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"What father, when his child asks him for bread, will hand his child a stone?"

Oh puhleeze.

I've had my share of children slug me in the head and demand that bread. Besides, I ain't their daddy

I've been called a few names here and other places for simply offering a sober assessement of a situation. I've been challenged by people who have little, or no, experience, on issues I've been dealing with for years, from overwintering to how to collect and other stuff. I have offered advice both respectfully and forcefully. Have had some of the same bad reactions to each way.

I don't mind being challenged, in fact, I welcome it. I've had great discussions with folks here who have challenged me. They challenged me forearmed with some knowledge going in, however. They did some basic reasearch and had some grasp of what they were talking about BEFORE they poked me in the side

.

Beginners, at least some of them, want to have their cake and eat it too. Some actually DEMAND help and get in a snit if their questions aren't answered within a few days--even if they do have access to the Internet and the vast amounts of information it offers. There are endless permutations to the ways some questioners react badly or simply refuse to believe what they're being told.

I am in no way saying don't do things for yourself. THat's one of the best ways to learn. I learned that way to some extent. Comes a time when you simply have to dig that tree up and stop talking about it.

However, don't do perform some strange procedure based on something you've heard rumors about or read in a book and THEN ask here if it's OK, if you did it right, or if it will work. It may not be OK. You may have killed the tree...Don't blame the messenger. Also don't get upset if your plant kicks off prematurely because you're watering it to death, or you get shot at collecting where you're not supposed to, or if you're keeping your Black Olive like a plain olive, or your serissa is actually a ficus....

OK, so now's when I get called an elitist jerk, or a bonsai demigod, or a self-righteous know it all right?

Knock yerself out

I have a very thick head and hide.

2-Mar-2007	#15
rockm bonsaiTALK ArchMaster Join Date: Oct-2003 Location: Fairfax, Va Country: USA USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 4,561	"What father, when his child asks him for bread, will hand his child a stone?" Oh puhleeze. I've had my share of children slug me in the head and demand that bread. Besides, I ain't their daddy I've been called a few names here and other places for simply offering a sober assessement of a situation. I've been challenged by people who have little, or no, experience, on issues I've been dealing with for years, from overwintering to how to collect and other stuff. I have offered advice both respectfully and forcefully. Have had some of the same bad reactions to each way. I don't mind being challenged, in fact, I welcome it. I've had great discussions with folks here who have challenged me. They challenged me forearmed with some knowledge going in, however. They did some basic reasearch and had some grasp of what they were talking about BEFORE they poked me in the side . Beginners, at least some of them, want to have their cake and eat it too. Some actually DEMAND help and get in a snit if their questions aren't answered within a few days--even if they do have access to the Internet and the vast amounts of information it offers. There are endless permutations to the ways some questioners react badly or simply refuse to believe what they're being told. I am in no way saying don't do things for yourself. THat's one of the best ways to learn. I learned that way to some extent. Comes a time when you simply have to dig that tree up and stop talking about it. However, don't do perform some strange procedure based on something you've heard rumors about or read in a book and THEN ask here if it's OK, if you did it right, or if it will work. It may not be OK. You may have killed the tree...Don't blame the messenger. Also don't get upset if your plant kicks off prematurely because you're watering it to death, or you get shot at collecting where you're not supposed to, or if you're keeping your Black Olive like a plain olive, or your serissa is actually a ficus.... OK, so now's when I get called an elitist jerk, or a bonsai demigod, or a self-righteous know it all right? Knock yerself out I have a very thick head and hide.