Thought for the Day (Dec 16)

Subject: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: Peter T.
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 09:41 AM

A young man came up to Robert Frost, and introduced himself, saying, "I am a poet too."
Frost replied, "No one can call themselves a poet. It is a name that is given to you, not one you give to yourself."

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 10:01 AM

Some woman had occasion to submit her writing to Oscar Wilde, hwo told her she need to revise it. She said something to the effect of "oh well, I guess when I am dead and gone, then I will become a published and famous author" to which he replied something to the effect of "No, for I fear, madam, you will find there are no publishers in heaven."

Or, at least that is the way my brother told it.

Good quote, Peter.

kat

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 10:24 AM

I suggest people should also receive academic degrees through honor.
Just because you go to school to become something doesn't mean you have truly earned it. For instance, I know lots of physicians but very few real doctors.

BB

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: Bert
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 10:30 AM

Well I don't care! I'm STILL going to call myself a songwriter, and Robert Frost can go to *%$&. So there!

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: MMario
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 10:42 AM

Bert---he has.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: Jeri
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 10:45 AM

Bert is a songwriter. There - now it's official - I said so. Would someone please call me a fiddler so I don't have to refer to myself as "a player of tunes upon the fiddle?" It's just too darned long!

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: Bert
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 10:52 AM

Ah thank you Jeri and you are a great fiddler. I'm looking forward to hearing you at Annap's real soon.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 11:13 AM

What can I call myself guys?
Anxiously waiting your reply

BB

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: Jeri
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 11:14 AM

Thanks, Bert, you're a real prince! (Oh, shit - now he's going to go all "royal" on us...) Yes, I'm looking forward to annap's gathering a lot!

Seriously, when you do something for others to appreciate, you do need their approval, but I don't know that a title doesn't apply just because people don't call you by it. I could sit here and write bad poetry that now one would ever hear. I'd simply be a "bad poet," or an "unknown poet." Does who you do something for define what you are more than what you do?

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 11:30 AM

Take heart: according to George Orwell, you could be a good bad poet, which sounds better than being a bad good poet!

Steve

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: Micca
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 11:35 AM

Bonnie, how about the sexiest banjo player in the known universe. Micca (still reeling from that encounter under the mistletoe)

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: sophocleese
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 11:36 AM

Or even a Vogon poet, YIKES!!! If other people have to bestow the name on you can they also take it away if they choose to? What are you allowed to call them in return?

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: Bert
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 11:39 AM

Jeri, I think that you 'are' what you 'call yourself'. The same applies to "Banjo Bonnie", by definition she plays a 'Bonnie Banjo'. I've yet to have the pleasure of hearing her, but I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 03:42 PM

Well guys, I think I found my name. I just came back from my banjo lesson with Rick and guess what I came home with?
A Pete Seeger, Long Neck Vega banjo! Why if that don't make me no banjo player, I'm aint sure what will. It is my Christmas present to myself. I was joking with a friend this morning about asking Santa for for Vega Long Neck. And to my surprise I got one the very same day!
These banjos are hard to come by.

Micca, if I tried to live up to being the 'sexiest' banjo player, I'd run into problems with 'mirror, mirror on the wall' and I'd hate to get into that.
Ernie's right, I'm Banjo Bonnie

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: stupidbodhranplayerwhodoesn'tknowanybetter
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 05:30 PM

I would say that being the world's sexiest banjo player is like being the world's tallest dwarf, except a) Bonnie always seems like a nice enough girl on the 'Cat b) It's too close to Christmas and that wouldn't be nice. And finally c) Being a bodhran player is pretty much a proverbial glass house to throw stones from. Speaking of which, being labeled by other people doesn't necessarilly make it so. While playing at ceilis I've been referred to as a "musician"

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: MMario
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 05:33 PM

This is a tough one. I can see the point behind the Frost quote, but not sure I agree with it. On the other hand, if you are working towards a goal, and people you respect tell you you have reached it, I think it means a bit more then if you just tell yourself "okay, you're there."

but it depends on who it is, as well....I still have problems accepting compliments from my own family (I can't tell when they are honest and when they are just 'polite') - but when someone fights their way to me through a crowd of people to tell me "I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed hearing you sing" - and it is a person I have never seen before, nor likely to ever see again; THEN I KNOW "I done good" - when pro actors come up to me at faire and thank me for "playing" with them during the season, or compliment me on a bit shared with them, I'll admit, I walk on air.

On the other hand, the other night I was singing with three other people, and we all nailed one particular song and its harmonies under very difficult conditions...and as we finished I heard an audience member say "you'd think between the four of them they'd have one decent voice". @#$%^ you, buddy!

I guess what it boils down to, is that no matter what you CLAIM to be, or what others CALL you, you are what you are. A rose, is a rose, is a rose. And 2000 A.D. is the LAST year of the century and the millenium, no matter what the media says, and no matter how many people claim it is the start of the new.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: gunner
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 05:41 PM

MMario god that was bloody rude, i'm not sure i could have stayed polite at that and your "(censored) buddy" was the least such rudeness deserved. i'm not a performer myself but i've friends who are and even if they're having an off night (which happens to us all) i'll find something good to say.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 07:00 PM

Hi gunner, got some time to spare?
Make a batch of popcorn and then go to Form Quick Search, type in BS: Rudeness
I think you will appreciate some of the contributions on that particular thread.

BB

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: annamill
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 08:43 PM

Well, I think Frost was half right. I feel you can call yourself a poet, or musician, or artist, or dancer, etc., but it takes someone else to call you a good poet, .... and I guess that's where the meat is, huh?

Love, annap

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 12:45 AM

Coming from a sales and promotions standpoint, I'd say it is the other way round. If you don't believe you are good, it may be difficult to convince others. Of course, there are people who make compleat asses of themselves because of what they believe themselves to be. But, deep down, I think a person who is really good at something will know it and that is what should give them the courage to call themselves a "good" writer, picker or whatever, even before others may say it.

Just another viewpoint, not one I necessarily follow or believe all of the time.

kat

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 16)
From: thosp
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 03:21 AM

PeterT
i guess i have to tell you about that misunderstanding -- you see the young man in question was unaware the a poetry reading had just let out --the audience was milling about in front of the building where it had just taken place-- as this young man was passing bye --he overheard some people talking --he was not able to understand everything they were saying --but caught something about Poet as they were pointing to Robert Frost --the young man made his way up to Mr.Frost and said "i'm a poet too" but before he could say anything else Mr.Frost cut him off as you accurately quoted above "that the name poet could only be bestowed etc." with that Jeremy Poet walked off --never realizing who he had been speaking to----
i just thought i'd set the record straight --

peace> (Y) thosp