The Ask The Master Forum will be CHANGING FORMAT

Walter_Pall

Due to several reasons I can not and will not answer to this forum anymore.
I have too much to do at home and I am travelling more than three months per year. I just don't have the time anymore.

Time is not something that one has, it is something that someone makes available. So why do I not want to make the time available anymore?

Bottom line this does not give me much pleasure anymore. It is more of a burden by now.

This was meant to be a free service for the bonsai community. An opportunity to learn on specific examples. The specific examples are clearly specified in the 'how it works' section.

History has shown that most people never read the 'how it works' section. even worse, that some who read it just don't understand it. That too many did not give it too much thought of what to post here and what not. That the minimum standards of a decent bonsai picture are widely not understood. That any attempt from my side to make it clear that this is a master-student sutuation here was seen as arrogance as I understand from many remarks. That too many seemed to be hurt by myself not applauding their efforts. That it was not understood that I offer a service for free that is worth about 50 to 100 US$ and that I spend about half an hour doing this. That I expect a similar amount of effort from the other side. That people have actually called me jerk-face in other forums several times (for my clear remarks here)and moderators of other forums did not find it necessary to erase those posts becaue apparently they thought it was a proper definition of my character. That exactly this ATM forum here was badmouthed several times on a few forums. That my reputation in the bonsai world got much worse rather than better because of this forum. Because too many don't understand that this section is all about calling a spade a spade; otherwise it would really be a waste of time and effort. That people mistake my master-student style here for my general style to deal with people. That I was told a couple of times that I have NOT been invited to do a lecture at a club or convention because some people felt it was inappropriate to invite such a rude person.

So bottom line this here has hurt my image more than it has helped. And I am just too lazy a person to do what I don't like to do if I don't have to do it. Has somebody ever questioned my personal motivation to do this here?

I give up to the tsunami wave of ignorance and will only post whenever I feel like. This is my last message here on this forum.

__________________
best regards
Walter Pall
http://walter-pall.de
I don't design bonsai, I design trees.
Tradition is not the custody of ashes but the propagation of fire.
NEW: The endless bonsai diary
http://walter-pall-bonsai.blogspot.com/

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ChosenOfRa

thank you. its been a pleasure.your knowledge is exquisite.

BonsaiMon

It is indeed a sad day in Mudville..
There are many of us here who have enjoyed the threads in ATM.


peace,
tom stoute

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peace,
tom stoute

http://bonsaiinsights.spaces.live.com/

mkonig

A sad loss for all on this forum and anyone interested in bonsai in general.

I hope that we can all learn from this and give recognized bonsai masters the room and freedom to express their opinion in the way they are used to.
If you ask a question or opinion, be ready to receive an honest reply not a pat on the head.

Mike

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

jarrydbonsai

walter i have learned much from your post and have a great deal of respect for you. i am sad to see you go but i agree with you 100 percent in what you have written above, why should you stay after such remarks have been written. i hope to still see you post on other forums as i have much joy in seeing and learning from your great knowledge of the art of bonsai.

kind regards jarryd bailey

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the collections always growing!!!!

Jay

Walter,
THANK YOU!

I have learned a great deal from your efforts on this forum. I always thought it to be a great privilage to be able to ask your opinion of a tree and therefore limited the times I did so. In the back of my mind I always knew it was not going to last forever and think we were extremely lucky to have had this forum for as long as we did.

Hopefully you will continue to participate in the other sections of this board as time permits you and the topic interests you.

thanks for all the 'true' Ask the Master replies

Jay

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TreeBay

Thank you for contributing as you did, Walter. I agree 100% that if an activity isn't worthwhile, if it is not enjoyable, rewarding or personally meaningful, then it isn't worth doing, particularly if it presents any danger to your reputation.

I do recall reading disparaging comments on other forums with respect to ATM on two occasions. I don't know if the comments were rooted in misunderstanding, jealousy or ignorance, but I think it was mainly the last. It is difficult for many to approach this art from the perspective of a professional, and a tendency on the part of some hobbyists to confuse critique with criticism.

I apologize for not having the means to moderate submissions to the ATM forum as probably would have been appropriate.

Many thanks,

Matt

Ian_Homer

Walter,

It is a shame, but I understand your position.

I have held back many times posting trees in this thread, simply because I have only recently got a Camera/Backdrop set-up I am happy with.

Quite frankly, I have been shocked at some of the Material and Photographic standards that you have been asked to comment on.

Given we have a large amount of new members, I would also ask quite politely, that they still acquire more basic instruction from books or use the "search" function above to settle a lot of basic queries. I myself, are more than happy to help when possible, but one has to be aware, most people who frequent this site do so in what little spare time they have and should not be burdened with answering questions that have been covered many, many times before.

Could members please bear this in mind for any future "Ask the master" re-incarnation. - yes read the rules !!

Perhaps in the meantime, please take "Quality" pictures of "Quality" trees and post them on to Matt for use in Tree Of the Day.

He can then vet them, and post up the ones he deems suitable. I am hoping the weather is good this weekend so I can get good photographs of a few of mine for critique.

The TOTD thread just gets better and better, and ONLY if you are prepared to take critisism and a little praise - then let the regular members spread the load a little off Walter. I am not saying any advice will be correct or to Walters standards, but at least we will all get various options for a trees "possible" future.

Meantime, once again, I would like to personally thank Walter for his efforts and sincerely hope he will be able to contribute to this site as and when possible.

Best Wishes to all,
Ian.

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

Thank you Walter for your contributions to my knowledge of bonsai.

I have never posted a tree of mine here because I never had one that I thought ready, but I have learned a great deal from your comments on the trees of others,

I am sorry that you have had to drop this activity, and I respect your reasons.

Thanks, again.