Forum rank(s) / Karma.

[Cadillactaste]

After logging in, 99% of the time, I either hit the "new posts" button and skim through them, stopping on only the titles that interest me, or I use the search function to research a specific topic. At the end of a slow day, I might see 30% of the new posts and the rest fall off the page and are gone forever (at least to me) ...and I'm ok with that.

Yup...I love that feature..."new posts" I have never gave thought as to the percentage I actually read though.

Seeing that half of the world works on Tropicals, you must then be missing out on a lot.

It's called stacking the deck in ones favor for those who choose to go with zone Appropriate trees. I seriously can't see my offering any valuable information to one down south on the care of their tropical trees. Doesn't mean I don't appreciate a few tropical trees. But, I'm not about to read through all the tropical posts...when I will never be able to really offer up valuable information to the poster. Other than being a cheerleader...I have no real valuable information for them to gain. Even John Naka comments on Northerners who attempt to grow tropicals in his Japanese Proverbs book. That really was eye opening...I don't feel I'm missing out. It's being realistic. It would be foolish for me to offer any advice on care for a tree I can not grow myself. There are also trees up here that those can't grow down south. So...it's a toss of the coin where location is concerning bonsai. I focus on the trees that I can have success with...and am statisfied. I don't feel it's anyone's loss if their location won't allow them a specific tree species with the numerous species that one still is able to work in that location.But...we all see things differently. My cup is always full...for even air occupies it.

Good day!

 

[coh]

I don't understand the aversion to tropical posts...even if you don't grow tropicals, you still could be missing beautiful trees, and potential styling ideas that you could apply to some of your own non-tropical specimens. You don't have to read all the posts or offer any advice, just a quick glance through the threads to see the pictures. But to each his (or her) own!

I generally don't bother with the suiseki posts because I have no real interest in suiseki at all...and the pictures won't really give me any ideas that can be applied to trees.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Personally, I find that if I don't comment on a tree, it doesn't mean that I don't like it... it just means that I don't have a comment

There have been trees that have been posted here that I find quite inspirational - and in fact have learned a ton from many threads that I have never participated in. That is one of the reasons why I added the "like" button. I can "like" trees without feeling the need to add a comment telling someone what they already know

I specifically avoid getting into "Karma wars" for the same reason that I avoid having a "dislike" button. When people start to critically evaluate someone's knowledge, or experience, it only makes sense if the judges are themselves experts. And to what point does an expert need to have public acknowledgement that they are an expert? If you have to tell someone how great you are, you may not be

 

[Cadillactaste]

Plenty... but I am sure you will find another reason for not liking them and defending your position. Still will not change the fact that this is what is happening, regardless of if you want to acknowledge it or not. I have a feeling your decision has more to do with the not liking of someone, and them not being one of the cool kids as I have said. Which is sad, bonsai is bonsai... and one should be able to appreciate and recognize good work that is being done. Keep clicking those heals! At least now we know which side of the discussion you reside on.

Stacy...don't let that like button steal your joy...you have decent trees. It sounds more of a personal level you speak. Honestly...I don't expect ones to like anything I share. I'm only sharing...it doesn't change my outlook on any of my trees on my bench if one chooses to hit the like button or not? But..."clicking those heals" and "which side of the discussion you reside on"...sounds like it's a sore subject with you. And that's sad...that it steals your joy. I hope one day...that isn't the case...and you can enjoy the forum without feeling that way.

 

[sorce]

I don't understand the aversion to tropical posts...even if you don't grow tropicals, you still could be missing beautiful trees,

See! Get out of my head! I think we bump heads cuz they are always going to the same thought!

That is very very very very true!

Sorce

 

[Dav4]

I don't understand the aversion to tropical posts...even if you don't grow tropicals, you still could be missing beautiful trees, and potential styling ideas that you could apply to some of your own non-tropical specimens. You don't have to read all the posts or offer any advice, just a quick glance through the threads to see the pictures. But to each his (or her) own!

I generally don't bother with the suiseki posts because I have no real interest in suiseki at all...and the pictures won't really give me any ideas that can be applied to trees.

Years ago, I would look at everything, and yes, I would occasionally see some tropical trees that would blow my socks off...Robert Steven's Premna bonsai are insanely good. In all honesty though, I spend too much time as it is surfing the bonsai forums and really need to tailor my time on line appropriately. I'm never going to live in a climate where tropical would make sense for me, so I don't bother looking at posts containing them, mostly.

 

[coh]

Years ago, I would look at everything, and yes, I would occasionally see some tropical trees that would blow my socks off...Robert Steven's Premna bonsai are insanely good. In all honesty though, I spend too much time as it is surfing the bonsai forums and really need to tailor my time on line appropriately. I'm never going to live in a climate where tropical would make sense for me, so I don't bother looking at posts containing them, mostly.

Fair enough! We all have to figure out how to budget our time.

I don't look at every thread, I'll usually pre-filter based on the topic, who started it, and activity level. But I won't intentionally ignore a thread just because it's in a particular forum.

Anyway, just think how many tropical threads you could have reviewed while reading through and participating in this thread!

 

[A Random User]

Personally, I find that if I don't comment on a tree, it doesn't mean that I don't like it... it just means that I don't have a comment

There have been trees that have been posted here that I find quite inspirational - and in fact have learned a ton from many threads that I have never participated in. That is one of the reasons why I added the "like" button. I can "like" trees without feeling the need to add a comment telling someone what they already know

I specifically avoid getting into "Karma wars" for the same reason that I avoid having a "dislike" button. When people start to critically evaluate someone's knowledge, or experience, it only makes sense if the judges are themselves experts. And to what point does an expert need to have public acknowledgement that they are an expert? If you have to tell someone how great you are, you may not be

I would agree...
however, I don't see anyone telling or trying to tell folks how great they are.

Instead, I see folks asking why? If they are producing good work or asking serious question, or even just trying to show what they are doing... Why, no one bothers to comment or like a post. I think a lot of folks are turned off, then figure Why bother taking the time then to post anything in the first place?

So, then what folks do then, is comment on posts such as this, that really are kind of mindless and take no effort. Fights breakout, anomosity builds, and we are left with a mess.

Not really anything that can be done about it... I know. One cannot make people like or comment on a post... Just, thought perhaps the real reason might actually be worth putting out there... it has little I think to do with someone thinking they are so great.

 

[Cadillactaste]

See! Get out of my head! I think we bump heads cuz they are always going to the same thought!

That is very very very very true!

Sorce

Not saying it's not true...but, time restraint won't always allow one to open every thread. So...one must choose where they might be able to offer up information to help poster...I admire tropicals...to say otherwise would be lying. But...time restraint has me choosing what posts I can be of value. Being a northerner...I've lost a few tropicals...so I look at things differently. Staking the deck in my favor...and...where I can offer assistance. If I have time. Sure...I pop into tropicals. But...that's if I have spare time. Because I have nothing of value to offer the poster as of advice.

 

[Anthony]

Hee hee this is why Igor and Master have a fridge.
If it can withstand 90 deg,F for an hour and it's purty, it's up for use.

However, the Sageretia t. and Chlorophora t. are so satisfying, zonal envy is dying .........................peep............................peep........................................
Good Day
Igor

 

[A Random User]

Stacy...don't let that like button steal your joy...you have decent trees. It sounds more of a personal level you speak. Honestly...I don't expect ones to like anything I share. I'm only sharing...it doesn't change my outlook on any of my trees on my bench if one chooses to hit the like button or not? But..."clicking those heals" and "which side of the discussion you reside on"...sounds like it's a sore subject with you. And that's sad...that it steals your joy. I hope one day...that isn't the case...and you can enjoy the forum without feeling that way.

You have missed the point...
It is not about a like button... and the conversation is not entirely about me. There are plenty of folks here that I am sure feel the same way... they just are not perhaps speaking up at the moment.

One does not have to look far to see that people post on this site all the time saying exactly this... that they have stopped posting because they feel that no one is even paying attention to what they post, so they say they are not bothering any more! So, instead they only post on threads that have nothing in the way of value to add. Why, because they involve little effort.

I am just pointing this out as a reality.... it is 99 percent of why their are problems here and why there are fights, and cliques as Coh put it, and bad feelings amongst most of the participants. All of this was present before I ever joined and will remain present till the end.

As far as myself, I will still keep posting regardless, but the feelings are still there. And often I have days where I think well... that's a load of crap! I spent all day photographing trees and wanted to share and got nothing... having said this, I know I am not the only one that has encounter this. I also know things are never going to change. ... just the way it is.

One can either post and get nothing, leave the site completely... or post some bit of negativity and get a response. .. so sadly the later ends up happening. One sees it all of the time.

As I stated, I know nothing can be done about it... but I don't think we should fool ourselves into thinking this is not the truth, or the reality. That's nieve.

You say, you are not concerned about what others think of your views, yet you constantly repost the same views multiple times within a thread. I am not trying to call you out or trying to insult.... but clearly you do care, and feel you are perhaps not being heard as well? Sucks!

 

[A Random User]

As I have mentioned on previous threads, we need to find a way to try and come together and stop all of the fighting. This site is awesome... it however has the potential to be better... not by buttons or trophies... but by everyone participating in meaningful discussions, people wanting to share in these discussions, sharing work that is done, asking questions, and having an environment where folks don't have to take heat for asking questions, no matter how silly they may be. But, if we don't understand what and why it is not this way... then we cannot come to terms with how it really can move forward.

With that... Everyone have a good New Years and be safe!

 

[Nybonsai12]

If you have to tell someone how great you are, you may not be

Perhaps a Log in without ego button?

 

[coh]

It's easy to become jaded by lack of response to ones posts, and then it becomes a vicious cycle..."I'm not getting any responses so I'm not going to bother commenting either." Stacey, not picking on you, but I scrolled back through your posts over the last few weeks and see that you've made very few comments on threads that others started, so that is part of the cycle. I don't get a lot of responses to most of my threads, and I understand why (I don't have many advanced trees or "wow" collected material, or long progressions to show). It can be frustrating to take the time to take and adjust photos, post them, write up something, and get no responses. But I still try to offer comments on other threads when I feel I have something to say. Perhaps if you did the same others would follow suit?

Happy New Year!

Chris

 

[A Random User]

It's easy to become jaded by lack of response to ones posts, and then it becomes a vicious cycle..."I'm not getting any responses so I'm not gong to bother commenting either." Stacey, not picking on you, but I scrolled back through your posts over the last few weeks and see that you've made very few comments on threads that others started, so that is part of the cycle. I don't get a lot of responses to most of my threads, and I understand why (I don't have many advanced trees or "wow" collected material, or long progressions to show). It can be frustrating to take the time to take and adjust photos, post them, write up something, and get no responses. But I still try to offer comments on other threads when I feel I have something to say. Perhaps if you did the same others would follow suit?

Happy New Year!

Chris

You are correct!
I have not had taken the time in the last couple of months to do so. I will be the first to admit that I have not... and something I understand fully that I should be doing more of.

I am not saying that I am not without faults. Of course I am... I am human. Besides what others might think of me, I am suprisingly humble. This is not to say I am not determined and think highly of the work I do. I am proud of what I am doing, yet will always feel I can do better and will be the first to admit this as well.

With that said i have gone out of my way on numerous occasions to try and post work to show how what I am doing is nothing anyone else cannot do. This is evident in just about every thread I post. Almost every thread I post is a threads with tutorials, showing how to do things. I not saying they are always right or I am some great awesome bonsai guy... if this was the case I wouldn't bother to post them.

But, my feelings are if I am able to do these, anyone can... if I can help pass along anything I might know and be able to help someone perhaps learn, it is the least I can do! There are a lot of folks out there that are probably a lot like me... they have no club, not great teachers, no parents sending them to Japan, they just have trees in their backyard. This was my school... I learned everything I know by learning and teaching it to myself. I worked very hard, day and night, and constantly did it till I got to where I am at, and I continue to do this in the hopes that I will get better. If I can save someone sometime cool...

So, to get back to the discussion... yes, I need to improve. We all do. I think everyone here wants the same thing.

 

[Cadillactaste]

You say, you are not concerned about what others think of your views, yet you constantly repost the same views multiple times within a thread. I am not trying to call you out or trying to insult.... but clearly you do care, and feel you are perhaps not being heard as well? Sucks!

Lol...my view seems to be a solid belief of my thoughts...if I repeat myself then it means I do not waver in that. I can't grasp to think that others who let little things steal their joy...have that happen. Nieve...possibly I am. Life is to short to let ones ruffle ones feathers if one chooses to not hit a like button. I find if one hits the like button to frequently...then that too is frowned upon by ones comments in past posts. And less weighted as if they hit it less frequently. Seems there is no pleasing everyone. Not everyone's personality clicks...so it's bound ones feel differently on different topics. I prefer to not have ones steal my joy...over a click of the "like" button.

I honestly don't care if one takes my words to heart or not...but, I would hope that I plant a seed...to not allow the little things to poke at them. If that in itself sinks in to but one person. Then...I'm happy. I have tons to do today. Have a large group of college kids coming to my home for New Years Eve...

Everyone...have a Happy New Years...stay safe...drink responsibly. Let the new year come in with no regrets...good day!

 

[A Random User]

Lol...my view seems to be a solid belief of my thoughts...if I repeat myself then it means I do not waver in that. I can't grasp to think that others who let little things steal their joy...have that happen. Nieve...possibly I am. Life is to short to let ones ruffle ones feathers if one chooses to not hit a like button. I find if one hits the like button to frequently...then that too is frowned upon by ones comments in past posts. And less weighted as if they hit it less frequently. Seems there is no pleasing everyone. Not everyone's personality clicks...so it's bound ones feel differently on different topics. I prefer to not have ones steal my joy...over a click of the "like" button.

I honestly don't care if one takes my words to heart or not...but, I would hope that I plant a seed...to not allow the little things to poke at them. If that in itself sinks in to but one person. Then...I'm happy. I have tons to do today. Have a large group of college kids coming to my home for New Years Eve...

Everyone...have a Happy New Years...stay safe...drink responsibly. Let the new year come in with no regrets...good day!

Nothing that has been posted here has ruffled any feathers. There is no loss of Joy. Today is just another day... I am perfectly able to express my feelings and at the same time go about life.

Folks here are always complaining about how bad it is here and perhaps just trying to understand why.

 

[Vance Wood]

I have seen this kind of thing used to attack people whose opinions some may not like. In some cases this can become financially injurious if someone pisses off someone else who gets what we used to call in the army "The Ass" and start posting all kinds of negative information about someone who provides a service on bonsai trees. The bonsai community is small enough as it is; we don't need to be finding ways to make it smaller even if you or I or the Man In The Moon, thinks they know everything there is to know about bonsai and someone else knows nothing. There are too many legends in their own minds around as there is, we don't need to justify them, by giving them a device whereby they can sit in judgement on other members of the forum by pressing a button anonymously.

 

[M. Frary]

Igor

You really don't know a guy named Igor do you?

 

[M. Frary]