SI have decided to go back into bonsaiNut seclusion.ee ya guys.

[Smoke]

I have decided to go back into bonsaiNut seclusion. This is not a place I wish to post work to any longer, and in fact if it was in my power I would remove everything I have ever posted here. The forum is not capable of removing the person from the work, and the truth hurts people, I can understand. If you are unable to take a look at your self from my perspective and take the things I post with the intent written, I get it. This place is supposed to be about bonsai, bonsai work, not words or help me or what can I make from this. Look around, there are plenty of places to see bonsai, look at your plant, does it have the bones to make a bonsai, then throw it away when you actually see the difference. Stop busting everyone's chops with the pathetic dieing plants. Anyway I've already said too much, feelings are being hurt as I write....the truth....again!

Maybe I will see you at a show, I'll say hi.
Smoke

 

[penumbra]

Oh well. You know when its time to go. It sinply just doesn't work for you and I can respect that. You definitely should move on.

 

[jeremy_norbury]

What happened this time?

 

[Hack Yeah!]

I've enjoyed your contribution and knowledge. Thankfully, you can't delete so I can continue to find your threads and input. I had noticed you weren't posting recently. I'll have to bookmark your blog

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I love your posts and your work.
I will stay in touch how ever I can.
You have given me solid advice every time.
I enjoy your progression threads- I have learned a lot by watching your work.
Sometimes it was hard to hear that I made a mistake. I still needed to hear it!
In order to advance you have to take a look at yourself and your trees.
I now critique my trees often. My skills are still not as good as they should be. I will keep pushing on.
i very much appreciate every time you took the time to comment on a post of mine!
You didn’t have to- coulda kept scrolling. It means a lot.

 

[coh]

About a month ago you told me "I won't post here", and yet here you were. So...I expect you'll be back at some point. Until then...

 

[HorseloverFat]

There are plenty of other professionals /very adept individuals present that DON’T complain about this sort of thing...what’s the difference here?

Just trying to understand the dilemma...

But alas I will never receive an answer... because he’s gone..

Oh well.. I bet it was a good story...

On a positive note, there are a LOT of good stories.

Go with god.

 

[fredman]

Mmm...see ya

 

[amcoffeegirl]

My momma taught me to respect my teachers. You cannot tell me that you haven’t learned something from Al’s threads.
If you think you are superior then where’s your progression threads? Where are your trees? Where’s your work? Where’s your handmade stands and daiza? I’ll wait.

 

[fredman]

My momma taught me to respect my teachers. You cannot tell me that you haven’t learned something from Al’s threads.
If you think you are superior then where’s your progression threads? Where are your trees? Where’s your work? Where’s your handmade stands and daiza? I’ll wait.

My Momma told me different. Respect those that respect you...I refuse to suck up to someone that will belittle you...just for the sake of what I can get out of them.
It's NEVER about your trees against mine. It's about the love of Bonsai.
I didn't learn anything from Al no. I was put on ignore when I dared to ask a follow up question as a newbie. Never followed anything from him since. Didn't miss it either...there's many other friendly people that didn't prefer to make the show about them, but about bonsai.

 

[HorseloverFat]

My momma taught me to respect my teachers. You cannot tell me that you haven’t learned something from Al’s threads.
If you think you are superior then where’s your progression threads? Where are your trees? Where’s your work? Where’s your handmade stands and daiza? I’ll wait.

There was never a question of quality.. whatsoever!

Just confused why HIS feelings appear hurt... Seems overly sensitive.. especially in a world were “Newbies are supposed to have thick skin”... but immense, influential, infinitely knowledgeable people throw the equivalent of a “virtual temper tantrum” and announce their departure with condescending grandeur....

I have utmost respect for Smoke, and HAVE learned a ton from viewing his projects/ listening to his advice.. never any problems here...

I always admired his “teaching methods” (for others) I never had the pleasure to ask a question personally.. but I really appreciated his bluntness.. and the fact that you HAD to “know how to take it.” LOVE IT!.....

I just feel, that GIVEN this “tough love” outlook, that THIS particular “exit”... seems....... strange....

 

[amcoffeegirl]

My Momma told me different. Respect those that respect you...I refuse to suck up to someone that will belittle you...just for the sake of what I can get out of them.
It's NEVER about your trees against mine. It's about the love of Bonsai.
I didn't learn anything from Al no. I was put on ignore when I dared to ask a follow up question as a newbie. Never followed anything from him since. Didn't miss it either...there's many other friendly people that didn't prefer to make the show about them, but about bonsai.

This wasn’t directed at you personally. I just have an overall sense of yuckiness about the whole thing. Too many experienced people have left and I hate it.

 

[Woocash]

I certainly wont miss an angry man telling people what to do, how to act and what to think. Bonsai isn’t a competition. Proper education...yes, yes, yadda, yadda. I get it, but...

“Don’t you know who I am?”, took the biscuit for me. Can’t believe anybody would actually say that in real life.

I‘m a newbie and his attitude almost makes me feel guilty for daring to take up the hobby in the first place, let alone risk posting my “best tree” as a literal stick to metaphorically beat me with.

Sorry.

 

[fredman]

This wasn’t directed at you personally. I just have an overall sense of yuckiness about the whole thing. Too many experienced people have left and I hate it.

Ah, since you posted after me, I thought you talked to me. No worries Denise.
However we all evolve...The show goes on...plenty of experience left.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I certainly wont miss an angry man telling people what to do, how to act and what to think. Bonsai isn’t a competition. Proper education...yes, yes, yadda, yadda. I get it, but...

“Don’t you know who I am?”, took the biscuit for me. Can’t believe anybody would actually say that in real life.

I‘m a newbie and his attitude almost makes me feel guilty for daring to take up the hobby in the first place, let alone risk posting my “best tree” as a literal stick to metaphorically beat me with.

Sorry.

If someone told you how you could save 5 years with your stick- wouldn’t you want to know that information?
I don’t care how it’s wrapped to be honest.
Sometimes I need a verbal stick over the head to get the point of how important it could be in the next step of care.
I know how to reach him and I know he would assist me if I asked because I haven’t been an ass on most days- this part isn’t directed at you. Just not feeling the vibe overall.

 

[Woocash]

If someone told you how you could save 5 years with your stick- wouldn’t you want to know that information?
I don’t care how it’s wrapped to be honest.
Sometimes I need a verbal stick over the head to get the point of how important it could be in the next step of care.
I know how to reach him and I know he would assist me if I asked because I haven’t been an ass on most days- this part isn’t directed at you. Just not feeling the vibe overall.

No that’s fair enough. I would happily take all criticism, positive or negative, but that’s not necessarily my issue. He may well be a nice guy in person (though I am dubious from his online persona), but slagging off all and sundry, telling people how they should learn and from whom, belittling people because they’re content with not trying to rival Mr Kimura, acting like he invented all bonsai technique and feeling like he is automatically deserving respect for all of the above is not what people (or myself at least) want. It’s not the army or a pole shining contest. It’s a niche hobby website.

I do like the heavy handed nature in certain circumstances though. I’ll rephrase, I like honesty. I eventually want a collection of top trees so if I’ve only got a stick with no future I’d rather be told as such. Just not that I’m ignorant and stupid because I’m new.

I have read and learned from several threads of his. He clearly has a wealth of knowledge and has been very generous in sharing information in the past. The best teachers don't need to tell people how good they are though.

Anyway, I shouldn’t really have posted because I’ve had very few (if any) dealings with him so it is somewhat of an unfair character assassination, but it’s just what I’ve noticed. What’s done is done.

Edit. I get why you’d be miffed about it though. Experience will always be missed.

 

[coh]

My momma taught me to respect my teachers. You cannot tell me that you haven’t learned something from Al’s threads.
If you think you are superior then where’s your progression threads? Where are your trees? Where’s your work? Where’s your handmade stands and daiza? I’ll wait.

Congrats, you're starting to sound like Al.

No one here is claiming superiority, that's your invention. As for respect - I can respect the fact that he's been doing bonsai for 30+ years, but I can't respect the way he acts on the forum. It's apparent many others feel the same way since most people are no longer willing to play his games and jump through his hoops.

He'll be back when he gets bored again.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Congrats, you're starting to sound like Al.

No one here is claiming superiority, that's your invention. As for respect - I can respect the fact that he's been doing bonsai for 30+ years, but I can't respect the way he acts on the forum. It's apparent many others feel the same way since most people are no longer willing to play his games and jump through his hoops.

He'll be back when he gets bored again.

Well good. I’m not offended. What good is a bonsai forum if there is no one posting actual work?
I was afraid to post my stuff too. I like it better when my trees are thriving. They just haven’t been this year.
I will try to do better about posting how to’s.
I can’t do wiring well but I can do repots.
It just upsets me when I feel that a lot of what he says is true so how can people be mad at the truth? I don’t read every post but I like him and his information. He is one of the few here who posts the process. It is invaluable to see the process.
I hope he does come back.

 

[JoeR]

If someone told you how you could save 5 years with your stick- wouldn’t you want to know that information?
I don’t care how it’s wrapped to be honest.
Sometimes I need a verbal stick over the head to get the point of how important it could be in the next step of care.
I know how to reach him and I know he would assist me if I asked because I haven’t been an ass on most days- this part isn’t directed at you. Just not feeling the vibe overall.

Yeah, right before he left he told me I was bitching too much and needed to do something to fix it instead. Harsh sure but I really needed the input from him. In my defense, I thought I had been actively doing something about it. He explained to me how this was not the case.

With that said I also find this entire thread and situation unusual. Not sure what pissed him off so much, but like you said- I have noticed many of our "experienced" members have been posting less and less nowadays, so his absence will be another loss and I'm disappointed to not see his work here.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

As I will.

I’m certainly not perfect in disposition, but I try hard to learn from everyone who’s got knowledge I seek. ... and I have much more to learn from Smoke. Coming from a German background, followed with a 21 year military stint, I try to look through the noise for content and boy I think he sure had some good stuff more to teach me.

The loss of one of us is a loss for all of us.

Personally, I wish him well.
cheers
DSD sends