Two Ways to Reply/ Can Soup have Lessons on How to Function here? - Andrea Dietrich's Blog

I feel like I am beating an old horse to death here, but from Freddie's comments he got at his last blog, I can see that a few poets are still rather new and may have missed our former debates on this issue.

MANY years ago (end of 2009 hahaha) when I first came here, the REPLY feature did NOT EXIST. I did not KNOW how to reply to other poets. I actually wrote underneath my own poems in the very beginning until very quickly I realized that was a NO NO. Then I watched and saw what was happening. Poets were going to the poems of the other poets and replying to them underneath the poets' poems. For almost three years, this was the ONLY option for replying. I grew to love it!!!

If I wanted to reply to a person but not have to read their poem to do it, I would just click on the little ICON for Soupmail (and OMG, it took me a good month for me to figure out there was SOUPMAIL here!!! I didn't realize the ICON for it was the little cup!!!)

So over a year ago, Soup came up with this "handy" REply box. yes, it is a neato idea if you have no clue about replying over at the other person's poetry, but to those of us accustomed to the old way, I think some of us have grown very disenchanted with this feature. I know it is a very convenient thing, but mainly it is a convenience for those who are not reading other people's poetry. If you are someone who is here only to post poems and not interact with others, go ahead and use this REply feature. It is absolutely the only way to go!! 

But I see some new Soupers who are very good at replying to others at the other poets' poetry. They are using both the Reply button AND the old style. That is fine. At least you are replying by also sometimes reading the works of the other poets here. I do not have a problem with you. Just keep in mind: those of us who are used to making lots and lots of comments on a daily basis do not have time to go back to your poems and see your replies to us. It is much easier for us to just come to our Inbox and see replies you have left to us under OUR own poems. 

Team Poetry Soup, I just wish you had kept things how they always used to be. But things always change and I just need to learn to deal with it. I had my notifications feature turned off after I noticed I was getting more notifications for people saying "thank you" to me at THEIR poem than I was getting of comments made about my own poems. To me, this is not progress in facilitating an interactive site. That's why I don't get notifications in my email any more, so if people are replying to me with important messages and don't want to read my poems, I hope they will at least Soupmail me!

Finally, I have a suggestion that others have also voiced. Why doesn't Soup have some kind of special place they could tell new members to go and "learn the ropes" here. I am always being surprised by questions some of the newbies ask me. And then I stop and put myself in their shoes and I realize I too was having these same kinds of questions in my first few months here. If new people realized how things worked, I think this site could become incredible. 

Just my opinions for what they are worth!!!

Joseph May Date: 6/4/2014 10:10:00 PM I agree Andrea, If someone takes the time to read and comment on my work then I will return the favor,but while newbies might need someone to explain things to them sometimes, they have to try learning stuff on their own too, the FAQs is a great place to start Login to Reply

Frederic Parker Date: 6/3/2014 3:27:00 PM yes it took me some time to figure it out, but I didn't mind after all I grew up with phones that had a circle with holes in it and tv's that were the size of a small car...and everything was in black and white..not to mention all the adults had just fought a world war, so they were all messed up..so figuring out soup wasn't to bad Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/3/2014 7:52:00 PM haha, Do you know centering yet? I am preparing to do a blog at this very moment!!!

Debbie Guzzi Date: 6/2/2014 9:45:00 PM I have turned off email notification of replies too Andie & for the same reason. Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/2/2014 11:25:00 PM deb, I am glad you understand where I am coming from. It is just not the same as it was four years ago. Why oh why did they change things?

Aiyah Torres Date: 6/2/2014 3:05:00 PM I didn't know at first that that's the only way to reply back with other's comment on my poem... so instead of going to their own poem, I'd rather reply on their comment on my poem..."cos I thought that they can read it ,too.... And find time to visit someone's poem to comment directly on them, in return to their kindness and time for leaving a comment on mine. I agree with you, Andrea, that hopefully PS Team will provide a link where we could see a reply feature for our own comment to their poem and their reply to us.. It really feels rewarding somehow to know that they find time to reply on our comment, even they didn't visit our poem. HELLO Andrea... I just missed YOU!!!! :O))) Login to Reply Aiyah Torres Date: 6/2/2014 10:51:00 PM haha.. I liked that... some for a good reasons.. some for the worse!!! ... Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/2/2014 4:02:00 PM Hi, sweetie, I miss you too!!! Yeah, Soup really needs a tutorial on poet etiquette or something. Anyway, things have sure changed since I came here. some for the good, and sadly, other things for the worse!

Olive Eloisa Guillermo - Fraser Date: 6/2/2014 3:27:00 AM May I suggest that since mAybe some doesn't hAve that much time and well all of us can read but somehow a lil short video of how some things here... :D! One in youtube of some instructions.. The outbox and inbox are great features here..:) as both you can go back to see the people who commented and that you are also inspired to read of their works...:) God bless you Andrea..:) Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/2/2014 9:03:00 AM That is a stellar idea, Olive!!

A.E. Rivenbark Date: 6/2/2014 12:08:00 AM As a noob, I really like the Outbox feature , but I wish I could see the poem AND poet's name along with my comment. I don't always remember if I've replied or read other's poems, particularly if its been a few days since using the site. Anyway wish they would post a guide or tutorial. And while they're at it, maybe revamp the mobile site. Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/2/2014 5:06:00 PM Gosh, we are all so different. A.E. I never look at that outbox because I just keep coming here every single day and making sure I am caught up!!! A.E. Rivenbark Date: 6/2/2014 1:30:00 PM No, I know about the Inbox. I just meant that sometimes I don't always immediately read these comments and come back later to read/comment on their poems. The Outbox lets me keep track of whether I read and replied. Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/2/2014 12:21:00 AM A.E. I don't really understand what you mean. Sometimes I wonder if people are seeing the same thing I am seeing. When you log on, don't you see an INBOX and in that inbox, all of your comments from poets? Then don't you click on each name on the list to reply to them? This is always how I've done it. What am I not getting? Anyway, thanks for coming here. yes, a tutorial is REALLY needed here.

Francine Roberts Date: 6/1/2014 10:05:00 PM YES !!!!! you are exactly right, now people just say thank you in the reply box they don't reciprocate by reading any of your work, that's sad and definitely a step backwards . During commenting on the poems of my winning entries I also saw someone thanking Carolyn for her compliment, something its unlikely she will ever see because we just don't go back and re-read poems. He should have just read one of her magnificent pieces , commented and then thanked her for stopping by his work. Yes !!! Yes !!! Yes !!! this is a nice feature but it has made people lazy , too lazy to go read others work Login to Reply Francine Roberts Date: 6/6/2014 10:34:00 AM its all about reciprocation Robert, if someone is nice enough to comment on your work instead of a thank you in the reply box go read their work too, if you can't find something nice to say then you don't have to but most of the new people here don't seem to make the effort Robert Lindley Date: 6/6/2014 10:16:00 AM Why would one thank or praise on a write they did not read!! I do a lot of comments but only after reading the write. Truly so many talented writers here and newbies that have such talent as well. Easy way is to read a poem, respond then if it is good . If not then no reason to respond. A poet should be true to self and true to other poet's works when commenting. If one doesn't like a poem then silence is golden.. otherwise tell the author why you like the write! IMHO signed --the newbie Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/2/2014 12:40:00 AM My good grief was in response to what you said about the guy who commented to Carolyn in a way that she would never see it. To the other stuff you are saying: EXACTAMUNDO. I am glad you understand me. Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/2/2014 12:19:00 AM GOOD GRIEF Francine Roberts Date: 6/1/2014 10:06:00 PM oh , his thank you was not a reply but a separate post so she will not get any notification of it even if she has the notifications turned on

Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/1/2014 8:17:00 PM and while I am thinking about it, is it too far off to imagine that maybe people who are shy or not fluent in English are not even REALIZING they can reply to other poets at the other poets' poems?? Could this maybe explain why they grow depressed by not getting comments? Maybe they do not even realize they should go see other poems of other people and comment over THERE. I mean, I sure did not realize all this my first time here!!! Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/1/2014 8:28:00 PM OMG. JUST NOW, I saw a poet who was replying under his OWN poem to someone that had commented to him recently. NOt even the reply box, just using his own comment box. Just like I did my FIRST day here. I told him if he wanted the person to see his comment, he better go to the guy's poem!