To argue, could you put your best foot forward to post?

[Smoke]

What if there was a bonsai forum that anyone could join, but to post you had to post a picture of your best tree, or as many as you have with each post?

So when you go telling the next guy what he has done wrong or how they should be doing it, at least the one getting pounded on has a nice portfolio of all the posters trees so he can evaluate whether they are someone to listen to, or just someone to put on ignore, which is pretty much how I do it now.

The old IBC used to have a very strict photo policy. The new IBC does not have this anymore.

Wouldn't it be refreshing if someone posted something that they think you could do to improve your tree and they had to not only provide a picture of their own work, so you could evaluate their knowledge level, but also had to provide pictures of the work they are asking you to do, how it worked on their trees. I mean if you want someone else to do the work, at least show me you know what the hell your talking about.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

It's a great idea to include photographs or posts to support replies or advice, and even better for the recipient who now gets to discern which advice has the best chance of leading him/her to an outcome they want.

I also check out others' work and efforts to determine if it's worth the trouble to engage. If someone can't be bothered to do a little homework on their own, or can't seem to advance, I have a hard time getting invested. For better or worse, someone always seems willing to jump in. Peter Warren said something in my back yard that I will never forget: "Some people practice bonsai for 30 years, and others practice it one year, 30 times over."

 

[amcoffeegirl]

@M. Frary
What where you saying just the other day?
Smoke is back.

 

[Paradox]

Yea the pissing matches around here get old sometimes.
I agree its hard to take the word of someone that spouts things then refuses to show any of their own work to back up their statements.

 

[Smoke]

Yea the pissing matches around here get old sometimes.
I agree its hard to take the word of someone that spouts things then refuses to show any of their own work to back up their statements.

View attachment 142718

Thank you for that picture.

 

[Smoke]

@M. Frary
What where you saying just the other day?
Smoke is back.

Don't let that get out. Smokes never gone, just damn busy. Bidding on scrolls as we speak.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I don't have many trees to post with every post I make.
They will get tired of seeing the same pics. I do understand if I'm giving advice though. I should be able to show my work.
i will need to buy more material.

 

[MichaelS]

If you can't discern good practical advice by the way it's written,

What if there was a bonsai forum that anyone could join, but to post you had to post a picture of your best tree, or as many as you have with each post?

So when you go telling the next guy what he has done wrong or how they should be doing it, at least the one getting pounded on has a nice portfolio of all the posters trees so he can evaluate whether they are someone to listen to, or just someone to put on ignore, which is pretty much how I do it now.

The old IBC used to have a very strict photo policy. The new IBC does not have this anymore.

Wouldn't it be refreshing if someone posted something that they think you could do to improve your tree and they had to not only provide a picture of their own work, so you could evaluate their knowledge level, but also had to provide pictures of the work they are asking you to do, how it worked on their trees. I mean if you want someone else to do the work, at least show me you know what the hell your talking about.

You tempt me! But...a waste of time I think.

 

[Smoke]

i will need to buy more material.

Priceless......

 

[Smoke]

It's a great idea to include photographs or posts to support replies or advice, and even better for the recipient who now gets to discern which advice has the best chance of leading him/her to an outcome they want.

I also check out others' work and efforts to determine if it's worth the trouble to engage. If someone can't be bothered to do a little homework on their own, or can't seem to advance, I have a hard time getting invested. For better or worse, someone always seems willing to jump in. Peter Warren said something in my back yard that I will never forget: "Some people practice bonsai for 30 years, and others practice it one year, 30 times over."

View attachment 142715

Thank You for the picture also

 

[A. Gorilla]

As an aside, the productive arguments here and anywhere are sometimes really productive and I get pretty engrossed.

The two combatants might not realize it, but it could be bringing out the best of one or both for others to consider and digest.

I hope this place is never a hug box. That's what reddit is and the fruits of that approach is exactly what you'd expect a fully non-competitive, non-judgemental venue would produce. Soviet bread lines. 1 stick in a pot after another. There is no difference between the ceiling and the floor.

Requiring pictures seems micro-managy, but I like the spirit it is derived from.

 

[grouper52]

What if there was a bonsai forum that anyone could join, but to post you had to post a picture of your best tree, or as many as you have with each post?

So when you go telling the next guy what he has done wrong or how they should be doing it, at least the one getting pounded on has a nice portfolio of all the posters trees so he can evaluate whether they are someone to listen to, or just someone to put on ignore, which is pretty much how I do it now.

The old IBC used to have a very strict photo policy. The new IBC does not have this anymore.

Wouldn't it be refreshing if someone posted something that they think you could do to improve your tree and they had to not only provide a picture of their own work, so you could evaluate their knowledge level, but also had to provide pictures of the work they are asking you to do, how it worked on their trees. I mean if you want someone else to do the work, at least show me you know what the hell your talking about.

Don't let that get out. Smokes never gone, just damn busy. Bidding on scrolls as we speak.

Not very egalitarian of you, Al, you old fossil, you old fuddy-duddy elitist devil, you. A great idea? Perhaps, but just not very egalitarian, not very sensitive, not very cool. What century were you born in?

Perhaps the purpose could be easliy served by having folks make a gallery of their best trees, and every time they post anything a link to that gallery appears beside their name. Unless you have such a link, you can only start a thread with a question, not join in to post advice. No linky, no posty. Seems easy to do.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Requiring pictures seems micro-managy, but I like the spirit it is derived from.

That.

Even though my personal stock would lose in many of a pissing match, and by comparison would win by miles over my poor photography skills and/or apparatus, I'd like to think that my input, requisited by the sheer number of hours contemplating the "principles of growth" and the effects of various strategies of "clip and grow," is occasionally appreciated regardless.
In the spirit in which it was proffered and recieved, I'll post a not real recent, poor quality picture of one of my better trees that is still very much in development.

 

[Smoke]

This was a whim folks, a thought...... wouldn't it be nice...... kind a thing.

I don't expect anyone to post a picture nor is any required to engage in this thread. I just think and hope that people could understand that ones opinion is only as good as the last best tree they made.

For me, to keep from being in a pissing match I prefer to use the ignore function. Others it seems, just like to argue and they are always right. A little less bluster and a lot more humble works wonders here.

 

[Smoke]

Not very egalitarian of you, Al, you old fossil, you old fuddy-duddy elitist devil, you. A great idea? Perhaps, but just not very egalitarian, not very sensitive, not very cool. What century were you born in?

Perhaps the purpose could be easliy served by having folks make a gallery of their best trees, and every time they post anything a link to that gallery appears beside their name. Unless you have such a link, you can only start a thread with a question, not join in to post advice. No linky, no posty. Seems easy to do.

In this made up, fairy tell discussion forum I made, no one is banned from posting. Nothing would be any different than it is currently. Everyone would still piss and moan, every one would still argue, except that each time you add some more juvenile chatter it would be accompanied with a picture of your probably crappy tree. That person would just look that much stupider. I have half a dozen people out of 25 or so on ignore that have never posted a tree ever on this forum. They would argue to the death, were rude, and added nothing but hate a discontent. Ignore works.

If one never has to post any work, they are a master.

Fake news has made it to bonsai folks!

 

[justBonsai]

Not sure if I have a best. All my trees are pre bonsai projects many years from being "finished". This is a trident maple that was one of the first trees I purchased 3.5 years ago. All I've done is select primary branching, let it grow in ground, and set overall direction of trunk. I have begun building branches this year.

Here is my favorite tree. Coast live oak I've done a lot of work on.

 

[Shima]

Peter Warren said something in my back yard that I will never forget:

The quiet giant IMHO.

 

[MichaelS]

Peter Warren said something in my back yard that I will never forget: "Some people practice bonsai for 30 years, and others practice it one year, 30 times over."

What was the context Brian?

Practicing 30 years and still don't have a clue? ( I know people like that )
Practicing on one tree 30 times over one year and stuffing it up completely? ( I know people like that )
Practicing 30 years and gaining a wealth of knowledge? ( I know people like that )
Practicing on 30 trees in one year and doing a great job with all of them? ( I know people like that )
Only having practiced for one year and destroying 30 trees? ( I know those types too )

 

[herzausstahl]

What if there was a bonsai forum that anyone could join, but to post you had to post a picture of your best tree, or as many as you have with each post?

So when you go telling the next guy what he has done wrong or how they should be doing it, at least the one getting pounded on has a nice portfolio of all the posters trees so he can evaluate whether they are someone to listen to, or just someone to put on ignore, which is pretty much how I do it now.

The old IBC used to have a very strict photo policy. The new IBC does not have this anymore.

Wouldn't it be refreshing if someone posted something that they think you could do to improve your tree and they had to not only provide a picture of their own work, so you could evaluate their knowledge level, but also had to provide pictures of the work they are asking you to do, how it worked on their trees. I mean if you want someone else to do the work, at least show me you know what the hell your talking about.

I thought this was determined by the height of the waders you were required to wear while reading said post? lol This is why I ask questions instead of offer advice at this point, one I have, one I don't but I sure as hell won't pretend I do. That said, I think to this point I've had a fairly easy time deciphering who to listen to and who to politely not reply too when listening to advice (I don't have anyone on ignore, I just don't read threads started by them, this is an online forum, I have hair longer than a lot of women, listen to metal, have a college degree, voted conservative ever since I could, and worked closely with my immediate family for the last 23 years at our families restaurant ,and been my wife's boss the last 14 who has worked with her in-laws that whole time, your not gonna get to me on here, lol). I've also accepted there are quite a few accomplished members here who may not always see eye to eye but instead remind me the world is mostly gray (possibly like an old Jedi in an upcoming film), not so black and white. All this said, @Smoke for me you've shown time and again why I should listen to your advice, along with @Brian Van Fleet , @Vance Wood , @Adair M , @crust , @johng , @october, @sawgrass, @Bonsai Nut and @grouper52 to name a few. There are others I've left out but any knowledgeable member is worth their weight in gold for those willing to listen, no matter how many young snot nose upstarts piss you off with their baseless, treeless post. To be honest, when you guys argue and disagree are sometimes when I can learn the most as I get 2 well informed sides to the same argument. I'm not one to blow smoke up anyone's arse, I just call it like I see it and appreciate talent when I recognize it. I'll post a tree when I have something worth posting, nothing at this point, that's why all my pictures of them are asking for advice on what to do. Why I love this forum, the informed knowledge on here is worth way more than in any of the dozen books I own on the subject.

 

[just.wing.it]

Absolutely.
Well said, sir.
@herzausstahl