Nope I would tend to agree with that assessment.  The only time I give a two AND still liked/loved parts is if it REALLY has problems.

new_england wrote:

Tirzah,

I should hope the 2's tell you how much they love parts of it.  Every review, I think, should contain both positive (what's done well or what works) and constructive criticism (what might be changed, deleted, or added).  Granted, the balance will not always be equal, but that depends on both the work and the reviewer's style of critiqueing.

As for the numbers game, it's just that -- not something worth fretting over.  I only give 4's and 5's to works I review, meaning "Lots of good stuff and promise here" and "So much good stuff I can only find a few suggestions to make here."  I think we need to ignore the comments attached to numbers and fashion our own because we're all individuals grown of different pasts and writing/reviewing histories.

Also, as you know from another thread, I think everyone deserves a 5 for giving you a review, no matter how strong or weak and no matter how much you agree or disagree with it.  Rating lower than that is the last resort of those who don't want to hear from you again.  My skin is pretty thick, and I see no point in "sending messages" by lowballing ratings of a review (translation: 4 or lower, by this site's standards).

Me, I like constructive criticism above all else.  I can't improve my work strictly on hosanna's, on atta-boys, on "you're the next Hemingway's," on "this is good enough to be published's," and so forth.  Yeah, it can feel good and blow your ego up like a Macy's Day Parade balloon, but it's like alcohol, a cheap ride followed by a sobering morning after.  And, as your work gets no stronger without the constructive criticism, it remains "hung over," so to speak.

Eh.  A million philosophies here on the issue, all of them as legitimate as mine.  Just my 4 cents (meaning, maybe more than you wanted), is all.

Well, yes, if its constructive.  Some of it was and I'm re-looking at the poem.   I just never rate anyone a 2.

Because to me, a 2 means that you didn't like the majority of it, o to use the word love seems odd.

It just seemed a conflicted review.

In the larger scheme of life, a 2 doesn't really mean anything. 

I just thought the review was cock-eyed to use positves and rate low.

Tirz

TirzahLaughs wrote:

I have a strange little poem on my port that gets weird ratings.

I get 5's, I get 2's. 

I can live with that.  Its a weird poem and I expected it to get a range of reviews.  I wanted to see what worked and what didn't.

What kills me is that some of the  2's that tell me how much 'love' parts of it.

Don't you find that weird?  Wouldn't it be a 3 if you loved part of it?

Just a little confuzzled (as my neice says).

Tirz

This sounds a bit like my method when scoring sex.

Where upon, you could easily get a two in one department and a five in another.

You know, sort of.... I liked the jello and spatula action (3) but you can poke those anal-beads up your own arse.(2) The part where you brought your identical twin sister into play... now, that was great (4) and the fried egg sandwich afterwards, (5) well, that was....


(I owe John Hamler for the use of his anal-beads btw)

Last edited by Dillidge Carver (07-14-2008 12:26:28)

mishmont wrote:

Which poem, you got my attention?

Its not one of my better poems, Mish.

Just an idea I'm playing with.

Write to Me.


I get a range of responses to it.

Even the illustrious Dill helped me with it.

It wasn't the rating that bothered me,  2's happen.  I'll live.  I just thought that it was weird to use the word love with a 2.  Now that Dill has explained it, it makes perfect sense.



Tirz

Dillidge Carver wrote:

TirzahLaughs wrote:

Well, you forgot the part about the crushed mint leaves and the vacuum hose...

The leaves were medicinal and you need the vacuum-cleaner operational to pick up all those M&M's that came unstuck.  Rolling you in them worked on at least two levels, so (5) for that!

The poem? A little gem. It worked for me. But it is short and sharp, so I understand your concern, because it sort of works - or not. You either ‘get it’ or you don’t.

The stars mean different things to different reviewers.

If the words ‘love it’ are there – take them literally, and ignore the star count.

You scored 14 reviews on five lines (36) words and that is something!

But given 14, you are bound to get an odd one or two. It always happens.


http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/library … read/21859

So that's where my M&Ms went!

I think I got three 2's, some 4's, a 3, and some 5's on that one.

It was just something I was playing with. You wouldn't think brevity would be so hard.