Have any of you wanted to discuss a subject on the forum to see if there are like minded folk like yourself,
But afraid because it causes lots of controversy with people that do not understand :)
Just interested to hear views.......!!
xx
Intersting question. I dont think its the question that matters. Its who asks it. If your face fits and youre in the clique you can post anytihng. If youre not, then dont bother. Youll be shouted down, called names and generally bullied into silence.It can be a very unkind place.
Even in the short time since I joined it has changed here. A lot of regular knowledgeable people who posted about gardening have gione or harldy post any more maybe becuase the chat now is nothing to do with gardening. The balance has changed and you dont get the range of advice/info about gardening becuase its dominated by too few people now who are *authorities* so you get jumped on if you dare to question anything or express a different opinion
My advice would be think carefully before posting. If youve got a thick skin go ahead. If not .......
id say to hell with it, your opinion is as important as the next persons, and the people replying are expressing their opinion, i never worry about being slagged down its only words and while they are slagging me down they leave everyone else alone. So if you have something that you think is relevant put it out there so it can be discussed, agreed with, disagreed with or just slated. ;D
What a load of rubbish Weequinie.
I have only ever known one person shouted down on here and he is a troll that logs in under different names. He has been called names and justifiably deserves it. He has been thrown off other gardening forums too.
A4A members discuss many subjects, not necessarily gardening related, but as long as they are in the shed any subject is usually acceptable. Don't be afraid to ask any question Bokkie. You will be told by a Moderator if it is unacceptable for example if it is racial. To get the best reply, try to put the question in the right place. For example, if it is about chickens, put it in the Kept Animals section or vegetable questions in Edible Plants. Other than that, everyones posts are always welcomed, so I am looking forward to seeing what your discussion is about, Bokkie.
Quote from: Paulines7 on August 31, 2010, 13:40:17
What a load of rubbish Weequinie.
I have only ever known one person shouted down on here ....
Kind of proves my point. And youre wrong.
Am I missing something here?
I have had really helpful answers to gardening questions and really strong support in my hours of need.
Also have found lots of information I didn't know about.
A4A is a great forum, but that's my opinion.
Thanks for all the advice........I have made my point in the watershed to be safe :) xxx
I had a thread about the legalisation of cannabis moderated because it generated too much hostility and I was a little disappointed that discussion of an obliquely horticultural subject could be vetoed by just a couple of contributors' over-vehement expression, but to my knowledge that's the only time it's happened.
It's difficult to know whether a subject will be controversial until you post it, and it's difficult too to know whether people will understand or not because A4A is remarkably diverse, and it depends as much on your ability to articulate your argument.
I don't recognise the A4A of weequinie's comment, but that's not to say that we're perfect or that sometimes people don't get the ache and move on. Mostly I find A4A to be a remarkably sensitive and supportive group, and I'm not aware of any clique, though of couse that might just be because it's me!
A4A is a public internet forum, and in the scheme of thing it's really rather polite and supportive, but it's in the nature of the thing that you need a reasonably think skin at times.
I once had someone tell me that my knowledge was all academic and gleaned from books, and lectured me from the depths of his 15 years or so as a gardener, but I though it best simply to ignore him.
I know that the most knowledgeable member this site has ever had - a professional grower of 30 years standing with degrees to boot - ceased posting 2 or 3 years ago for a similar reason.
However, in most cases the offender generally realises fairly quickly that his conduct is unwanted (or is privately told so) and moderates his/her postings.
Quote from: weequinie on August 31, 2010, 13:43:39
Quote from: Paulines7 on August 31, 2010, 13:40:17
What a load of rubbish Weequinie.
I have only ever known one person shouted down on here ....
Kind of proves my point. And youre wrong.
Weequinie, where am I wrong? I obviously don't see the things that you are seeing in the forum. As far as I see it, it's a great forum with good caring people. My husband has cancer and I don't know how I would have managed without the support of people that I have met on here.
The fact that I said "what a load of rubbish" is just my way of saying I disagree with you. There is no malice intended and I am sorry you saw it as such. Perhaps I should have used a smiley face after it.
Quote from: Paulines7 on March 05, 2010, 20:16:42
Certainly a US troll from the spelling of "Neighbor". :D
maybe a smiley would have been a good idea pauline. without your tone of voice or facial expression, it's hard to tell how you meant it. It could be anything from a no-nonsense but affectionate rebuttal to a virtual slap in the face! (should I use a smiley now??)
??? ;D
I haven't experienced the forum in the same way as weequeenie either, but maybe that depends on the threads you read and the boards you tend to visit. I tend to hang round in the veg board and it seems pretty harmless in there!
I'd say it's okay to open up difficult subjects, although you can naturally expect some strong feelings to come through from time to time. It wouldn't be a real community or a real conversation, if we stuck to anodyne subjects all the time.
On the plus side - if your online relationships can survive arguments, then it's a real relationship. Hopefully we can be big enough to apologise and make up when we've offended people.
Quote from: weequinie on September 01, 2010, 14:15:30
Quote from: Paulines7 on March 05, 2010, 20:16:42
Certainly a US troll from the spelling of "Neighbor". :D
Sorry Weequinine but what is wrong with saying that??
I was not pulling anyone up on their spelling.In the US, it is spelt "Neighbor" and in the UK "Neighbour".
I am really beginning to think you have got it in for me and if you continue along these lines then I will be leaving the forum. :'(
You replied to a post of mine saying that it was a laod of rubbish. I replied to you that you were wriong and you asked why. I have replied with a quote from you in which you referred to me as a US troll. Thats replying politely to your questions not having it in for you.
Quote from: weequinie on September 01, 2010, 14:45:03
You replied to a post of mine saying that it was a laod of rubbish. I replied to you that you were wriong and you asked why. I have replied with a quote from you in which you referred to me as a US troll. Thats replying politely to your questions not having it in for you.
I didn't know your reply to me quoting "certainly a US troll from the spelling of neighbour" was in answer to my question why I was wrong in your previous post. I don't see how I could have been wrong in my initial post when I used the words " I haven't experienced". Well, I hadn't experienced bullying on the site (well, not until now!) so my statement was not wrong.
I am beginning to think this is a wind up. ;D
A serious discussion about bullying isnt a windup, I doubt that bokkie had a windup in mind when starting this thread. I cant find in your initial post where you said 'I haven't experienced' unless of cousre youre the same person as pigeonseed who did say it. But semantics isnt the point.
I quoted you calling me a 'US troll' to illustrate to you the kind of behavior that you and others are ok with and that has kicked off the threads that bokkie started.
I haven't said anything on this post till now as I am not sure what Bokkie is specifically talking about and if whe wants us to know she will presumably tell us. But the post is starting to turn into something else and that bothers me. I don't think it was Bokkies intention, her post started off kind and caring.
Pauline, I can't see what is being said to you is but I can see your quotes and by your answers there is some finger pointing going on and you don't deserve that nor might I add should it be happening to you at this time.
Please don't think about leaving the forum, may I suggest you just hit the ignore button as I did and save yourself the hassle.
It really is the best way in this case.
XX Jeannine
For goodness sake can we stop all this silliness Bokkie, has her thread in the Watershed .
This is the best site ever there is not another that cares about each other as we do. Please if you feel the need to bicker use some smiles, it makes peeps feel a little uncomfortable when things get strained.
It seems the people writing about it are the ones causing the bickering.
I have been here for years & watched the bickering come & go no harm done peeps settle down.
Just lets be back to a couple of days ago when everywhere was lovely & calm.
Now i shall wait for the backlash :P :P :) ;) :D ;D
Quite agree with Jeannine and Rosebud and there are enough things going on in our lives that are so much more important than this.
I see Bockie has changed her name to 'Left The Building'. Jolly good idea I say. We really don't need all this silliness. ;D ;D ;D(just in case I offend ::))
The ignore button has been pushed. ;D ;D ;D
To paraphrase Corporal Jones
Quotethey dont like it up 'em
Run rabbit.