Joanie

There are two options open to the AoB staff. Either option would have helped.

They could have removed the photo of a tree CURRENTLY IN THE CONTEST and replaced it with an example of a multi-owner tree that is NOT in the contest.

Or, they could have pulled the thread until after the contest. Then it wouldn't have mattered if the tree was in the contest, everything would have been finished.

These options needed to be implemented as soon as questions arose about having the tree as an illustration for the article. If the tree remains as an illustration, then posts concerning the legitimacy of using it in this way should be left in place.

"Will bashing" happens because Will wrote the article and used a tree from the ongoing contest to illustrate it. His choices were what precipitated the crisis. I sincerely hope that some day, some day soon, people who are in positions of responsibility will understand the blows to their credibility for allowing this stuff to happen over and over again. This isn't the first time, nor will it be the last.
Joanie

__________________