PK List Protocols

The PKPoetryList is a poetry mailing list open to poets and readers of poetry from around the world to join. You can post poetry, comment on or about poetry or just sit and read what others write. Most of all it is a place where we can learn from each other in a caring and supportive way. All we ask is that you respect views that are different to your own.

Membership is open to poets (established or new), people who like to read poetry and people who want to write poetry - all are welcome. The only suggestions are

You should also remember that the poem you are reading and intending to critique was actually written by someone who will read your comments. Criticism is fine, it is what the list is about, but please keep it constructive.

This is a list for everyone who is interested in poetry, however as the poets are all adults, occasionally poems dealing with adult themes will be posted. Because of this it is felt that membership of the list should be restricted to adults.

a - No attachments please. If a picture is essential to your work, post it to a website and give the URL (if you need help with this let me know).

b - Please do not use Rich Text or facility giving coloured background or image. (if there is a "plain text" option on your mail server please use that, unless HTML tags are essential for the passing of specialist information OR poem layout.) All replies should be in plain text.

c - Please remove as much of the previous mail from your email as you can. Failure to do this just leads to reposting the same information over and over. This is the one thing which can have the biggest effect on reducing list download time.

F - Use a new subject title for every new poem you post. Please avoid posting mail with the subject blank.

h - Do not carry over discussions from other lists, or comment on people who are not on this list.

i - Please do not include the list address as part of any mailshot, or CC to anyone not on the list.

This page is just to let members know what is happening. As most of you will already know Ted Slade who is the writer of Poetry Kit and who has organised the Poetry Kit Discussion List has been forced to give up the List due to pressure of work on the Kit.

Hello all listees,
I've decided that I can no longer give the time or take the
responsibility for managing this list. I am therefore proposing that in
one month's time it will close. In the meantime I have converted it to a
private list, and removed the invitations to join from The Poetry Kit
website. Anyone leaving from now on will not be able to return.

A list is only as good as its members, and this is a good list. I hope
therefore that someone else will open a new list so that the group can
continue under a new management. One or two members are already
considering this, and I hope others will come forward in response to
this message. All it takes is a website and a minimum of web skills. And
a lot of time, patience and diplomacy. If a new list emerges, it will
get the support of The Poetry Kit. Probably I will join, and no longer
being the referee, will probably take a more active part.

Best wishes to you all.
Ted Slade
The Poetry Kit

Rather than be forced to loose the List which has proved so popular and such a boon to poets who want to receive criticism of their work, I offered to set up a new list with the core of the old Poetry Kit List members. when I made this offer I sent the following email to the list to make my intentions clear.

Hi all

I suppose I am offering a manifesto.

I am JJ Howard, I work in the computer centre at the University of
Liverpool. As I do
not often take a part in the debates and I monitor the proceedings to
collect Jim Bennett's
words of wisdom for my records, I would be more than happy to set up the
PKList, and have it continue in the way in now operates, except that it
would operate as an adult
service and that would be made clear, this would ensure that all poets work
can be
properly represented. I would also ensure that people who used the list
obtained feedback. And would encourage more feedback for each offering.

In addition Tess (Terry Skelton) is about to launch a poetry magazine which
will be web
and paper based. Each year the proceedings of the magazine will be bound
and available
to whoever wants it, and copies will be lodged forever with the major
libraries, British and
US and several University archives.

I see a future list starting in one months time as serving the members of
this list in a more
active way, providing a further forum for publication and being closely
linked to the
Poetry Kit, information. I would also make it my business to promote the
list to a wide
audience and to try and develop it further, without creating a conflict with
Poetry kit.

So there it is a positive offer. If you all want me to go ahead I will.

John

A consensus of those interested soon emerged and I took this as a permission to carry on and set up this new list.

I see this list as OUR list not MY list. It is just that someone has to take responsibility for the day to day administration of the list and it's development.