I am not noticing a "new forum regime". There is still plenty of discussion of politics on lots of threads. As far as I can see the mods deleted about five threads. Mods delete threads sometimes. It seems to me that lots of complaints were made to the mods and they responded. That doesn't strike me as any kind of regime change.
I am sorry that Hosta and Punkdoc find a gardening forum bland for discussing gardening. I think if offers high utility, if not to the old timers. So many, many joiners have left because they felt offended and upset by rude behaviour over the years. It doesn't surprise me at all that the pool is getting smaller. I would say that if members see themselves as hosts rather than gatekeepers and are welcoming and encouraging, more newbies are likely to stay around and contribute. I don't see that it behoves anyone, least of all the forum, to be caustic and stand on personal rights to be offensive or start shouting about "censorship", how their rights of expression are stomped upon.
If Punkdoc wants to introduce a slew of "proper gardening" topics and resources, I will be the first to cheer him along. Perhaps ask what we can offer rather what we can derive. There is no obligation to stay on groups for decades; sometimes they no longer serve us; we want new things; we want to open up space for others.
But as far as I've been here (not that long) this has never just been a forum about gardening. I may do a trawl down through the posts and see how many threads have non-gardening posts - but I would guess that over 75% of posts mention something that isn't gardening related. To me that is the point of forums - and I bet people didn't make friends here based on solely gardening knowledge - they got to like (or dislike) people because of their posts on various subjects.
Golfers don't just talk about golf, football fans don't just talk about football - it's only ever new parents, vegans or animal lovers who only speak about one thing.... (that's a joke by the way - maybe, not funny, but a joke nevertheless).
I agree with you @steveTu there are plenty of threads/posts on this forum which do not directly relate to gardening. Most people do have an interest ( whetther passioate or passing ) in other subjects/issues and that includes current affairs - both at home and world wide. To pretend otherwise is unreasonable. It's also impossible to tell how many people just look in on the off chance of finding a solution to their garden problems unless they actually post their query. Those who do are given as much help and advice as it is possible to do in a virtual world. The number of views is meaningless really as the same person could simply be checking back on a thread several times. As far as I've seen, new posters are made to feel welcome and their queries dealt with as far as possible. I'm not aware of any available stats which show how many people have left the forum over the years and for what reason. Of course mods can delete posts/threads which are abusive or designed to incite the various "ism's". No one would argue if it was done consistently which isn't always the case - now or in the past. Gardening in a wider context can certainly include a political aspect but I suspect we all know that.
I think it could help the forum if we could 'ignore' a thread/discussion. Not just for politics but for any thread that you may have no interest in and don't wish to see. If a thread or indeed a forum member is not to your taste you can ignore and not be bothered by it again. Maybe with an option to view any ignored threads if you feel like reviewing things?
p.s. If there is already something like this can you show me where!!!
“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
I frankly don't know what's worse...the absence of politics or the frequent posts about the absence 😂
Nothing wrong with the forum as such, but getting really tired of going around in circles. The same handful of people sulking because they have been told they can't start flame wars about irrelevant subjects.
Nothing to give feedback about, we are all guests here so frankly nobody needs our approval to change the ground rules.
It does always get quieter on here in winter altho we've had 15C here today and no sign of normal weather for the next 10 days so who knows what plants and beasties will be getting up to. I foresee quite a few threads about precocious plants being decimated by frosts or pest invasions.
I do miss Pansyface and hope she is well and up to her usual tricks.
It is easy enough @madpenguin to ignore* those who consistently are rude/offensive/dismissive of other people's rights to an opinion and to avoid threads whose title is not inviting, just as you can bookmark threads of particular interest.
*click on the poster's name then on the head and shoulders icon to "Ignore".
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I must admit, I never quite understood the ignore bit. Isn't a brain a filter? Surely you don't just read anything and everything that appears in front of you? If a topic, based on subject, has no appeal, don't open it - if a post, upon reading part of it, isn't your cup of tea, don't read the rest.
Same here. I read the entries and ignore what I am not interested in. If someone posts something rude, aggressive etc. to something I post I refuse to waste my time and energy retaliating, I ignore it, people soon get fed up arguing with themselves.
Posts
It's also impossible to tell how many people just look in on the off chance of finding a solution to their garden problems unless they actually post their query. Those who do are given as much help and advice as it is possible to do in a virtual world. The number of views is meaningless really as the same person could simply be checking back on a thread several times.
As far as I've seen, new posters are made to feel welcome and their queries dealt with as far as possible. I'm not aware of any available stats which show how many people have left the forum over the years and for what reason.
Of course mods can delete posts/threads which are abusive or designed to incite the various "ism's". No one would argue if it was done consistently which isn't always the case - now or in the past.
Gardening in a wider context can certainly include a political aspect but I suspect we all know that.
Not just for politics but for any thread that you may have no interest in and don't wish to see.
If a thread or indeed a forum member is not to your taste you can ignore and not be bothered by it again.
Maybe with an option to view any ignored threads if you feel like reviewing things?
p.s. If there is already something like this can you show me where!!!
Nothing wrong with the forum as such, but getting really tired of going around in circles. The same handful of people sulking because they have been told they can't start flame wars about irrelevant subjects.
Nothing to give feedback about, we are all guests here so frankly nobody needs our approval to change the ground rules.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I do miss Pansyface and hope she is well and up to her usual tricks.
It is easy enough @madpenguin to ignore* those who consistently are rude/offensive/dismissive of other people's rights to an opinion and to avoid threads whose title is not inviting, just as you can bookmark threads of particular interest.
*click on the poster's name then on the head and shoulders icon to "Ignore".
I read the entries and ignore what I am not interested in. If someone posts something rude, aggressive etc. to something I post I refuse to waste my time and energy retaliating, I ignore it, people soon get fed up arguing with themselves.