B-Nut busier than ever

[jk_lewis]

Have you noticed that since B-Nut got rid of that nasty forum the posting level seems to have gotten much heavier here?

It seems to be accompanied by a general decline in the number of posts over at The BonsaiSite, too. Lots of people posted there when all the acid was being thrown over here.

 

[KennedyMarx]

Are you talking about the off topic anything goes political BS section? Because it seems like a lot of the stuff posted there tends to spill over into the other topics now. I haven't been registered here long enough to realize if that's how it always was though.

 

[Poink88]

What is the purpose of this thread?

Also after you posted a few days back that this forum is the slowest you visit...

I also believe this belongs to the "Tea House". As a moderator (elsewhere) I expect you know how that works.

 

[Paradox]

I think a big part of the upswing in activity here has to do with it being spring and people are starting to do more bonsai things again. At least that is the case with my reading the forums more now then a couple of months ago. Also having someone post constructive threads like the ones Cascade has started gives things for people to discuss. Kudos to her

 

[lennard]

Posts

I am following most of the forums for a few years now and I was puzzled by the decline in posts on Bonsaisite, Bonsaivault and Bonsainut.

I think a major reason for this is that growers are posting now on regional forums like Ausbonsai, Weetrees, SaBonsaiforum and a lot of European and Eastern forums that I can not follow due to the language used.

As an example SaBonsaiforum had 95 posts today, Ausbonsai 93 and I believe this trend will be seen in all the regional forums.

Bonsaisite is dying a slow death and that is a shame because there are a wealth of information stored on the forum. Bonsaisite was well known as a beginnersforum, but beginners don't post there any more because responses are very slow.

Internet Bonsai Club is doing okay but if they do not tend to newcomers the forum will be seen as elitist and older members will not be replaced with new ones. Some guys posting on this forum are very direct and sometimes even rude when it comes to newcomers.

This is how I see it.

Lennard

 

[Anthony]

The problem with - New to Bonsai - is the Internet.

It makes more sense to join a Bonsai club/group whatever and read from books / periodicals.

What I have been observing is a trend towards yammadori and large trunks [ however you can get them ] instead of just learning how to grow an expendable tree / shrub.

Additionally, there is the age problem, start at say 20 or so and wait until 27 to 30 to get married and you can learn how to grow bonsai.
Start at 40/50 or 60 and there seems to be a strong sense of mortality.

No matter how much you try to explain that 3 to 5 years is needed for the horticultural aspect, you see requests for wires, carving and impatience to repot.

One can always purchase more finished bonsai after the horticultural period is over.

I tend to stay out of the requests for help with dying trees or sickly shrubs, especially if the person could just go back to where they bought the plant and ask there.

If they joined a club, they could just take the plants there and get experienced help.

Additionally, it does wear on the patience to keep repeating much the same information over and over.
So if the sites are slowing or dying, I can't blame the more experienced as they leave.
Good NIght.
Anthony

 

[Bonsai Nut]

There is definitely a seasonality to bonsai forums. We even get different usage by day of week (Mondays are busiest, weekends are least busy). I think what makes or breaks a forum is community. Once you get people together that enjoy talking with one another, the forum will grow. To that end, it is more important to maintain a positive community feel than to worry TOO much about whether 100% of the posts stay on topic, etc.

I don't mind arguments when they don't poison the community. However in the past some aspects of this site were creating a bad environment that really wasn't conducive to creating friendship and understanding. There are other places on the Internet you can go to argue politics, and do so in an anonymous way that won't harm your bonsai relationships. I think the final straw was when I was hearing comments about people not talking to each other if they saw each other at a bonsai convention. I wanted to nip that negativity in the bud.

That said, bonsai is a hobby that requires patience and a measured approach. I don't mind if people go away for a few weeks between posts. Just when you return make sure to bring photos of what you're been up to!