PM
Premiere IV - Open Finalized Date Posted: 2/11/2020 1:39:00 AM
Screwed XX Finalized Date Posted: 2/12/2019 10:31:00 PM
Premiere III - Open Finalized Date Posted: 2/9/2019 12:02:00 AM
Screwed XIX Finalized Date Posted: 1/2/2019 7:14:00 PM
Premiere II - Open Finalized Date Posted: 5/15/2018 12:11:00 AM
Screwed XVIII Finalized Date Posted: 5/10/2018 8:36:00 PM
Example Lists Date Posted: 10/10/2017 4:43:00 PM
Descry Finalized Date Posted: 6/21/2017 12:30:00 AM
Screwed XVII Finalized Date Posted: 5/6/2017 12:44:00 AM
Lyrics III - Dream Theater Finalized Date Posted: 4/18/2017 10:29:00 PM
Screwed XVI Finalized Date Posted: 3/7/2017 10:56:00 PM
An old friend Date Posted: 2/21/2017 5:44:00 PM
Premiere I - Open Finalized Date Posted: 12/27/2016 9:54:00 PM
Screwed XV Finalized Date Posted: 12/22/2016 8:27:00 PM
Screwed XIV Finalized Date Posted: 7/14/2016 11:44:00 PM
Lyrics II - The Black Crowes Finalized Date Posted: 6/11/2016 1:25:00 PM
Screwed XIII Finalized Date Posted: 5/1/2016 12:07:00 AM
Lyrics I - Tomahawk Finalized Date Posted: 4/23/2016 8:58:00 PM
Screwed XII Finalized Date Posted: 3/21/2016 9:57:00 AM
Screwed XI Finalized Date Posted: 3/1/2016 11:48:00 AM
Screwed X Finalized Date Posted: 1/20/2016 5:59:00 AM
One of your best contest finalized Date Posted: 1/7/2016 8:36:00 AM
Screwed IX Finalized Date Posted: 12/24/2015 7:32:00 AM
Kool-Aid Date Posted: 12/20/2015 5:00:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date Posted	PoemTitle	Form	Categories
1/8/2024	Winter Magic	Rhyme	change,in memoriam,pollut
5/8/2021	Spitters Are Quitters	Limerick	giving,humor,humorous,lus
4/11/2021	For the E By the S By the E - Nursery Rhyme	Rhyme	animal,caregiving,childre
12/5/2020	The Left Hand of God	Narrative	christian,dark,death,grav
11/15/2020	Judith	Narrative	anger,betrayal,bible,fait
8/9/2020	One Day Boo	Verse	christian,faith,god,heave
7/12/2020	Son of Man	Haibun	bible,christian,faith,jes
5/3/2020	Beautification	Narrative	allegory,anti bullying,bu
2/22/2020	The Beautiful People	Narrative	abuse,bullying,culture,de
1/5/2020	To Trust	Rhyme	bible,christian,faith,god
12/23/2019	A Ramshackle Faith	Diminished Hexaverse	christian,faith,jesus,sin
11/30/2019	Going Home	Epigram	christian,god,growth,heav
9/12/2019	Life	Imagism	age,appreciation,growing
8/8/2019	His Grace	Blank verse	bible,christian,jesus,rai
6/21/2019	Somethingsaurus	Free verse	1st grade,children,histor
6/14/2019	Father	Iambic Pentameter	bible,childhood,christian
1/16/2019	Names	Sapphic stanza	funny,girlfriend,humorous
1/9/2019	The Cross	Villanelle	bible,christian,hope,jesu
1/4/2019	Of Loss	Sonnet	bible,child,christian,gra
9/4/2018	Star Power	Free verse	cancer,death,environment,
6/21/2018	Cloud Seeding	Verse	memory,rain,rainbow,storm
4/20/2018	Chainsaw	Couplet	adventure,childhood,famil
3/23/2018	Holly	Narrative	first love,lost love,myth
2/15/2018	Why	Blank verse	bible,christian,god,hope,
11/22/2017	Unsayable Gospel	Free verse	america,bible,christian,g
10/20/2017	The Dead and Dying	Iambic Pentameter	christian,death,faith,los
6/26/2017	Touch	Iambic Pentameter	christian,death,faith,hop
5/15/2017	Medinah's Circle	Narrative	best friend,dedication,fr
2/16/2017	Find Me	Shape	bible,christian,hope,jesu
1/18/2017	Find Me In Six - Find Me	Verse	bible,christian,jesus,lov
1/13/2017	Quadro - Western Stars	Verse	memory,sun,sunset,,wester
11/12/2016	His Eternal Revenue	Crystalline	age,god,inspirational,spi
10/28/2016	Sold	Didactic	bible,christian,corruptio
5/16/2016	Beautiful Ones	Free verse	abuse,anger,hate,hurt,pri
4/4/2016	Angels	Senryu	angel,christian,evil,fait
3/8/2016	Nayda	Narrative	beauty,inspiration,intros
1/9/2016	3 From 15	Free verse	appreciation,betrayal,lov
12/16/2015	Christmas Music	Sonnet	angel,christian,christmas
11/29/2015	Childhood Dreams	Narrative	appreciation,childhood,gr
11/25/2015	Watery Sun	Quatrain	beach,love,ocean,summer,s
10/20/2015	Songs of a Setting Sun	Questionku	beauty,bird,death,growth,
10/13/2015	Slovakia	Narrative	family,history,hope,human
10/6/2015	Rigel's Angel	Narrative	angel,bible,farewell,love
9/5/2015	Matthew's Odds	Quatrain	bible,christian,dark,fear
8/24/2015	In the Auditorium Part Ii	Narrative	art,city,desire,emotions,
7/23/2015	Ted	Free verse	america,crazy,dark,death,
7/8/2015	Oh God	Senryu	bible,christian,culture,j
7/1/2015	End of Songs	Iambic Pentameter	break up,change,conflict,
5/30/2015	A Sweet Duet	Triolet	friend,friendship,
5/14/2015	A Maryland Summer	Quatrain	beach,beauty,drink,friend
4/25/2015	Becoming	Quatrain	age,change,character,grow
4/15/2015	Grand Larceny	Ballade	abuse,anger,bible,dark,fa
4/5/2015	A Community Pool In Richmond	Quatrain	psychological,senses,summ
3/21/2015	Susan	Acrostic	blessing,christian,devoti
3/15/2015	Exposing the Soul	Iambic Pentameter	bible,christian,creation,
3/9/2015	Alone	Tanka	desire,feelings,life,lone
3/2/2015	Forecasts	Tanka	change,hope,lost love,lov
2/14/2015	Loving a Woman	Quatrain	appreciation,body,love,ro
2/11/2015	Turning Lies	Rhyme	betrayal,faith,pride,spir
1/15/2015	The Gift: Visual Three	Cinquain	blessing,desire,feelings,
1/7/2015	Road To Over	Couplet	christian,jesus,lost love
12/28/2014	These Days	Couplet	appreciation,christian,fr
12/24/2014	Missing and Knowing	Cinquain	absence,death,dream,inspi
12/22/2014	Theatre of My Soul	Couplet	addiction,allegory,change
12/10/2014	Fading Shadows	Rhyme	death,funeral,growing up,
12/4/2014	Emergent	Didactic	bible,christian,dark,deat
11/22/2014	Seeing Autumn's Oak Adorn	Crystalline	autumn,birth,death,life,n
11/18/2014	Kelly	Free verse	bible,break up,dedication
11/14/2014	Sonnet Chiweenie Boo	Iambic Pentameter	animal,best friend,dog,hu
11/6/2014	Workshop Poem: Third Parallel	Narrative	freedom,happiness,love,me
11/2/2014	Waterfalls	Verse	love,metaphor,relationshi
10/26/2014	Child	Couplet	absence,addiction,child,d
10/12/2014	Culling	Verse	bird,desire,loss,love,mov
10/1/2014	Lucy	Free verse	dark,death,lost,mystery,
9/13/2014	6 Am	Narrative	addiction,dark,farewell,f
9/13/2014	Last Stand	Rhyme	angel,bible,christian,dar

My Photos

ps_boo_sleep.jpg.jpg

Fav Poems

PoemTitle	Form	Categories
It's Over	Terza Rima	addiction,love,
A Jaded Man	Free verse	angst,depression,people,
Back When the World Was Psychedelic	Free verse	art,emotions,how i feel,i
The Malkavian Part 1 Perfect Version	Alliteration	confusion,corruption,dark
The Last Gold Leaf	Elegy	absence,bereavement,death
Come What May	Rhyme	life,nostalgia,relationsh
Autumn On Fire	Free verse	autumn,beauty,heart,inspi
Wind Songs	Rhyme	earth,nature,wind,
A New Love Found	Free verse	inspirational,
So Shall It Be In the End	Free verse	bereavement,death,desire,
Yesterday Love Was Such An Easy Game To Play	Dramatic Monologue	betrayal,break up,heartbr
Existential Reprise	Free verse	philosophyme,old,me,old,p
Humbling Self	Free verse	inspiration,introspection
Spider Web	Haiku	beauty,flower,
My Poems Are Children To Me	Free verse	poems,
Optimistic White	Quatrain	introspection,
Springtime Flowers	Sapphic stanza	dream,flower,
Cinder Girl	Rhyme
Delicacy of Leaves	Rhyme	happiness,nature,time,
Ode To Spring	Rhyme	allegory,analogy,spring,
Forced To Face the Mirror	Couplet	body,desire,longing,lust,
A Palindrome Called Temptation	Free verse	addiction,change,forgiven
Etherees	Etheree	poems,writing,
Seeds	Verse	philosophy,
A Time Between Gods	Free verse	allegory,society,
The Circle	Enclosed Rhyme	life,memory,
Guardian Angel	Rhyme	angel,child,miracle,
Seven For Chaos and Order-Rebirth	Verse	confidence,faith,
Irresolution	Quatrain	angst,
Dani a Charming Cvs Pharmacist	Free verse	10th grade,11th grade,12t
Rainbow	Sonnet	rainbow,relationship,
For the Wiccan	Free verse	psychological,spiritual,
Sapphic Nonesense	Sapphic stanza	angst,
Beach Idyll: Spencerian Stanza	Rhyme	beach,imagery,
O' Cenobite, Dar'Est Thy Soul Await	Rhyme	creation,humanity,metapho
Her Royal Fineness	Couplet	beautiful,cute,love,lust,
If Only	Sonnet	art,dark,death,deep,hope,
Farewell To Teppo Gren	Limerick	miss you,tribute,
The Poetry Soup - a Souper Site	Rhyme	tribute,
How Long Is Forever	Free verse	age,love,memory,time,
Caradog's Fight	Rhyme	animal,appreciation,berea
Olympiad 1-4-79	Narrative	dream,fantasy,imagery,non
The Faeries Are Still Outside	Rhyme	fantasy,fun,garden,humor,
Reflections On My Seventieth Birthday	Rhyme	birthday,emotions,introsp
As In the Days of Noah	Villanelle	sin,world,
What of This Niggardly Miserable Earth	Sonnet	art,conflict,creation,dee

Fav Poets

Poet	Country
Andrea Dietrich	United States	Read
Nette Onclaud	Philippines	Read
Maurice Yvonne	Canada	Read
Kelly Deschler	United States	Read
Keith Bickerstaffe	United Kingdom	Read
Viv Wigley	United Kingdom	Read
Constance La France	Canada	Read
Jan Allison	Isle Of Man	Read
Nayda Ivette Negron Flores	Puerto Rico	Read
Tim Smith	United States	Read
Bongani Zungu	South Africa	Read
Phillip Garcia	United States	Read
Freddie Robinson Jr.	United States	Read
Thomas Carney	United States	Read
Robert Lindley	United States	Read
Line Gauthier	Canada	Read
Nemo Simon	United States	Read
Mike Shoemaker	United States	Read
Lawrence Sharp	South Africa	Read
S. Wesley Mcgranor	United States	Read
Mark Koplin	United States	Read
Andreanna Escamilla	United States	Read
Laura Leiser	United States	Read
Sigrid Ermine	Australia	Read
Sally Eslinger	United States	Read
Charles Messina	United States	Read
Thomas Wells	United States	Read
Regina Mcintosh	United States	Read