I've been dropping in to the forum a lot less often than I used to. Not because of the lack of political topics or non-gardening issues, but rather because of the level of aggression by a few, and their lack of consideration for others.
Surely there is more than enough aggression across the world, without the need to be unpleasant here in the Gardener's World forum!!
There are a sufficient number of kind individuals here, to make the place work well. Even those who are aggressive, can be reasonable on occasions - but they let themselves down.
If I want to talk about fortified structures, for example, without the reference to gardens or gardening, then I log on to a castle forum. If anyone wishes to be aggressive, then surely there are the relevant platforms for that.
I don't think it is the politics per se that the mods disapprove of, but rather the ferocity of the disputes that inevitably ensue.
I feel that the politics thread, was largely conducted in a very seemly manner, and that is the reason I far preferred it to specific politics forums. If individual posts are offensive, remove them, rather than removing an enjoyable place to chat for people in between chatting about their gardens. Of course the forum hosts can do whatever they like, but I disagree that they are doing us a favour by hosting the forum. If it did not make money, they wouldn't host it.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Perhaps I've lived a sheltered life and I don't go on many other forums but it took me a while to get used to this one. You would think that a forum based on gardening would be full of friendly helpful folk but there are so many people who make the forum very difficult for new members and it's my guess many just can't be bothered with it. It may be that being new we can't understand some posters humour or have misinterpreted their meaning but the amount of seemingly snippy or snide remarks can be very off putting and it takes quite some time to work out who you wish to listen to and those you wish to dismiss. I'm greatful for those kind and helpful posters and their many years of experience, it's the only reason I stick around.
Perhaps I've lived a sheltered life and I don't go on many other forums but it took me a while to get used to this one. You would think that a forum based on gardening would be full of friendly helpful folk but there are so many people who make the forum very difficult for new members and it's my guess many just can't be bothered with it. It may be that being new we can't understand some posters humour or have misinterpreted their meaning but the amount of seemingly snippy or snide remarks can be very off putting and it takes quite some time to work out who you wish to listen to and those you wish to dismiss. I'm greatful for those kind and helpful posters and their many years of experience, it's the only reason I stick around.
Can I ask if you're then talking about pure gardening questions and gardening replies - or - are you talking about 'bad' replies on other subjects?
I've been a long-term member of 3 or 4 other forums (ie for a decade or more, making in excess of 20,000 posts on each). In my experience, whilst the actual topic of interest varies, all forums have similar members. I quite often read a post on one and it reminds me of a member on another. Forum participants reflect a range, and just like society you come across the pleasant, helpful, tetchy, exasperated, argumentative, whatever. 🙂
Can I ask if you're then talking about pure gardening questions and gardening replies - or - are you talking about 'bad' replies on other subjects?
I don't tend to stray much off the gardening path but sometimes the replies to new members asking innocent questions can come across as quite abrupt.
I'm not a shrinking violet, I don't mind people getting a bit heated or some rigorous discussion but if you aren't familiar with the players it is harder to interpret.
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.
Politics affects us all in one way or another whether we like it or not.
Discussing/debating what is happening outside the garden is natural - "chatting over the garden fence/wall " is a normal every day occurrence for many. The fact that people do the same thing on a Forum is IMO also normal. It's not called Social Media for nothing.
Going around in circles is inevitable as people tend to ask the same or similar questions over time - eg hedging, screening, pruning, mulching etc.. You can either choose to reply or not. Just sulking about it is also an option of course. Entirely up to you.
As for "flame wars", I rather think those are occurring further afield at present and they too are/will prove relevant to us all.
As has been mentioned before, this forum is a commercial enterprise ( like any other I presume ) and as such will only continue whilst it makes a profit. Like any other organisation it sets certain rules and regs. but that doesn't necessarily mean that all it's clients/users will toe the line. It's a useful source and many of us treat it as such and appreciate the chance to gain knowledge from the more experienced posters on here and to pass on our own knowledge. However, there is more to life than gardening for many people and this needs to be acknowledged. Either allow only garden topics on the forum - which would instantly wipe out many current threads - or admit that only certain issues are banned. Taking govts and politicians to task ( quite nastily sometimes ) has been going on here for years with little or no moderation or intervention. Where the sun rises is a different matter
Posts
Surely there is more than enough aggression across the world, without the need to be unpleasant here in the Gardener's World forum!!
There are a sufficient number of kind individuals here, to make the place work well. Even those who are aggressive, can be reasonable on occasions - but they let themselves down.
If I want to talk about fortified structures, for example, without the reference to gardens or gardening, then I log on to a castle forum. If anyone wishes to be aggressive, then surely there are the relevant platforms for that.
I don't think it is the politics per se that the mods disapprove of, but rather the ferocity of the disputes that inevitably ensue.
I wondered where Pansyface had gone to. Hope she rejoins.
If individual posts are offensive, remove them, rather than removing an enjoyable place to chat for people in between chatting about their gardens.
Of course the forum hosts can do whatever they like, but I disagree that they are doing us a favour by hosting the forum. If it did not make money, they wouldn't host it.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I'm greatful for those kind and helpful posters and their many years of experience, it's the only reason I stick around.
I don't tend to stray much off the gardening path but sometimes the replies to new members asking innocent questions can come across as quite abrupt.
I'm not a shrinking violet, I don't mind people getting a bit heated or some rigorous discussion but if you aren't familiar with the players it is harder to interpret.
Discussing/debating what is happening outside the garden is natural - "chatting over the garden fence/wall " is a normal every day occurrence for many. The fact that people do the same thing on a Forum is IMO also normal. It's not called Social Media for nothing.
Going around in circles is inevitable as people tend to ask the same or similar questions over time - eg hedging, screening, pruning, mulching etc.. You can either choose to reply or not. Just sulking about it is also an option of course. Entirely up to you.
As for "flame wars", I rather think those are occurring further afield at present and they too are/will prove relevant to us all.
As has been mentioned before, this forum is a commercial enterprise ( like any other I presume ) and as such will only continue whilst it makes a profit. Like any other organisation it sets certain rules and regs. but that doesn't necessarily mean that all it's clients/users will toe the line. It's a useful source and many of us treat it as such and appreciate the chance to gain knowledge from the more experienced posters on here and to pass on our own knowledge. However, there is more to life than gardening for many people and this needs to be acknowledged. Either allow only garden topics on the forum - which would instantly wipe out many current threads - or admit that only certain issues are banned. Taking govts and politicians to task ( quite nastily sometimes ) has been going on here for years with little or no moderation or intervention. Where the sun rises is a different matter