Sorry if this is a long post/reply:

Thanks everybody for their lively responses and exchange of opinions. I am still learning.

My 'complaint" was a rant, during a heated moment. I remember being new and scared and not knowing a thing about MLcodes or how to manuver around the site. I had to ask someone about posting bitem format. Displaying poems scared me to death.

I started a Poetry Review Forum back when ,(my first Forum) and basically said 'if you need some help and a cup of tea, come by..." I'm not an expert, but felt I had enough material in my portfolio, and six straight Merit Badges for reviewing ( I roamed looking for poetry to review, to read, to learn from) - so I decided to just create a Review Forum. There were not many back then, and few for Poetry. For me, it was the PEASURE of reading lines by a stranger, who had worked hard, and was as frightened as I had been to submit anything for commentary.
I remember posting on the Review Request page. Still scared of ANY reaction. I didn't have a Mentor, and didn't understand the GP system. But I am grateful to VerySara, who reviewed a poem of mine, posted the review publicly, AND gave me an Awardicon. She gave me encouragement, and I love her and miss her dearly. Strangers reviewed MY silly little poems when I was brand new. Members with big numbers next to their names and different colored little boxes (I found out they were called 'cases". Those reviews gave me a lift, and helped me feel more secure. Because I was petrified when I would post a poem on the Request Reviews Page. Everyone here was so much better than me, more knowledgeable, yet they offered me some hope.

My Review Forum was basic, I didn't know the HTML codes over here, heck I couldn't figure out where the brackets were on my keyboard, I had to ask a yellow case member for help. I tried to review alot because there was some hoopla about being on the top of the Active Review List - like it was some big status. But I found that short reviews, one right after another.....those were just not my style.
And the big thing for me by reviewing, is that the reviewee feels like SOMEBODY out there cares enough to give that writer a sense of BELONGING, that...hey, maybe THIS poem ain't the greatest....but....you've got some talent, kid, so don't stop, don't give up, keep on truckin'.
And the PRP is, honestly, (for me, personally) an examination of my OWN writing. Did I write a 'review" of which I'm proud? Was I objective? Was I too afraid of being "honest", not wanting to crush a new writer's dreams, hopes etc....

I want to be proud of every sentence, I want the new writer to return and submit new material for me to critique. (and I have many, many returnees). WRITING reviews forces ME to put up or shut up - because some people DO read every review posted. GP'S have never been of much interest to me. The ones I have, I give away usually.

The biggest pride for me lately has been when some of my poems have been featured in the newsletters. I think I've had two featured in the Spiritual newsletter, and three in the Poetry newsletter. I never submitted them for inclusion - different editors found them and spotlighted them. THAT was thrilling.
To end this long post, I really did not mean for my rather sarcastic whining (Jessie - yes.......I need to always breathe -because I rarely get upset about anything) to create any heated discussion or debate in this forum. But, you know what? I learned SO much by reading the responses posted here. Especially from writers I admire and respect.

Jessie, your comments and questions were right on target. And, I have never given a review for GP incentives - that's just like play money . At first being on the Active Reviewer list was a big focus - wanting to move up the line into the top ten.. Until somebody asked me.."what's the big deal"? I earned 6 straight reviewing merit Badges when I first arrived.

Now, I review when I can (and am usually behind), and for me the biggest reward is having a new writer respond to a review (as a recent writer did) by stating that my review gave them some hope: Response for my review for the poem "Mother" -

"Thank you so much for your review. It was constructive but not brutal and I appreciatte that. Your positive feedback boosted my "author esteem" very much. I'm a growing writer and not the best yet (I'm still developing my style) and rarely can I write something that moves people (in my opinion anyway...some people disagree) Thank you!! Thank you!! I'll be sending more of my pieces to you."

Maybe that's salving my ego too much - but it truly made me FEEL good that this new writer received a boost to her day - that maybe she'll feel like she belongs to this site.

(Sorry this post is sooooooooo long) I'm a windbag sometimes.