Liam
The "bay" was once a fantastic site filled with people who wrote for the pleasure it brought them and hopefully, other members. I arrived as a bewildered teenager trying so hard to emulate the writing skills of my late brother. The encouragement and honest critiques I received back then were equal in their measure and that helped me develop I think. Yes, after a while life took over and my "hobby" got shelved and the pen ran dry. A considerable gap overcame my pleasure in the bay until I re-joined in the past few years.
It has changed. Everything evolves and not always for the best. Text after text posted and left uncommented or favoured. Multiple postings often on the same day by the same people prompted me to not even read let alone pass comment on their listings. Comments on my own texts, where made, were not about the poetry (if I can loosely call it that) but about the individuals own disagreement with its content. That is NOT what the Bay was meant to be.
Suffice it to say that my most recent visit previously resulted in my doing nothing more than to message an individual re the rudeness of their comment made on another members writing.
That is something that has been a catalyst for many previous members fading from the scene here and why, in effect, the demise of the bay is sadly ever closer.
2025-07-09

ken d williams
Simply do have the time make coments on members work. I applord I book mark work.
Kenny D.
2025-07-09

Lawrence Beck
I readily comment on works which interest or please me. If what I've read does neither, I say nothing.
2025-07-09

Griffonner
Like most writers there is an element of satisfaction to be enjoyed when you learn what a reader thinks of your work. I am probably from the 'old school': I even read a book to the bitter end even though I not into it because I know the 'blood, sweat and tears' the author has expended in creating their work. It's also why I try to comment whenever possible.
True, in the early days of PoetBay particularly people commented much, much more. But times were different then, social media hadn't come along and habitualised people to express themselves in less than 144 characters, and to only receive a 'like' - made without words.
My writer friends and I have lamented the lack of comments for many years, too. My suggestion is you write for yourself and for your own gratification, and look upon comments as being a cherry on a cake (no deference to ABCTales there!) Else brave the world of self-publishing and see if you are commercially viable - an indicator of popularity of a different kind.
Sorry for being verbose, but your piece inspired me to say all this.
Blessings, Allen
2025-07-08