Bonsai Misconceptions - bonsaiTALK Community

11-Oct-2004	#1
aaguilar bonsaiTALK Expert Join Date: Jun-2002 Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco Country: México Posts: 164	Bonsai Misconceptions Hello I have decided to make a research about bonsai misconceptions. At what degree people think that bonsai is a phenomenom and we make trees sufer. I would like to hear (read) your opinions. __________________ Shibui

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12-Oct-2004	#2
jloeschner Archbonsaist in training Join Date: Aug-2004 Location: Marianna Country: United States USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: 8 Posts: 479	Trees suffer? Wow, that is a new concept (not!) I personally believe that bonsai suffer less than the average suburban lawn. Of course, that is assuming that plants can suffer in the sense that animals suffer, which I don't believe. Plants do not have brains or nervous systems. They don't scream in agony when they are cut. They don't pout and cry or swear when we clip them. How could one determine that a plant "feels" in the same sense as animals? It makes no sense to me. John __________________ Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. QUI ME AMAT, AMAT ET CANEM MEAM

12-Oct-2004	#3
Will_Heath BANNED Join Date: Apr-2004 Location: Clinton Township, MI Country: USA USDA Zone: 6 MI AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 4,227	You may want to click here and read what has already been hashed out on this subject. Will

13-Oct-2004

mkonig

I stand and stare a lot

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jloeschner

Trees suffer? Wow, that is a new concept (not!) I personally believe that bonsai suffer less than the average suburban lawn. Of course, that is assuming that plants can suffer in the sense that animals suffer, which I don't believe. Plants do not have brains or nervous systems. They don't scream in agony when they are cut. They don't pout and cry or swear when we clip them. How could one determine that a plant "feels" in the same sense as animals? It makes no sense to me.

John

Hi John
I agree with your comment that bonsai are (usually) well cared for, but Trees do suffer! Neglegt and lack of horticultural knowledge causes distress and the tree will express this. Not in the way an animal would and certainly no screams. Their suffering is expressed alot more subtely. Misshapen and discoloured leaves, limbs dying off, rotting roots, etc.

Regards
Mike

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I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person

13-Oct-2004	#5
Attila Attila Soos Join Date: Jan-2002 Location: Los Angeles, California Country: USA Posts: 1,986	So the question becomes, how do we define the concept of suffering.

13-Oct-2004	#6
Will_Heath BANNED Join Date: Apr-2004 Location: Clinton Township, MI Country: USA USDA Zone: 6 MI AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 4,227	In the original thread that I linked to above the word cruelty was defined as causing pain and pain was defined as impulses sent throughout the nerve endings and translated by the brain. Plants neither have nerves or a brain, therefore no pain and then by logical process...no cruelty. Will

13-Oct-2004	#7
saint bonsaiTALK Expert Join Date: Dec-2002 Country: Barbados USDA Zone: Tropical AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 152	Apart from the suffering opinion which has been beaten to death elsewhere on this forum here are a few common misconceptions. 1. Bonsai are a particular species of tree (often fed by the bonsai seeds that you can buy) 2. Those fake jade trees that you can buy are bonsai. 3. Bonsai make great centrepeices for the dining table. 4. Bonsai are actually starved to make them small. Anyone heard any others? __________________ Best Regards, Leslie St. John Barbados West Indies Remember: Opinions are like bellybuttons, everyone's got one

13-Oct-2004	#8
aaguilar bonsaiTALK Expert Join Date: Jun-2002 Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco Country: México Posts: 164	interesting Fristly we need to determine if plants feel, I think I've read about some experimet with some plants and electrodes and how some sensor changed while they've being pruned or watered. I will try to find this information certainly, but I agree that bonsai is not cruel for trees. __________________ Shibui

13-Oct-2004	#9
RonMartin(deceased) Bonsai nare-do-well Join Date: Jan-2003 Location: Summerville SC Country: USA USDA Zone: 8A AHS Heat Zone: 8 Posts: 4,653	Guess I am of a different persuasion. I really don't care if the little suckers feel pain. I like hurting them. Whacking off a branch and or topping out a tree makes me go weak in the knees. Ripping up roots make me feel powerful. I love it. Neat stuff . Does this make me a bad person Do I now have to go and set in the corner till I change my ways. I don't care. My dogs are well trained in the art of tree humiliation. You will never take me alive. I'm packing a woodpecker and a gallon of Roundup.

13-Oct-2004

#10

jloeschner

Archbonsaist in training

Join Date: Aug-2004

Location: Marianna

Country: United States

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Posts: 479

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Martin

Guess I am of a different persuasion. I really don't care if the little suckers feel pain. I like hurting them. Whacking off a branch and or topping out a tree makes me go weak in the knees. Ripping up roots make me feel powerful. I love it. Neat stuff .
Does this make me a bad person Do I now have to go and set in the corner till I change my ways.
I don't care. My dogs are well trained in the art of tree humiliation.
You will never take me alive. I'm packing a woodpecker and a gallon of Roundup.

A whole new way to approach bonsai...Sadi-sai! Take all of your frustrations out on the trees! YEAH! I think I have finally found my "school" of bonsai.

Thanks, Ron!

Regards,
John

__________________
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.

QUI ME AMAT, AMAT ET CANEM MEAM

Last edited by jloeschner : 13-Oct-2004 at 11:26 PM.

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