'Original Genius' came into vogue in the 1700's, in a rather patronising way. I propose that, in literature especially, the idea has become so distorted in our present day that we feel obligated to accept and even praise written work that is barely 'good', let alone 'great'. I think we have come to feel it is only morally right to say kind things about all efforts; and we call this blanket acceptance - encouragement.
I believe we are willfully supporting mediocrity.

Oo er - that's a brave statement to make Cynthia - are we talking in general here or WOL in particular? If we are talking WOL, I would say that sometimes comments are put on mediocre work to give encouragement, support to that poet or whatever. Work doesn't have to be perfect for me to enjoy it - it just needs to make me reflect, think. I like the fact that it is written by 'real' people I can interact with. That being said, I wouldn't dream of waxing lyrical about something I considered shite.
Very occasionally poems come along that I think are truly brilliant and then I praise to high heaven. Can only speak for myself of course. Perhaps the fact that so many post but so few comment reflects that the majority see only mediocrity, so much so that they don't bother to input beyond their own poetry.

I could not have said it any better Isobel...
Strange that this would be the one time we agree ; )

Whether felicitous combinations of words emerge from original genius (whatever that is) or from hard work, will vary from person to person, and time to time. But surely, however the words emerge, it will take application and a sense of what works to knock them into shape and make a good poem

In the few months I've been on WOL, I've seen several instances of people who were apparently only producing mediocre poems suddenly pulling something special out of the hat. So why discourage when something good may be on the way?

Then again, people are consistently inconsistent - even poets. So even poets generally accepted as having 'original genius' will cast around at times and fall below their best. The Muse will elude them and they will perhaps produce mediocre stuff as they try to write themselves out of a dry spell. Again, why not encourage?

This is indeed a very brave statement by Cynthia.
Whether talking about poets on wol or other renowned and published authors, there is a lot of mediocre work out there including my own meagre efforts.
Personally i find that even some poetry which others might feel is mediocre can be satisfying enough to read depending on my particular mood at the time. I might read a poem one day and think 'ooh, that's fantastic', but then the next day it doesn't have the same appeal.
I think if we are honest, we all are, have been and most likely will be guilty of writing and posting mediocre poems at one time or another but hopefully it is at these times we will also recognize it and learn something from it too.

As far as ''blanket acceptance'' and ''morals'' is concerned, for me it's all about the way a comment is constructed with respect for the writers feelings and stage of development in their writing which counts the most, especially when and regardless of whether the person commenting/critiquing knows the writer personally or not. It is very difficult to be objective about the written word where there is a connection between the writer and commenter.

Well, at least no one has pounced on Bobby Burns as a prime example. Thank you all. I felt as though I were taking my life in my hands. This is contentious material, meant only to stimulate some feedback.
The upper social strata, including the educated class, took up the banner of the 'poor peasant' and ran headlong with the idea that if a lower class person, a 'commoner', wrote anything at all it must be more applicable to real life, and therefore more honest than any erudite work. And thus - it was Brilliant. In spite of the best intentions imaginable, I think such European attitudes became the most insidious kind of condescending superiority ever expressed.

The individual assumption of 'I AM, not I might be, an "Original Genius"' took root. Can that possibly be true? The resistance to instruction has become epidemic. Instruction/Knowledge seems equally to be lowering its own standards.

One thing is true - Mediocrity is currently a severe national problem. By defining it anew we fall into the trap of 'dumbing down'. How do we counteract this trend even here in WOL?

Isn't every field of human activity a pyramid, with a narrowing point of excellence at the top? The thing to do is identify and admire the best, which is what Isobel's WOLOP is trying to achieve. Good luck to it

I come from a generation that held the view that if the work that you did was good enough for acclaim, it would be acclaimed. I'm afraid what I tend to see these days is people acclaiming themselves.
With feedback, the main problem is avoiding the so-called shit sandwich style of criticism. Usually if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck etc etc. However some people see swans in the mirror.
As for changing poetry once published (following criticism, constructive or not) I think it is a bad idea. Authors do not change their novels after publication do they?
These days genius is a cheap word I'm afraid, as we all know, we are all A* these days.

What a thought provoking topic Cynthia, which makes us question exactly what 'genuis' is? whether or not people are born with it or whether it afflicts people at certain times in their life.Are some people cleverer (my better half despises that word 'cleverer' - says it's not in the English dictionary - haha! but it is as an aside, so I can use it) than others? Are some people artistically gifted or carry literary genes? I don't think even the 'scientific genius' can explain the actual phenonema of 'genuis'.

A person can write, paint, or invent one single thing in their lives that may be called a stroke of genius. I think, personally, that it is all relative to time and perception. Does that mean that that person's stroke of genius is overated?x

Have you noticed: Manchester Grammar School is taking positive action against mediocrity? It is opting out of the national curriculum. Excluding Shakespeare, for example. Just caught the basics on the telly two mornings ago.

Neat comment on Everyman, Steve.

What about a Poem of the Month award for a 'Mediocre' poet?
Steve M.