Stealing Is Stealing, Even If You Say "sorry" Afterwards.

Carl_Bergstrom

I don't know about everyone else, but I'm getting bloody tired of hearing people swap stories about the trees they've stolen. Recanted or otherwise, I personally don't think bonsaiTALK should be a forum for bragging about stolen material or discussing its sources. And I know for a fact that the new "collector's corner" isn't a forum for discussing stolen trees. Because if you're stealing trees from any source, you're not a collector - you're a thief.

People worry about the public perception of bonsai as art instead of horticultural curiousity. Well, if we keep going this way, we'll have bigger worries where public perception is concerned.

Shame on all of you for doing it in the first place, but even more shame on you for bragging about it afterwards.

- Old Mister Crow

__________________
In love with trees

Advertisement

grampz

I certainly agree with everything you have said here...If one has the gall to steal trees that someone has worked to train for several years, or sneak in to dig up property that belongs to someone else, they have no right to even consider themselves a part of what bonsai, art, or nature, stands for...and this forum definately should not be used as a place to brag about it...

In my opinion, the real bonsai practictioners should be so outraged by such actions, that they should inform the authorities...I assure you, everyone that has been on the victim end of these thefts know the 'let down' feeling will not go away quickly...

Thanks for bringing this point up for discussion...

Behr

nickbachman

oh yes you are exactly right. it's not long before bonsai artists are public enemy #1, grouped right in there with gangs and terrorists. damn those renegade bonsai artists! they're so terrible! digging up trees from ditches out in the country...even not within 5 miles of any town! what criminals! CROOKS!

pdbbonsai

Even ditches are owned by some one. State, county, city or private. Why not make it easier on everyone who DOES care about bonsai and collecting, and get the PERMISSION.

And yes, if it isnt yours, and you take it. It is stealing. We here will not be able to change your mind about this. Only you can open yourself up to understanding that this is indeed what it is. Whether it is deep into the forest, on a logging road somewhere, it belongs to someone. All ya gotta do is ask if you can have it.

P

__________________
It is essential to experience all the times and moods of one good place. (Thomas Merton)

BonsaiTalk is one good place. (me)

nickbachman

other places must work different than rural iowa.....i cant see ANYONE coming up to me, digging up a tree, and saying "what are you doing?!?........bonsai you say?? i'll be sure to alert the authorities and call everyone across the country and tell them how bad those nasty bonsai enthusiasts are." it just doesnt happen that way around here. people around here are not jerks. besides, no one paid for the trees. they're a nuisance. the ditches are burned every couple of years and the trees are to be torched anyhow.



funny...i dug up a tree from a ditch without asking permission.....two trees as a matter of fact! would you or anyone else on this board like to fill me in on how much harder my stealing has made it on them?? please, enlighten me!

yes i stole trees. trees that had zero value, weren't planted, are a nuisance, and would be burned next year anyway. i come on here to learn more about the art of bonsai; NOT to be preached to and listen to people complain about what OTHER PEOPLE DO that will NEVER AFFECT THEM WHATSOEVER.

Carl_Bergstrom

Nickbackmann is trying to argue that stealing trees isn't stealing if its done in rural Iowa, and that Old Mister Crow and the likes should mind their own damn business. Curious, because in another thread, nickbachmann wrote:



This leaves me with a question:

Nick, if you didn't think it was wrong, why did you go at night, and when you went in the day, why did you run?

And then in this thread, Nick wrote:


And this leaves me with another (or rather, the same) question: Once again, then why did you go at night, and why did you run?

There's some heavy-duty rationalization going on here, and it's not pretty to watch.

With disdain,
Old Mister Crow

__________________
In love with trees

pdbbonsai

But it does have an affect.....maybe you wont see it in Iowa, nor maybe will I see it here in Minnesota. I collect tamarack on a two mile brush hogged section of a county dirt road. The easement is owned by the county, the rest by a peat farm. I talked to both parties, and they both gave me that crazy look, and said.....go for it. Now if I hadnt asked. And I stepped foot on THEIR soil, started digging up trees, I believe that they would infact be a little inflamed.
Its just a matter of COURTESY, for the landowners. Perhaps thats not what you do in Iowa either, you know have courtesy?


No preachin, just common sense.

Paul

__________________
It is essential to experience all the times and moods of one good place. (Thomas Merton)

BonsaiTalk is one good place. (me)

TreeBay

I'll take a stab at it: "Jokes" in your early posts here about stealing other people's trees nearly got you banned from this forum. I can't think of a crasser response in a thread about someone's missing property. That gave several here the suspicion that you care little for others' property, and it made it harder on me to have you around.


Okay, so you're a thief, maybe it was a petty crime. Why do you alternately brag about your theft then try to justify, defend and shout about it when you get the attention you're looking for? If you want to break the law in Iowa, or anywhere else for that matter, go for it, just don't bring it here and expect us to praise you or condone what you've done.

Got it?

Matt

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

nickbachman

first off, OMC, you take me way too seriously. you see, my friend and i are dorks. we thought that the idea of someone running through the ditch with a tree was humorous. i have an odd sense of humor.


P, good for you for talking to both parties. that was very kind and thoughtful of you. i guess you can keep trying to tell me what to do. it's kinda fun to watch, as you try and say it's not preaching.

treebay: man! you almost fooled me! i thought "maybe for the first time, treebay will make a post without the use of a link!" then BAM there it was! you almost got me...
since when is telling the truth "bragging?" everyone kept pushing the word "stealing" so i gave it to them, and then i still cant win. if i'm telling the truth, now i'm "bragging" i simply tried to ask who i could go to to ask about digging trees out of ditches, to sort of right my wrongs. so i wouldn't have to steal them anymore. i was looking for help with my "stealing problem," so to speak. i was trying to get some advice on how to stop stealing, if you wanna look at it that way. then old mister speakhismindevenwhennoonewantstohearwhatthehellhis asshastosay comes in and puts in his preaching and contraversy starter thread, like he enjoys doing i've noticed. omc could've just as easily kept his mouth shut on the subject, and no one would've thought twice about it. but i think he likes the attention.
bottom line: i asked for help, at first i got it (thank you Tony), then someone just had to start complaining. omc could've just as easily kept his mouth shut on the subject, and no one would've thought twice about it.