Ignore lists and olive branches

M. Frary

M. Frary

Bonsai Godzilla
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I've been doing some thinking. Not always a good thing but I believe it is this time.
Everybody here came for the bonsai and everything that goes with it. At least I hope so.
I love all of the interplay about trees,pots and everything else.
What I don't love is the way some of us have been acting. Mainly me.
I come here for unity and a sense of belonging to something much larger. What I've been doing is treating some members here as just words on a screen and have forgotten that they are people too. People who also love bonsai.
There is so much division in our world today and we've let it into a hobby that's supposed to relax and bring people together. At least it should be.
That all being said I would like to extend an olive branch and apologies to all and any I've offended or been a dick to. I'm one for sure but there is no call for me to be one all of the time.
I think that we as a group are all better than this. The bickering and name calling about the politics and religion aren't really bonsai.
We should be United. I don't care if you are a liberal a conservative a Muslim black or white. We all have one thing in common.
Little trees in expensive pottery. Wire,pines,elms,maples,pots,styles.
We skirmish about that stuff and it's what were here for.
So I'm out of all political threads and hope other people feel this way too.
I've cleared my ignore list so I can enjoy everyone's opinion on bonsai.
I'm hoping others do the same so we can a get together and not be divided.
Respond or not.
I love you all and hope we can all make this place about the trees.
 
^^^good guy^^^

unfortunately politics are spreading through every part of our lives and its a shame - tv, nfl, social media and even bonsai forums - its hard to get away from the political topics anymore.

you're right - we should focus on what brings us together and not how we differ.
 
watchndsky said:
^^^good guy^^^

unfortunately politics are spreading through every part of our lives and its a shame - tv, nfl, social media and even bonsai forums - its hard to get away from the political topics anymore.

you're right - we should focus on what brings us together and not how we differ.
Click to expand...
I'm going to give it my all. In a of my endeavors from here on out.
 
We don't always see eye to eye...but I can say you are onto something.

Thanks @Carol 83 for bringing this thread to light.

You are off my ignore list Mike. What you typed couldn't have come easy... But...I'm sorry some have made repeat times...will stay there. (I cleared it awhile back...other than the troll who was very nasty toward me. Some made the list twice. They most likely will stay. Because I don't do with ones disrespecting my God. Don't believe in him...that's fine. But don't dig at me knowing it will bug me by disrespecting my religious beliefs. I don't come here for that.)
 
Kudos! I agree that this site should be about bonsai and bonsai only. I just don't click on obviousy political or controversial threads. I've been in the retail business for almost 50 years so I get enough bad behavior from the public to last a lifetime.
As I recall the teahouse was created to replace a cesspool of a forum but has now become much the same. I agree that politics and religion have no place on this website.
A forum for off - topic threads is fine and sometimes fun, but all political and religious posts must be banned.
You were never on my ignore list, Mike. I think the only one on my list now is that guy from Florida,
 
I've popped in on some of the more popular political threads once or twice out of curiosity and been absolutely appalled at the behavior and apparent beliefs I saw there of people whom I otherwise respected and had productive interaction with in the other parts of the bulletin board.

So, I don't look at those threads anymore. Ever. It's irrelevant to my bonsai experience which is why I am here.

And for the record, I don't have and don't intend to have an ignore list.
 
Nah. I like the arguing and bickering; when its in the right place. I dont get involved much, mostly because the people dominating the conversation are poor debaters. But I do read the posts and they often get me thinking about different points of view.
I really miss the karaoke bar. Now there were some great rants on there.
If you feel like you've been a dick M, change your behaviour, recognition of a problem is the first step in correcting it.
 
I also feel that we all should agree that politics and religion should not be discussed here.
These days, those conversations just bring too much division and serve only to separate us which is a bad thing for a forum that is meant to bring people with a common passion or addiction :D for tiny trees in pots together.
 
Not discussing these things, Religion and Douchbags, is just as bad as not standing up for yourself, like Vance says about putting people on ignore, don't cower away.

Tension in our souls leads to better tension in our trees.

It can remain intense and not become hateful.

Mike....
I was happy as hell when I saw you talking nice to KiwiPlantGuy on the spruce thread!

What are we, cats?
We gotta lock the door to the good couch on ourselves?

Grow up!

63pmp said:
he people dominating the conversation are poor debaters
Click to expand...

Lol!

PaulH said:
that guy from Florida
Click to expand...

Lolol!

Forcefully jamming opinions down someone's throat while fully in tears over it is not even a debate!

Good bye (@Generic User ) So long! (@sam)

Don't let the lawnmower cut you in the Sawgrass on your way out!

Cedar Apple Rustass....

Sorce
 
Dear Uncle Gogeerah,

when were you ever bad ------------- sheds a tear :( -------------- don't change too much.:confused:
Some one has to teach me how to use 60.60.60.:eek:
[ By the way Orchids are supposed to be super efficient as nutrient gathering goes ------
so what do they need 30 N for ? ------ need Leo here. ]

Well I am just happy to chat with you [ see time for Topics and me typing here for visual
proof ].
Your pal.
Mothy

* hey lets do Tokyo this evening , should be a blast !!:cool::D:D
 
Mike, I never thought you were a dick. Anyone who loves bonsai, fishing and dogs is alright in my book (even if you don't fish in the proper way ;)).
 
No idea what happened Mike I don't read every post on here so I must have missed it. But you're a good guy in my book that's for sure.

I've got to where I very rarely read any political posts nor reply. Sometimes I do but not very often. I started reading the Las Vegas thread this morning but once it turned anti gun talk I stopped reading it because I know where that road leads with my views.

Really (and this is just my opinion) I don't think political/religious posts should even be allowed on this or any non-political forum. Mainly because those two topics are two things that normally people have instilled in them from a young age, so when you start telling people they are wrong for what they feel/believe, your basically telling them they were raised wrong and their parents were wrong. Then add into the mix it's for lack of a better term a complete stranger(someone on a website they have never meet) telling them that, and things get escalated rather quickly.

Just my opinion about the no political posts idea, but I will say this... I run a forum with over 50,000 registered members (flytyingforum.com) and we've been online for 16 yrs now. After 2 years online I made a "no political/religious post" rule, and it was probably the best thing I ever did for that website.
 
Steve C said:
Just my opinion about the no political posts idea, but I will say this... I run a forum with over 50,000 registered members (flytyingforum.com) and we've been online for 16 yrs now. After 2 years online I made a "no political/religious post" rule, and it was probably the best thing I ever did for that website.
Click to expand...
Maybe you'd be interested in starting a bonsai forum...
 
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