It's also good to offer, and to read, different advice, particularly where it is due to experience with different soil, climate etc. Sometimes there's more than one way to deal with something and your way is just as valid as anyone else's, if it works for you.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
You ask questions though Grajean, someone answers, and that in turn, hopefully, helps someone else. If no one asked questions there wouldn't be a very exciting forum, therefore, regular members would stop looking on here and before long there probably wouldn't be a forum. No matter what forum we are a member of we need to do our bit to keep it rolling along.
I don't feel that i'm very experienced compared to a lot of people on here that's why I only comment on things that I know about. I'm quite reserved in myself and sometimes feel that I wouldn't give the right advice to someone else.
As you gain experience, @shazza3, you will become expert on something you have experienced and dealt with successfully AND you will have made a mistake that is worth passing on. You don't need to know everything - no-one does. Then you can join in!
You don’t have to be an expert @shazza 3 😊 … just recounting your own experience with a plant or a situation all adds to the combined knowledge of the forum.
That’s the wonderful thing about this forum … all the ingredients, large and small that, put together, make the cake 😊
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
@Uff I think you make a good point. If you take time to sit and write a reply to a query, it doesn't matter if you don't get a reply, as others read what you say and maybe you can give them ideas too. @shazza 3 I think what is the most difficult when giving advice, is the difference in growing conditions from North to South of the country plus all the weird things that are happening with climate change and our plants. I often feel stretched by the questions but that is part of the fun. I have learnt so much since I joined in January. Enjoying the forum is the most important thing.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Understanably, many new gardeners will ask a basic question without realising that to get any useful advice, they need to supply more info such as locality, climate, soil, aspect and so on. Once this is pointed out, and the info is then given by the OP, responses and advice are given by any number of people.That is what the forum is about.
I'm not sure why there seems to be a rather negative attitude creeping in about responses to new posters. Yes for sure, there have been some awkward customers who pop up ( endlessly sometimes and with a name change ) and this has been picked up on by posters simply because the site is not being moderated as previously.
I'm also not quite sure why there is suddenly such emphasis on trying to persuade "lurkers" to start posting. If people gain info and advice from just reading thru the forum, why the pressure to get them to post ? If someone wants a specific query answered, they will ask either on this forum or another like it.
I'm also not quite sure why there is suddenly such emphasis on trying to persuade "lurkers" to start posting.
It's not about persuading anyone, it's letting people clearly know that they are welcome. Very many commenters in other threads have said they don't feel welcome and the forum feels like a private club for old time 'insiders' only. Brand new posters are often treated with suspicion and snarled at.
It can sometimes feel difficult to break into any established group which some people have been part of for years (at work, a family, a meet up at a pub, an art club - whatever). It can feel intimidating, especially if you feel anxious or feel not very 'expert'; if there is a lot of pointy judgement about, if your spelling or grammar is going to get targetted; if you are not neuro-typical or perhaps English is a second language. It can seem that regulars are not interested in new people joining in and it needs a degree of 'bravery' to risk making comments. In real world, face-to-face groups, there would usually be welcomers, meeters, greeters and stewards to make sure people are ok.
So, to say it straight out - yes, new people and new ideas are very welcome; it's not a group for 'insiders'. We all need to go gently, cut people some slack and avoid 'piling in'. We don't want to be just another social media platform where people just fight, slag and insult others and hide behind their anonymity. That toxicity is the norm. It's no good for anyone.
Posts
If no one asked questions there wouldn't be a very exciting forum, therefore, regular members would stop looking on here and before long there probably wouldn't be a forum.
No matter what forum we are a member of we need to do our bit to keep it rolling along.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
@shazza 3 I think what is the most difficult when giving advice, is the difference in growing conditions from North to South of the country plus all the weird things that are happening with climate change and our plants. I often feel stretched by the questions but that is part of the fun. I have learnt so much since I joined in January. Enjoying the forum is the most important thing.
Once this is pointed out, and the info is then given by the OP, responses and advice are given by any number of people.That is what the forum is about.
I'm not sure why there seems to be a rather negative attitude creeping in about responses to new posters. Yes for sure, there have been some awkward customers who pop up ( endlessly sometimes and with a name change ) and this has been picked up on by posters simply because the site is not being moderated as previously.
I'm also not quite sure why there is suddenly such emphasis on trying to persuade "lurkers" to start posting. If people gain info and advice from just reading thru the forum, why the pressure to get them to post ? If someone wants a specific query answered, they will ask either on this forum or another like it.