bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - What is Bonsai Ability Level?

I propose instead that we use the Popeye scale. There's exactly one ranking:

I ams what I am.

Why rank people? Why say I'm a three, you're a seven, he's a four? Why assume that bonsai knowledge and ability is anything close to one single axis? There are so many axes. Some people are incredible horticulturalists; others have an amazing artistic eye but can't even root a willow cutting. Some have wonderful trees but don't teach well; others know a great deal and have read widely and make terrific suggestions but for one reason or another (often financial) they have yet to acquire many trees of any significant quality.

The only reason I can see for having ranks on here is so that people can know what to make of the advice that they are given. I don't know that ranks help, though. If I keep my shut when I don't know what I'm talking about, my advice when I do give it is worth more, whatever my rank, than if I go off to try to impress everyone
every chance I get, making stuff up if need be.

Much better to just be honest about the advice we give, in the following way:

Explain any advice that you post.

If you're gonig to tell someone to plant their new pine in pure akadama, explain why:

I think that you should plant your new pine in pure akadama because:

That's what I've been doing with my pines for 24 years, and I find that it works better than soil mixes with more organics because....etc., etc. Or
That's what a respected club member told me to do three years ago, and I've done it with my two whites pines, and they've both done great. Or
That's what it says to do for pines in X's book, which I consider to have the best horticultural advice of the 11 books I own. Or
I planted three maples in pure akadama this spring and they love it so pines should too. Or
I think I remember Matt saying something about akadama and I though I don't really know what it is, Matt's cool and besides, akadama is a cool Japanese word that's fun to say aloud.

Do that, and then we don't need ranks. The reader knows exactly what they're getting when they're getting advice.

What do you think?

-Old Mister

---

All that said, Jay, I admire your honesty and your efforts to not appear to be more or less than you are.

Anyone who would rather be honest than impress me ends up doing both.

6-Aug-2002	#5
Carl_Bergstrom Old Mister Crow Join Date: May-2002 Location: Seattle, WA. Country: USA USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 2 Posts: 3,197	I propose instead that we use the Popeye scale. There's exactly one ranking: I ams what I am. Why rank people? Why say I'm a three, you're a seven, he's a four? Why assume that bonsai knowledge and ability is anything close to one single axis? There are so many axes. Some people are incredible horticulturalists; others have an amazing artistic eye but can't even root a willow cutting. Some have wonderful trees but don't teach well; others know a great deal and have read widely and make terrific suggestions but for one reason or another (often financial) they have yet to acquire many trees of any significant quality. The only reason I can see for having ranks on here is so that people can know what to make of the advice that they are given. I don't know that ranks help, though. If I keep my shut when I don't know what I'm talking about, my advice when I do give it is worth more, whatever my rank, than if I go off to try to impress everyone every chance I get, making stuff up if need be. Much better to just be honest about the advice we give, in the following way: Explain any advice that you post. If you're gonig to tell someone to plant their new pine in pure akadama, explain why: I think that you should plant your new pine in pure akadama because: That's what I've been doing with my pines for 24 years, and I find that it works better than soil mixes with more organics because....etc., etc. Or That's what a respected club member told me to do three years ago, and I've done it with my two whites pines, and they've both done great. Or That's what it says to do for pines in X's book, which I consider to have the best horticultural advice of the 11 books I own. Or I planted three maples in pure akadama this spring and they love it so pines should too. Or I think I remember Matt saying something about akadama and I though I don't really know what it is, Matt's cool and besides, akadama is a cool Japanese word that's fun to say aloud. Do that, and then we don't need ranks. The reader knows exactly what they're getting when they're getting advice. What do you think? -Old Mister --- All that said, Jay, I admire your honesty and your efforts to not appear to be more or less than you are. Anyone who would rather be honest than impress me ends up doing both. __________________ In love with trees