06.02.09 Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Have a look at some of - well, a lot of - the recently added work over the last few days.

I think it can be safely said that this site is in a state of extreme and hilarious decline.

www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant

lol!

www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant

Your attempt at generating a debate, a discussion or a fight seems to have fallen on stony grounds, Paul.
Let battle commence:
"How dare you, Sir, to impugn our literary ability!
Yours, disgusted of Tunbridge Wells."
How is that for a start? Somebody has to throw the first stone.

Are you suggesting I'm a troublemaker? This is vicious slander, Sir!

www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant

ah come on we were always a bunch of talentless amateurs playing at being writers... lmao!

This site is open to all and all are welcome. It has never been an elitist playground. Over the years the standard ebbs and flows - but there's always an extraordinary and eclectic mix of style, talent and ability. Come one, come all!

I hope it isn't my glorious, emotionally charged work you're referring to, Mister Macjoyce.

No, I was referring to a sudden teenage invasion. It seems to have subsided now though.

www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant

I thought some of their stuff was rather sweet. Tony gave a cherry to 'peeps', and why not? Faber won't be knocking on their door but a few pieces had a certain something. It's the teenage angst I find hard to take.

I never open the door to Faber, Androids and the Great Cornholio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPKP86P8Fwc&feature=related

I noticed the invasion of young talent too macjoyce. It inspired my Ode to Lily Allen. But peeps got the cherry. Blatant agism if you ask me.

Fuck me, you're right, it did get a cherry. The cherrypicking system has now exposed itself as laughable, because if that deserves a cherry, then so does everything I've ever written including the shopping list I wrote this morning:

Curry sauce
Mushrooms
Beer
Cereal
Bread
Beer
Cheese
Milk
Beer

Very CarlosWilliamsesque, I think you'll find.

www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant

Macjoyce, that's more Ian macmillan, in his sleep :-):-)

That's more Cornholio, in a bunghole delirium. Here's the deal: Why don't we all agree next time someone cherrypicks workolio it must definitely be as good as the following:

Hamlet: To what base uses we may return, Horatio! Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander, till he find it stopping a bung-hole?
Horatio: 'Twere to consider too curiously, to consider so.
Hamlet: No, faith, not a jot; but to follow him thither with modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it: as thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth into dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make loam; and why of that loam, whereto he was converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel?
---

"I am Benedict Crackersville, guardian of the Great Bunghole!"

I'm off to my TeePee, night night :-)

Ah, we love to stimulate debate. I too get fed up with the constant bleatings of teenage angst - and I have to read it all.

I think the sudden teenage invasion was down to a schoolteacher telling his kids to do it. Now they've stopped. They are welcome either way.

As for 'peeps' - I could find you far more contentious cherries than that. A cherry is for improvement as well as excellence. If someone gets better then they get a cherry. I don't think elitists like Macjoyce will ever get it.

Light blue touch paper. Stand Well Clear. Wait for explosion.

Hmmm... Yep, improvement works for me. Still don't get 'peeps' though. I thought it was part of the oeuvre of the Footsie/Crackers/Stefano/Skunk collective at first.

Me too. I was sure the eight-year-old Dostoyevsky was part of the Crackersville Group.

Hmmm... Kids not allowed? Not to be encouraged to write? I don't think so. Who shall we ban next?

Surely everyone's welcome, or no-one?

TCCook writes:I think the sudden teenage invasion was down to a schoolteacher telling his kids to do it. Now they've stopped. They are welcome either way.

Interesting.

I thought this site was for adults!

Tony Cook knew from the start who Crackersville is. There is no "Crackersville Group". Deal with it, or deal with Incognito-me.

I found the 'peeps' cherry a bit galling, I confess. I don't think anyone should be banished though and I take it you're referring to Jennifer again Theresa? You did say it was her stalking you didn't you? Where does it say this site is for adults? You write some lovely poetry, others are just starting out. I wrote complete rubbish as a teenager, (and before anyone says it, I'm sure some would argue I still do), but they're welcome to post it, I just avoid reading it, as I do anyone else whose work I find a bit crap - and they're adults.

Oh you've deleted your banishing comment now.

The 'collective' comment was a joke! Goodness me, it's all getting a bit aerated.

Most of us can obviously see that Jennifer is a super-dooper member. And most of us know that we are mistakes that make human babies.

Ewan,
No it's not. Do you have permission to say such a thing?

Reading back through this thread now, it seems to make little sense. Ah well, I know what I meant, and so did someone else: at least the 'she should be banished' comment has gone.

Things have been a bit heated on here today haven't they. It's the most excitement I've seen on here since Macjoyce moved sites. It's a pity that Jennifer hasn't been around as I'm sure she would have defended her own mental health better than I have.

No, I am an inveterate transgressor, one of the best rhymes for cross-dresser I know.

I'm so slow. I thought 'she should be banished' was a joke.

No Crackersville Group? Darn. There goes my vision of literary trailer trash sitting round a cactus with laptops.

If you imagined it, Chuck, it exists; and now you've mentioned it, it is part of our collective knowledge and so has even more right to claim existence.
Oh dear!

No, I think she thought Jennifer was the schoolteacher who encouraged the teenagers who should be banished who swallowed a fly. Amazing how often that pops into my head - I think Freud would have something to say. She has deleted it now and replaced it with the contention that this site is for adults. I was trying to placate, funnily enough.

Hmm... given what I've posted in the way of discussion and comments over the last ten days I'm not too sure about her assumption that adults behave any better.

And furthermore if one 'schoolteacher' has asked his students to post on this site, who knows with what motivation, that is just uncalled for unless the schoolteacher is monitering the children here. And Jennifer is a schoolteacher and this post just brings new light into the situations and concerns that have newly arisen on this site.

I am so looking forward to Skunk's reply.

When I post I am thinking I am posting for adults since all my uploads are set for 18 and older. Do you mean to tell me that it is useless to set the controls for 18 and older because these kids will have access to my work regardless?

I am too since Skunk has been reported to the site for copyright infringement. He has also compromised the site because it's the site and the site owner that will take the brunt of it if something isn't actively done regarding.

Jennifer is a first class nut as is Skunk who is probably a 10 year old posting from his basement! And if someone who conducts themselves as Jennifer or 'Skunk' has, banishments should be in order. Now you know why authors are calling for options that would limit or obliterate comments on their pages. Who wants someone who is possibly emotionally or mentally disturbed chasing you around the site or a 10 year old 'commenting' on your work? I sure don't. And most serious writers I day would not either.

I mean to tell you that I am unconvinced that Skunk is ten years old, although it is possible I am wrong.
Also you might like to know that very little of the internet can be policed in the way you seem to suggest. You can indicate that your work is suitable for 18 and over all you like, but that won't stop the curious. In fact, from what I remember of very distant teenage years it will more likely encourage them.

Ahem. Don't start an auction without me!

There are very clear laws regarding copyright infringement, including the internet. I suspect a lesson will be learned in respect if action isn't taken against Skunk in some matter regarding this issue.

Yes, I imagine they will. The 18 rating is a warning. Isn't it? Jennifer isn't the only schoolteacher on this site. So am I, for one. And I know of three others. I personally wouldn't encourage any of my students to post on here as I wouldn't want them to read all of my poems and then snigger at me in the corridor. What other teachers are prepared to do is up to them though.

Your criteria for what constitutes a nut is pretty harsh too - she only made a few comments on one poem when you both got into a minor exchange of words over her criticism. Does that make her mad and fit for banishment? I hardly think so.

Ewan is correct. Any kind of rating system is a magnet for kids.

Come out Skunk....I know you're under there.

I'm not here to play or to joke around. If you can't address me or my work in a professional manner, then don't address me or leave comments at all.

You miss the point. If someone continually harrasses another after being asked to stop and continues to post comments and such under an author's work then that constitues someone who is a bit unstable in my book and should be given at least a warning in regards.

Copyright infringement is a separate issue. If, as I suspect, your work has been the victim of some cruel -and possibly infantile- parody, I wish you luck regarding any copyright issues. You may need it.

Nope, I'm not Skunk either.

I would not be so quick to instigate Skunk on. He has compromised the board with copyright infringement. I've seen other boards dismantled because of such things. Therefore he puts not only the site/site owner in jeopardy but all of the writers here who will be without a message board because of his/her antics.

Yes Skunk come out! I am about to open the fridge and I need help.
*Has he posted a parody?*

Let's see the definition of parody:

According to Aristotle (Poetics, ii. 5), Hegemon of Thasos was the inventor of a kind of parody; by slightly altering the wording in well-known poems he transformed the sublime into the ridiculous. In ancient Greek literature, a parodia was a narrative poem imitating the style and prosody of epics "but treating light, satirical or mock-heroic subjects" (Denith, 10). Indeed, the apparent Greek roots of the word are par- (which can mean beside, counter, or against) and -ody (song, as in an ode). Thus, the original Greek word parodia has sometimes been taken to mean counter-song, an imitation that is set against the original. The Oxford English Dictionary, for example, defines parody as imitation "turned as to produce a ridiculous effect" (quoted in Hutcheon, 32). Because par- also has the non-antagonistic meaning of beside, "there is nothing in parodia to necessitate the inclusion of a concept of ridicule" (Hutcheon, 32).

Roman writers explained parody as an imitation of one poet by another for humorous effect. In French Neoclassical literature, parody was also a type of poem where one work imitates the style of another for humorous effect.

Yes, in the days before copyright infringement!

I didn't miss the point. I understand your criteria for being deemed unstable. That's your opinion. Mine is that it's a bit harsh. It would take quite a bit more for me to class someone as unstable. It would take a bit more for me to make disparaging and personal comments about them in a public forum and suggest that they should be banished from a site for the misdemeanour of getting into a squabble with me under one of my poems when I had asked them to stop and because I've decided that they're responsible for kids posting on here with no evidence for that assertion.

Were you a member of these boards you have seen dismantled Ms. Newbill?

Well I'm afraid dear there is no literary definition for copyright infringement. This is a legal matter. Bear in mind that judges consult a Literary Terms & Literary Theory Dictionary in such cases before reaching a verdict.

Observe how Crackersville knows Skunk's precise location. Clearly the instability is more widespread than we thought. Sounds like a job for Constable Turner.

A squabble is one thing, deliberate harrassment is another.

And your criteria for someone being unstable may be different from mine but it does not exclude the fact that I believe anyone who constinues to harrass someone after being asked to stop is unstable.

Dear sir! It was you who told me that Skunk hides under my trailer! *cleans Sherlock pipe* Where were you at the time of the parody?

No, I'm thinking it would be a divertissement for Moffat.

Of course it's a legal matter!

And no I was not a member of those boards that were dismantled as a result.

Well, I'm going to let you have the last word.

Oh... damn.

Ah. So now we see that there are many aliases here with many accounts which are prolly all one person. This now compromises the legitimacy of the site as well, doesn't it?

I usually do, Sir Ewan!

Moffat is a character in my novel, as is Constable Turner: do let me know if you find anything written by someone with these names on the site and I'll be sure not to bother with a copyright suit.

Parody you say? At least we have thus far been spared any lectures from academic homunculii.

Ok. Here endeth my attention on this matter. I think you're wrong. I've said so. You think Jennifer shouldn't have responded when you asked her not to. You've said so. Many times. You think someone jokingly writing a comment that included a line or two of yours is wrong. You've said so. You think Jennifer is the mystery schoolteacher. You've said so. You think she should be banished. You've said so. So should jokers, copyright infringers, children. You've said so. You're going to complain. You've said so. I think you're being melodramatic. Now I've said so. I might have a bath and think about something else to write.

Ewan, you know exactly what I meant. Don't backtrack now. I can read implications very well.

Listen, Doeslittle, (interesting name) if you're not a serious writer and wish to engage in this type of behaviour with other non-serious writers then by all means go for it, but for those of us who are not here for a popularity contest and who don't want to deal with headcases or the site clown, some provisions should be made. A blocking feature would do the job!

I'm not here for a popularity contest, nor to deal with the site clown, but I think you've been / are being unfair that's all. I think you're acting in a quite needlessly serious and spiteful way - if this is what being a serious writer is then I'm glad to say I'm not one.

'those of us who are not here for a popularity contest'

Just as well, perhaps. Interestingly, much of what you have posted on this thread and elsewhere seems to me exactly the kind of behaviour you accused the other person of, an unwillingness to listen, an outrageous persistence and, yes, ranting.

Read your posts with an editor's eye.

Theresa, things are quite simple:

I can assure you that I am not Skunk. And only one person (me) uses my account. However, Chuck is John Titor. And FTSE is Spartacus. Ewan exchanged his kilt with my tunica and Jennifer warned me about Tony Curtis so she may have something to do with Abra. I am FTSE's Dad. And I would not share this account with anyone but I do share my trailer with my cousin, my five illegitimate sons, my two illegitimate daughters and my eleven legitimate hermaphrodites.

I am addressing the topic at hand in a forum. A public forum, not under anyone's work. That is the difference. And as other members come to comment and address me specifically then I answer regarding their statements. If someone by any chance would ask me not to addres them and not to comment on their work, I would oblige. Obviously you fail to see the difference Ewan.

As for Doeslittle, that is your opinion. I have expressed mine. Do you really need to beat a dead horse? Now please refrain from addressing me again or commenting on my work.

Please don't, and I will gladly return the favour.

Not even remotely funny, Crackersville.

Agreed, Ewan.

I understand Skunk is currently seeking alternative accomodation. The cellars of Gibbous House are not an option. Offers of help would be appreciated.

"Congrats go to Silver Spun Sand and Mr Garrard this week and thanks go to forkandbeard and Sean Nelson for the ideas in the double-headed Inspiration Point." (copyright ABCtales)

Okay Theresa, you just broke my heart and hurt my comical pride. There are no laws against it, so all I can do is... ask nothing. I won't address you again or comment on your work again. Keep... writing.
Take care
Benedict

Have a wonderful day!

I certainly hope the sophmoric jokes and posts are not a reflection of anyone's writing. Although we may not be dealing with adults here, eh?

I wasn't beating a dead horse...I thought that was you. I just felt the need to not allow you to get away with making snide comments about another member completely unchallenged. I realise now that anyone challenging you clearly enrages you. However, I heartily agree - I will never address you or comment on your work again. Ever. Ever. Ever. I promise.

"I certainly hope the sophmoric jokes and posts are not a reflection of anyone's writing."

It certainly reflects some aspects of mine. Mind you I can be downright depressing at times too. Not to mention sarcastic and supercilious. All a question of mood.

Doeslittle, how many times did you say you would not address me yet you continue to do so? Perhaps I struck a cord with you because you have the same tendencies as said person whose comments about, you take offense to.

Well, good luck to you, Chuck.

I think I'm allowed to agree that I won't do so when a member asks me not to comment or address her / him. And for the record she only asked me once and I immediately agreed. Surely this is reciprocal too - ie, said member stops making comments and addressing me herself.

It's chord by the way, struck a chord.

Now if we can agree, like adults and serious, professional writers, to just..........stop.

Yes, it's chord, you get the picture then or maybe not because here you are AGAIN! It has become very obvious why you took so much offense to my original general statment to the point where you outed said person. Now, I will ask again, please do not address me or leave comments under my work. Not that you ever left a comment under my work, to my knowledge unless said person and you are one in the same?

Good luck to me. Does that mean I'm a 'good guy'?

Believe me lady I contain multitudes. That’s why I like writing fiction. I’ve got all these odd characters in my head. Bits of dialogue I've picked up...some quite contradictory. Serious ones, silly ones...I can be John Updike one minute and Elmore Leonard the next. I’m democratic and I believe in free speech so they all get a crack of the whip.

Well Chuck if you're so good then why don't you send in some submissions to my magazine? Information is posted in the forum area. Why not use the forum to YOUR advantage then other than for this?

By the way, that was a good pitch, Chuck.

Thanks. You look quite cute in your photo.

I have no idea if my writing is any good or not. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I think it's crap.

I did look at your call for submissions....dark fantasy/horror doesn't turn me on much frankly. Most of what I post here on ABCtales is typical of what I do. Feel free to pick out anything you fancy.

Will do, I'll take a look and then get back to you.

Anyone else?

You amaze me. It's alright for you to make personal comments about people, but if you've said 'don't comment or respond to me again' then they are not allowed to defend themselves!

No chords were struck - we're in a public forum, I'm happy to stop bickering with you, but if you say something that I'd like to defend then I'll do so, thanks very much.

If your delusions now extend to believing that Jennifer and I are the same person then you're even more silly than I imagined.

I did comment on a couple of your poems when I first joined and then I realised that you were one of those aloof writers who never commented on anyone else's work or engaged with other writers on here so I became bored and stopped despite the fact that some of your poems are beautiful.
Why did you change and decide to start talking to people? (Don't respond to this question).

Now I hope I haven't said a single thing you can bleat back to. If you don't respond I won't. Now remember I have clearly asked you not to address me or comment further on my poems (you really have never commented on my poems).

Again you are addressing me after I asked you to stop. You continue to address me which is why I answer you. However by your own admission you refuse to stop because if there's is something that you don't agree with, you will put your two cents in, which is fine as long as you keep in perspective and keep it away from my work/uploads. I don't know if you and Jennifer are one in the same, I simply asked.

I had no idea you commented on my work. No, I simply don't have time to pat your back and comment on your work and everyone elses who was kind enough to leave a comment for me. I'm a writer by profession and extremely busy. This is not a hobby for me.

I usually don't come to the forums but since I have posted a call for submissions on the forum, I am here for at least a bit.

Now, lets see if you will respect my wishes to drop it and never address me again or if in fact you will continue because you are so truly offended by my original statement because it also applies to you.

Hmmm. There seems to have been a few comments added since I last logged in. None of them are particularly interesting. But I'm quite pleased with myself for starting a fight.

www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant

You see that Skunk? Macjoyce is claiming all the glory!

I'd just like to say it's nice to see us all coming together and sharing ideas.

They may not be nice ones but when you shoot for the stars sometimes you just hit the atmosphere...

What an extraordinary thread. I can only detect one unstable person here. Does it really matter whether I'm ten or a hundred? I am legion and by my works ye shall know me.

Copyright infringement? If there ever has been a case of a site being closed for copyright infringement, it's because they 'borrowed' the work of somebody whose writing had commercial value.

Let me explain a little about the law. You might imagine it's a cavalry fort. You might imagine that somebody knocks at the law fort, and immediately the order goes out: a wrong thing has been done, men! Let us ride out and put it right!

Now let me tell you what it's really like. Civil law exists to give a decision. It might be a stupid or perverse decision but at least it's a decision. It puts an end to the fight.

If you go to court over a supposed copyright infringement, the court might decide that your copyright has indeed been infringed. (They won't, but let's give you the benefit of the doubt. Let's suppose Skunk copied and pasted your work and claimed it as his/her own.) Now what will they do about it? The court could award damages to compensate you for your loss. But what loss? This is a free internet site for amateur authors. Your work is, in the eyes of the law, without value. So you get nothing. You will almost certainly have to pay your own costs, and if the court decides your action was vexatious, you will have to pay your opponent's costs too.

What else do you imagine a court might do? Threaten to put Skunk in prison if he ever does anything so wicked aagain? Close down ABC? Which of us is ten years old?

If Skunk continued to infringe your copyright, you could go to court again. Again you'd get nothing.

A truly extraordinary thread. I'm glad I lived to see it. Oh, and in case anybody really gave credence to the idea, I have not encouraged any children to post here.

That particular piece is an award winning piece and has already been published in many print and online magazines. I don't write for fun, I am a writer by profession. You stold that piece without permission with clear malicious intent (I have saved the threads) and then passed it off as your own work. If you think I don't have a legal case, you are mistaken as this exact situation has happened before and I have prevailed.

I've been dipping in and out of this for most of the day like a cybersneak. I generally try to stay out of these 'flame' things because I can see why everyone concerned becomes so frustrated, the conflicts generally being anonymous to some extent. I'm amazed that this is still going on - have you folks been popping duracell batteries?

Theresa, I would probably disagree with Jennifer's initial criticism of your work which sparked all of this off, but to be fair, her comments were clear-headed, and not pushed forth in a mean-spirited way. Unfortunately, you've been consistently abrasive in your response, and it doesn't help your argument to throw words like 'stalker' and 'nut' around.

I'm only saying this because I worry you're getting too ahead of yourself, and I don't want you to be busting a blood vessel in your home with all of this stuff.

I hope you can find some peace with yourself and the ABC Tales. Just try and relax the anger, girl. You're alright, you know. Too much time on the cyberweb can make paranoid wrecks of us all. It has done me from time to time.

I look forward to hearing from your solicitor. Sorry, I didn't hear your reply. Which of us is ten years old?

Oh Sean, but she's so much fun to tease! Do you think we've gone too far?

I've only just read the exchange between Theresa and Jennifer under Theresa's poem, "The house that fear built". It's fucking hilarious! What a cat-fight! If only they were having such a cat-fight, handbags at four paces, over me.

www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant

As I have said many times, Skunk, the board owner will probably have to deal with the legal matters you have dropped upon his lap.

Sean,

Obviously we have to agree that we disagree in regards to Jennifer. If you want to beat a dead horse then just re-read my posts regarding the matter.

This board needs restrictions.

And if someone stold your work, re-wrote it and passed it off as their own in addition to all the crap that has already taken place you'd be angry as well.

I am not here to make friends, I am not here to fool around or joke around. Go play within your own circle of lunatics.

Hee-hee! Now I've read the offending article, Theresa's "I loved you once", and Skunk's "plagiarism" of it. Again, hilarious!

Someone round here is mentally ill. And it's not Jennifer or Skunk. Maybe it's me.

www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant

I only buy Louis Vuitton's. How about you Macjoyce?

Eh?

www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant

There's a level of immaturity on these boards that is astonishing. Macjoyce finding plagiarism hilarious is an example. What serious writers would condone plagiarism? obviously ten year olds posting out of their basement or emotionally/mentally disturbed people who want to inflict malice on another person and attempt to ruin their work because they can't produce anything of quality.

Are you really suggesting that Macjoyce can't produce anything of quality? Have you ever read any of his work?

Any 'writer' who steals the work of another or advocates it isn't worth spit in my opinion. If he/she has produced anything of quality he/she probably ripped it off someone else. It makes one wonder.

Ambulance for Theresa!

This really is hilarious! Skunk in no way plagiarised her work. He wrote a light-hearted and silly parody which used one sentence that Theresa had written. All the rest was his own work.

Half of TS Eliot's Waste Land was made up of lines that other people had written. Why did no-one ever sue that bastard?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant

We'll see if it is viewed as plagiarised or not by those that matter.

So there's going to be a court case, is there? Newbill versus Skunk? How much will you be paying your lawyer? Ha ha ha ha ha!

www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant

Macjoyce, your comments are so foolish. Everything is a joke to you and it seems you love malice in every form.

Now, I don't know if you're posting high as a kite or if in fact these traits you exhibit are part of your 'personlity'. At any rate, you may continue to post that everything is 'hilarious'.

Unfortunately it is the board owner who is responsible.

I will. Because it is. Absurd and hilarious.

Incidentally, David Bowie, in his song 'Young Americans', uses the line 'I read the news today, oh boy' once, which originally appeared in the Beatles song 'A day in the life'. Is he a filthy unoriginal talentless scum plagiarist? I would say no.

Please let me know about the date of the court case.

www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant

David Bowie has such a wonderful reputation. When I think of a musician, David Bowie is the LAST person that comes to mind. Personally, I don't like David Bowie. By the way I know some pretty heavy hitters in the music business as I also write reviews for most of them in a print magazine.

We'll see if it goes that far. The board owner giving this Skunk person fair warning will be enough for me, otherwise I will let my agent take the necessary action needed. It's been done before and we have prevailed.

Nobody stole your work Theresa. He wrote something to respond to your work. You leave me no other choice but to address you again. I just read the poem and Skunk's reply. I hope you're just kidding. But if you are not, not you nor anyone is going to change literature's ethos: When we inspire others to write a response we take it as a compliment not as plagiarism. If it's a parody (in this case it IS NOT, it's a painfully playful poem) we can reply accordingly: with another parody. Skunk wrote his poem with great economy of words and naiveté. I'm shocked by your ungrateful literary spirit, or did you fail to see that this is a response poem? The subject of Skunk's poem is not the same (two equal intellectuals in your case [the "scholar" and the poetess's voice], a man's unrequited passion in Skunk's), the emotions and the approach are different, and we have all said "I loved you once"! It's not your line, thank God, WHOM some of us loved once until we read Nietzsche who killed him with "his" philosophy. It also seems that you have two poems (at least) written by good poets inspired by your poetry. On this site. Abctales. Such a reaction is unjustifiable. I hope you'll come to your senses.

CRACKERSVILLE

The members here who were inspired by my nonet and who wrote one because of that inspiration are to be applauded and I am certainly happy to see that I perhaps had a part in that kind of creativity and outlet. This situation is much different from that of 'Skunk's.' I was not amused and am irritated beyond belief that other writers would condone such inappropiate beahviour. I really don't see why this thread is continuing other than perhaps a certain amount of panic setting in because of the ramifications of the actions that have taken place here today.

I will obviously do what I have to do in respect to the situation. End of story. Fade to black.

Panic setting in????? I sense no panic around me, just a certain amount of disappointment because of your behaviour and your reactions. I was NOT talking about the nonets, but about "When God Blinks". Another poem inspired by your poetry. Check the cherrypicked if you haven't noticed.

I haven't read that one. Who wrote When God Blinks?

http://www.abctales.com/browse-story?page=11

here you can read the short description.

When God Blinks
Posted by NO_1 on February 8, 2009 - 12:57

Indirectly inspired by Theresa C Newbill's recent 'Urban Voodoo' poems.

* Poem
* Certificate PG
* Spiritual

* Add new comment
* Read more
* 52 reads

I don't think Theresa will dare go to bed tonight in case someone posts after she's gone and she can't have the last word! Well, I'm on duty until 5:00 AM. I could post at any time!

Actually I'm working online on the magazine and checking in here at the same time.

Now that poem is a beauty, Crackersville. I may add it to the slushpile of submissions with the author's permission.

If 'Skunk' did not mean any ill will he could have voice that to me instead of you. The fact that he has continued to play games leaves one to believe his intentions were not for literary purposes or inspiration but for malicious intent.

Theresa, nobody voiced anything to me. I rarely reply to emails and I never email first.

FTSE, you can make your own crappaccino right? OW, Dorothy will make you one.

Very well. I'll be retiring for the night now. Mermaids is on and I have a soft spot for Cher!

Toodles.

Oh dear. That's what happens when I take most of a day off.

First of all Jennifer was NOT the schoolteacher in question. She is a much valued and highly talented member of the ABCtales community. She comments with integrity and insight on the work of many others - the vast majority of whom are exceedingly glad of her time and consideration.

Secondly, the law of copyright is not as you presume, Theresa. This site is governed under British law (see Terms and Conditions) and parody is perfectly acceptable. It is not infringement of copyright.

The only person who has ever asked for the comment boxes to be turned off is tretchicovmanicova and it would cost time and money for that to be done. If there is a move towards them being turned off then they are turned off for all. Unless someone sends me a few grand.

This site is for all - teenagers included. It is not for young children. Most teenagers find other places on the web more inspiring, but some, who have a passion for writing, come on here and stay. Some of them have exceptional talent and are very welcome indeed.

I hope that this puts an end to this discussion.

I'd just like to throw my say in.

theresa, I don't appreciate you talking down to writers under the age of 18. I just turned 18 last month but have been on this site near three years. the people here are great individuals and we choose to let people of any age post here. You're claiming you don't want brats defaming your work, how proud you are of your 'story of the week' well I've won story of the week twice, and aside from my own honing of my skills, the comments and criticism of people like tony, lisa h, and enzo(back in the day) really helped me develop into a worthy writer.

I'm not saying there aren't young people who are terrible writers and immature. believe me, there are A LOT, but then again, there aren't many immature teens who would bother to post on a site as devoted to writing as ABCtales.

so yeah...take that and stuff.
i think she might actually be gone now. :)

Tony, it's easy to implement a function whereby each member can switch off the comments option if they like - we've had it on UKA for years, thus:

Critique level for this piece;
Critique/comments welcome
No Critique/comments please
Advanced Critique Encouraged
Critique Discouraged

Members just tick the required box when submitting their piece.

It costs nothing - contact me if I can help.

http://www.ukauthors.com
http://www.ukapress.com

Cheers Mike, I still read, just don't post so much.

And in any case, these days you know you're getting better and better, so you don't need me telling you so...

(but if you really want a comment - I was itching to suggest you deleted the last line of the otherwise great 'A Dream of a Friend Long Gone', it would totally stand without it.)

B

thanks enzo.
i didn't mean to imply I missed ur comments, just listing some guys who helped me out along the way. I really haven't been commenting much lately either. too busy.

and thanks for the advice, bra.
(that's dog the bounty hunter talk right there...god what a horrible show)

"i didn't mean to imply I missed ur comments..."

Charming! Haha.

Well what an extraordinary thread.
I don’t often look in on the boards but this has been very interesting.
Theresa C Newbill , surely that name is from a Marx brothers film, she’s not quite the full shilling is she?
She’s a very angry creature isn’t she?
Sadly I missed her exchange with Jennifer and I notice she has had all her work removed now.
I would just like to say that Jennifer is one of the fairest people on here and it’s always a pleasure when she comments on my work.
As for Skunk his comments are unconventional but it’s just a reflection of the diversity on ABC.

u gotta admit, while people like theresa are a pain in the ass, they sure do spark some entertainment on the boards :)

Hands up, I might have been a bit harsh once or twice, (but here I hasten to add that literary criticism 'proper' makes my comments look somewhat mild - I read a good deal of it during my English degree!) but the row with Ms Newbill developed when she patronised me and insulted my good intentions in commenting in the first place. It got worse when she started publicly declaring me to be a 'nut' and 'unhinged'. I'm not one to back down from a 'discussion', and have attempted in all my dealings with her to be as polite as possible (this is in my comments and posts; in my poetry I did 'let rip' a little!)

See:

http://www.abctales.com/story/jennifer/poets-call-war

for my reaction to the comments-flinging under her work and:

http://www.abctales.com/story/jennifer/oh-nuts

for my reaction to being labelled as insane, stalkerish (for continuing a discussion - her own refusal to stop commenting somewhat undermined her argument...she did the same to Doeslittle also) and unhinged.

Yes, they're a little bit wicked...

J x

Since the person in question isn't here to respond wouldn't it be a good idea to just let it drop? Bit wicked that chuck.

I miss this woman. Really. I think it was part of a comedy nobody really understood. But I may be wrong. I liked her! She was naive. I like naive people. Best comedians if you give them a chance! Naiveté breeds seriousness in a comical way. I hope she is happy!

Chuck she can always join this site again! She wasn't banned I hope!!!

I take them as they come Crack. My people are talking to her people by the way. I'm hearing Tom Cruise may be in for points!

Theresa sadly decided to remove herself from the site. It's the way it goes - but it probably would be best if we now let this one rest. It was interesting whilst it lasted...

Interesting? Interesting use of the word interesting.
I'd have used funny myself, but only if my lawyer and agent allowed it.
Craig

Never in course of human endeavour has so much energy been expended by so few writers to to achieve so much bullshit! ;)

But which one of us is going to write the screenplay and reap the rewards?

oops, did anyone's lawyer or agent hear me say that?!

J x