CLOSED: Bonsai, Ego, and Superego

bonsaikc

I have been less than active here the last few months, mostly because I am travelling so much, so busy these days that leisure time is hard to come by. However, I am also finding my enthusiasm dampened for this activity (foruming, to verb a noun--Calvin said that "Verbing wierds words.") by the inside-out nature of controversy here and in other forums.

I am all for setting forth a position of some controversy or some previously untested hypothesis. I get excited when I see something new or different, because it always makes me test my own ideas to see if they are just preconceptions or if they are solidly based. I try to test every new idea in the light of what I know, logic, and those that I consider an authority in an area.

But it amazes me the Superego that I see all over the internet bonsai community. There are one or two, maybe more, who see themselves as bonsai mages who must stake out their territory.

I left any significant participation in the first forum I was involved with, Gardenweb Bonsai Forum, for just such a reason. If one disagreed or disputed any point of instruction by the One who saw it as their personal fiefdom, beware the wrath and the immediate blasting of repeateds, "Let's see your trees! Let's see your trees!"

So I came to BonsaiTALK where I found cameraderie and spirit, some folks who were noobs and some who were established, and it was good. Then I noticed the One had found it too, but was more muted in a larger pond. Along came the Bombast, with an appropriate Screen Name, lobbing bombs everywhere. The Bombast had a "change of heart" and for a time was the Learner with Openness. Soon, far too soon, the Learner with Openness was now the Bombast with Google, who had met in slowtime with the One and become his Acolyte. Suddenly, there was one exception to the "Let's see your trees! Let's see your trees!" rule.

So the Bombast with Google showed his true nature to everyone by gaming an innocent system in several ways, bullying people here and elsewhere, and lying about it. He was banned more than once from here and other places, so set up his own forum with appropriately decorous rules.

Now we find him back in another guise trying the same thing here and elsewhere, and the people who call him on it are being harassed. I find that comical in the extreme.

I am very tired of all of this. Guess I will have to either go away or get more involved in the whole thing and try to make it better. Hope I have the energy.

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Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

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pootsie

Oh, cripes, Chris, not you, too.

Why does everyone have to say they are leaving. UGH!

Please don't, Chris. There is plenty here about soil, trees, wiring, display. Plenty of goodwill and good advice. Just ignore that crud, as we must in everyday life. The good stuff is here. Don't deprive us of your participation in the good, just because you don't want the yuck on your shoes. Don't feed the superego.

BTW, you make a very good point. Now show us your trees
Or look at mine, or the other members' trees.

pootsie

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p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

BrianBay9

Nice to see you back!

In a place like this there is always going to be one or two knuckleheads. For a while, I was a self-appointed defender of my version of sanity, but eventually stopped having fun because of it. So my friend, I suggest a third option....stay and have fun, ignore the vast majority of the loonie behavior by a very few, and challenge only that which you find important.

Cheers
Brian

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There's a difference between taking your art seriously, and taking yourself too seriously.

bonsaikc

Don't worry, I ain't goin' nowhere.

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Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

Alasdair

I got around this by buying some wellies, every now and again the waders come out but i just end up laughing in the face of yuck. Hahahahaha!

I normally try to steer clear of heated arguments, i mean debates, and will only get involved if i feel passionatly on the subject.

Al

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I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on...
Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth

John Dixon

Chris,

Please do NOT leave BT. I enjoy your posts and while I may not agree with all your positions, I do respect you.

Trust me when I say that I have difficulties with some other personalities. Still, there is much to be shared and enjoyed here and, dare I say it, at AoB as well.

Take the good with the bad, my friend. We would be the lesser without you.

Take care,

John

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John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.

Joanie

There are so many fantastic people here, so much to be commended. If you see a thread that you don't want to read, just move on.... it's easy to do. Everyone has had annoying neighbors, or co-workers, or friends of friends. Giving in, giving up, or going away just let them win. A forum is the sum of its members, and when you increase your participation, you dilute the effect of the annoying ones.

Joanie

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waltr

Yes, please don't leave. There are posts/discussions I don't like the tone of. I find the best thing to do is completly ignore them. Without attention they go away.
walt

bonsaikc

Chill, everyone, reread the last few lines of the post. I am not taking my marbles elsewhere, but I AM going to quit holding my tongue. That's what these folks are counting on.

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Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com