Lin Lane Biography
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Infestation of the Soup

Blog Posted by Lin Lane: 7/12/2025 7:12:00 AM

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Pachecho Avatar
July 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Lin, I applaud your efforts to say that the train has derailed and there's a trainwreck. It's a POV that cuts at the heart of all the honest/long time poets who have equity in PS and poetry. It does hurt. It is widely apparent. And you, thankfully, spoke up and carried the torch. What I did see and find incredulous is that TW was quick to undermine and dilute your blog with painting flowers in the garden of his blog coveting PS. Did I find his blog pointed? Yes. Only because he has a history of spiting people (and their views and you) ... and rallying with his tit-for-tat facades.
Pachecho Avatar
July 25, 2025 at 9:34 PM
You can even add the inappropriate ETSY ad to the trash can, and piling infestation. The ad (see my poem) went unchecked by PS. When a breach of decency runs amok, it leads to infestation. It's common sense to most people.
Lane Avatar
July 14, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Connie, you came in playing the song many of us have been singing for a very long time. Your lyrics perfectly tell the story. What you saw was another attempt to undermine my blog but fell far short of accomplishing it. No amount of flowery words and talk of peace and love will change the facts. You know very well about the tit-for-tat game and it’s one that should not exist here or anywhere. Hopefully, the light of your words will help others see the truth of what’s been an ongoing problem. Thank you! ;-)
Allison Avatar
July 14, 2025 at 12:26 PM
shame the site is infested with plagiarists once again, sad times on soup Lin:-( hugs jan xx
Lane Avatar
July 15, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Do not lose heart, my sweets. We are here to write poetry! Do not allow negative people and their words to dissuade you from keeping pen in hand. ;-)
Kitchin Avatar
July 14, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Jan, I agree but I am becoming so disheartened with things lately.
Allison Avatar
July 14, 2025 at 2:26 PM
No I will never be driven away Tania, i have a lifetime membership and I intend to use it - shame admin don't clamp down on the issues on the site, no wonder people are closing their accounts or stopping posting.
Kitchin Avatar
July 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Unbelievable. Maybe it's time to pack up and move on to other places.
Empress Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 11:19 PM
I agree with your thoughts on AI and plagiarism ~ especially plagiarism~ as I’ve seen so many works being plagiarized. I also believe I was one of the very first to mention in my contest descriptions that AI-generated content is not allowed. While some may have their reasons for using AI, it’s the deceptive nature of it that bothers me deeply, and I’m quite sensitive to that. We live in a world that preaches kindness but often serves us something sour. Also, just to clarify to some, I haven’t been recruited or brainwashed by anyone ~ I simply happen to share similar views on certain topics, such as plagiarism and AI. I wish all soupers well. Sending you all light.
Lane Avatar
July 13, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Yes, Craig. She is the calm place where the rapids end and would find more peace if people would stop harassing her.
Cornish Avatar
July 13, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Inky, you're like that deep pool on a river bend where the water rests...and there is peace...
Lane Avatar
July 13, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Hiya, thank you for sharing your thoughts about some of the PS issues and know that I appreciate you for your poetry and friendship.
Lane Avatar
July 13, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Ink, I'm aware that you are a woman who could never be brainwashed by anyone, and that you've not been recruited to join Poetry Soup, despite that it's been suggested by one who seeks attention. I value your friendship, and I thank you for responding to my views since they mirror your own. The soup has been boiled too many times, and it's my hope that the flames beneath the pot will be regulated before the kitchen burns down.
Sharma  Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 11:32 PM
absolutely agree with you Ink, couldn't have said any better. Plagiarism and AI exist everywhere these days, inevitably ~ I feel particularly disheartened when I find my work being plagiarized, as my poems are nothing but the heart and soul that I intend to weave in words. I believe, AI and plagiarism are a choice, however, people may have their own life decisions and reasons, but I simply choose to state my stand against it and I too, share similar thoughts as you all. I hope the very best for all the soupers, sending everyone well wishes.
Trestrail Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 11:28 PM
You are a blazing torch in our bonfire of the vanities! Sending you light too.
Flood Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Well said, Lin. I checked out a random poem recently and the checker found two lines (out of around 20 - 30) that it said were AI. Didn’t quite know what to make of that. I did find the checking procedure a little laborious. I wonder whether it would be feasible for a simple key press to activate a check on the poem you currently have on screen. Shouldn’t be too difficult for a decent coder.
Lane Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Thanks, Terry. I’m not sure there’s a simple fix for exposing AI poetry but that’s just one blurry facet that needs attention. Poetry shouldn’t be laborious… just enjoyable.
Ibeh Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Thank you very much for speaking truth to power, Lin. As good as Poetrysoup still is, it just isn't the same as it used to be. The onus is on TPS to bring it back from the abyss of degradation. We'll keep losing many great poets if nothing is done to right the wrongs. Many 100% AI-generated poems have won POTD, which is simply pathetic. It renders the honor meaningless. It's an abomination what has become of this once great site. Hopefully, TPS become better watchdogs where AI is concerned. It's become the "in thing." At least, I'm glad more contest sponsors are cracking down on it.
Lane Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 1:32 PM
One would think. And it shouldn’t take repeated complaints with proof before proper notice and action is taken.
Dietrich Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 1:29 PM
It must be hard for them to patrol everything but POTD?? Give me a break. They can at least check THOSE!
Lane Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Hi Edward. It would be a worthwhile undertaking if TPS were to engage much more actively in administering to the complaints when they are made with adequate proof. Thus far that’s not been happening. By making poets who care about the site aware of the negative issues, hopefully there may eventually be some positive changes. One can only hope. Thank you for caring. ;-)
Kauffman Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Again, well spoken, Lin. Thank you.
Lane Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Hi, Sam and thank you for agreeing and also commenting on my posting of this as a poem. I very seldom blog but sometimes wrongs need to be brought to light.
Cunningham Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Well said Lin, the kitchen certainly needs fumigating top to bottom. Its certainly lost it's charm, which is a real shame, many have left because of the toxic atmosphere that's hovering over it at the moment. I'd like to see the site better policed to try and solve problems before they become toxic. Tom
Lane Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 12:15 PM
And yet there are some who would disagree. Perhaps it’s only because I say white, so they must proclaim it’s black. Must be those dirty fingers from pot licking. Thanks, Tom.
Kitchin Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Lin, a powerful and much needed blog. Unfortunately the culprits have no integrity. They do not care to contribute to the PS community with real poems. They post fake or stolen ones just for the sake of winning contests or attention. It's sad that we have lost some great members recently. I hope the real poets can stand united and the fake ones disappear.
Lane Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 12:12 PM
It’s interesting that those few who contribute little in the way of poetry are the first to disagree with the reality of the site’s plunge.
La France Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Lin, well said, I totally agree the soup has changed and the flavor is sour. But, on a high note, in my recently closed contest, Gate/Gates not a single poem entered even the ones I could not place had any AI, so my message is getting heard and heeded. No AI poem will place in my contest. I notice that a few well known AI users, I/we know who you are, wrote poems for my contest but did not enter them because they knew I would find them to be 100% AI, but I noticed many poets leaving glowing compliments on those poems that the person did not even write, that is so pathetic, that is what is wrong in the soup, the trust is broken. My father taught me to pick my battles so I have, Constance
Dietrich Avatar
July 13, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Thanks for your efforts, Constance
Lane Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 10:39 AM
You are to be commended for the time consuming task you undertake to be as assured as you can be that your contests are entered by those who value poetry, Constance. Thank you for holding fast to the integrity of the rules this site conceived but are not upholding.
La France Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Lin, agree, some of the loudest supporters of AI in poetry on PS are part of the problem and also that some sponsors do not check for AI, placing those fake poems, that is so unfair to the true poets who actually wrote real poems
Allison Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Let me make it perfectly clear I have NO issue with folk posting AI music/lyrics/ artwork as long as the accompanying poem is written by a poet the 'hypocrite' comment aimed at me was untrue and i wont put up with being bullied and belittled
Allison Avatar
July 13, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Keith I have you BLOCKED from commenting to me yet you choose to get through the loophole by commenting away from my page - if you want to respond to Lin write your own comment but its unacceptable that you choose to troll me
Lane Avatar
July 13, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Dirty minds don't point fingers. They're too busy lasciviously grinning and imagining someone 'baring' it.
Lane Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Jan, I read somewhere that those with the dirtiest hands are the ones who point fingers.
La France Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Jan, I totally agree
Allison Avatar
July 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Bravo for speaking out Lin, so many folk feel the same as you but don't speak out sadly some have recently left the site, others simply have given up posting because of the toxic atmosphere. when we do poems about AI we can get labelled as hypocrites and as for plagiarism it is sad to see on so many levels but at least its been dealt speedily this time but if we report AI poems nothing seems to be done. I spend less and less time on soup and i know others do the same.

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