Here are some reminders to keep the forum working smoothly:
1.
Post a descriptive subject. "A question" or "Problem" is not helpful. If you want to get the best audience for your posting, a descriptive subject like "Problem with Ants" or "Building a Tokonoma" will help. Try to distill the question or subject into a few choice words.
2.
Post a new topic only once. Don't post the same question or comment repeatedly. Learn how to make an attachment (see the Test area) before you post to the public areas.
3.
Put your post in the appropriate place. Questions about propagation should go in the propagation folder. Questions about pots in the pots folder.
4.
Do a little research on your question. Many basic questions have already been answered. With a little research you may discover not only the answer to your question, but some directions to go from there:
- If you see a word you don't recognize, try double clicking it for a definition from the bonsaiTALK Wiki
- You can search the forum by typing a few keywords into the box that appears when you click SEARCH above.
- Look in the Beginner, bonsaiTALK FAQ and try browsing the category forum that most closely matches the topic of your query.
- bonsaiTALK Links at http://www.bonsaitalk.com/links is another good resource that is searchable and grouped by category.
5.
Be polite in your dealings with people on the forum and there is a good chance they will be polite to you. Remember that there is another person on the other end of the computer screen. Discussion, disagreement and and debate are tolerated and even encouraged, but be sure to keep the discussion relative to the words that were posted and leave the people and personalities out of it. Keep the debate about the science, art, practice and technique of bonsai.
6.
A few of the forums are special.
- The Area 51 Test forum is available for testing posts, attachments and polls.
- Check the description areas on the forum index to get the details on a specific forum. Some are archive areas, others have articles or topics that may interest you.
- The Ask The Master section is for critique, first by Walter Pall, of show quality trees. Don't post introductory material there. Use the Show & Tell section instead. Remember that Walter has the right of first response to the posts made in the Ask The Master section, and know in advance that it will be a "brutally honest" evaluation!
- The Gallery "forums" are actually links to the bonsaiTALK Gallery, which is a separate area for the posting of show quality trees. Trees posted to the bonsaiTALK Gallery should be show quality, planted in bonsai pots and photographed in front of uncluttered backgrounds. Post only one photo of the tree in the bonsaiTALK Gallery.
Thank you for adhering to these guidelines.
Regards,
Matt