I share your mission, Mike.

You encouraged me to try my hand at citrus, and I am glad I took the leap.
I come here to share my experience - and, hopefully, to make others' experiences easier.

Lately, however, the antagonism has reached its peak.
I have been accused of a cheerleader, a showboat, and a flea...titles that I will not tolerate.
There was a time when a man could meet his accuser and bash his nose (or better) in the street.
Those days are passed. Now we inhabit the era of the "Internet Tough-Guy" who runs his mouth
no matter how cowardly, infirm, or ag he is. Let us take part in ignoring such boastful behavior.

There is a list of people that will never have help from me. They will have only my disdain and slight regard.

This, too, I pledge.

Josh

Hi Guys!
Very well said.. Both of You!!
I share in the mission too.

Josh.. I'll add to your list.. I've been called a sheep..because I follow advice of others.. Ya.. nuts I know. :)

It's hard to tune out the bad weeds, but I do agree with you Josh, we need to try.

I too was encouraged by Mike to try citrus.. And by you and Al to try other tree's. This is the first in many years i'm excited to go out to my yard, and see how they are all doing.. And it's because they are doing so well.

The 3 of you have been so helpful, and encouraging.. and patient with me..:) I couldn't have better friends. :)
And am forever grateful.

JoJo

my blooming like crazy key lime is a testimony to all the wonderful knowledge I have received from everyone here. This tree never looked unhealthy, it just didnt do anything for months. This tree isnt the only one doing great. They all are. Everyone of my trees is either putting on consistent new growth or in bloom. Now that I have the right soil, the right ferts, the know how, and all the other proven techniques that have been shared here, I believe that I can grow any kind of citrus I want. Books can teach a lot, but nothing is more valuable than the experience of mentors and teachers, and for that I thank everyone here!
{{gwi:613029}}

Hi All!

I also share in this mission! Mike, thanks for taking the time to post this. If things take a negative turn in the future this will be great to refer to.

mksmth - nice tree! I hope mine looks that good some day!
Kim

Hi Guys,WOW Mike excellently spoken (made tears come to my eyes)i don't no what i would do if i didn't have this site guess all my precious babies would have died evetually all i did was spray them w/soap water trying to save them..
Take care every one and keep giving advise i/we love it

Well put Mike, amen to that! I personally am very thankful that I found such a welcoming, helpful, caring, inspiring, non-judgmental and encouraging group. (I am sure my citrus are thankful too!)

Virtual group hug?

:-)

Nikki

Very cool people is what I have to say. Especially putting up with a big mario like me. So many same questions and doubts and so much patience by all of you knowledgeable kind people. Oh Mike I need to send you or post a pic of the new satsuma.
Dave

Mike: That was perfect!

GG

Good job,

as Bill and Ted put it, "Be excellent to one another"

Noble thoughts, Mike. I can see you put a lot of thought into what you wrote.

I've given quite a bit of thought to what Mike said, and have often taken the time for introspection re why I spend time at the forums. I don't think I operate under the umbrella of a mission statement - probably something more like a credo.

I'm here because I like to help. I particularly like to be associated with people that have open minds and enthusiasm for husbandry (growing). That is what draws me most to an individual and makes me want to encourage them. It's kind of like - if you were a teacher 'Who would you rather help - the child who says, "I can't get this puzzle, but I want to finish it real bad. Would you help me?" or the one who pitches a screaming fit and won't let you help because he 'knows how to do it'? ;o)

We all assume the role of teacher when we offer advice, even when we share our practical experience. We tend to feel obligated to help almost everyone (when we can) when they ask for it or when it's apparent they are foundering. Everyone's reaction to the help isn't the same, and the rewards we perceive from having tried to help vary, so our interaction here is always dynamic. See Forest Gump - "My mother always said: Life is like....."

I don't know if this thread will go long or not, but it certainly has the potential to reveal what makes everyone tick. It offers the opportunity for anyone to talk about how they perceive the forums and what they've noticed about themselves and others (not specific others) relative to their interactions.

Distilled: I look first for opportunities to help, and help where I can. I don't try to pass my best guess off as a fact, and I don't offer advice I can't explain fully or back up with sound science. I try not to argue, unless something comes up in a thread I'm already participating in that has the potential to detract from your growing experience (bad advice - only half of a picture .....) in which case I offer an alternate opinion, and explain clearly why I hold that opinion.

Most forum altercations center around ego and the inability to deal with disagreement. Ego, because it bruises easily when battered with the knowledge that we have been wrong. Some people accept that fact and are grateful for having been enlightened, others feel trapped and see obfuscation of the OT as their only escape. They either throw up a smoke screen by changing the subject, introducing/seizing on several other points as 'cover' for the one actually being discussed so they don't have to face the music, or they simply turn personal and belligerent in the hope that the other party will follow and forget about pursuing the original point - defense mechanisms.

Fortunately, there are far fewer of that sort than there are of the nice folks who have so far commented on this thread. You guys are the ones that make it fun to hang here. ;o)

Good thread, Mike.

Al

Mike,
I too agree with your mission statement. Very well said my friend.

Charles

Good job, Mike.

Media allows us to invite people into our homes that we would never open our front door for. Chances are you don't like or agree with everything you see on TV. If you only access that which is agreeable, how then do you form a reasonable opinion? You can always stop reading an article or change a TV channel any time it goes too far. Some of our most popular cultural icons are very divisive and maybe even crude (Rush Limbaugh, Simon Cowell, Howard Stern, etc).

How then is an Internet message board any different than any other form of media? Sometimes you have to just ignore things that don't set well with you. Some folks feel the need to counter other people's foregone conclusions -- even if the other person may actually be very nice and well meaning. Some folks are thin-skinned and unaccustomed to being challenged.

To bring my point full circle, any one that posts a mission statement or code of conduct on someone else's message board, no matter how well meaning, needs to get a grip. You are taking yourself and what you have to say way too seriously, have forgotten how to simply change the channel, and forgotten that someone else is paying the freight so that everyone has a voice. If you respect freedom of speech, you will defend the rights of others to say things that you may find objectionable. The gardenweb terms of service is all that anyone needs to abide by.

Here is a link that might be useful: TERMS OF SERVICE FOR GARDENWEB NETWORK

Those that know Mike understand that he put his heart on his sleeve and shared his personal feelings and his hope that others might share those feelings and his hope. I see nothing wrong with someone stating his personal mission, especially when it's on topic.

If you don't know Mike, his offering was certain to contain at least something objectionable, if you looked hard enough ..... but we can make that observations about anyone's offerings. Perhaps a little of that 'changing the channel' might have been more appropriate in this instance?

Al

This is a garden forum, not a political forum.

Some critics have had law suits against them for defaming their character.

Educated people find a way to make a statement without abusive speech

Graciousness is a quality that should be used here, but unfortunately, some have no clue about what that is..

""Perhaps a little of that 'changing the channel' might have been more appropriate in this instance?""

Looks like were on the same page Al...
I was thinking the same thing.

All was very well said, and I still think this was a great thread.

JJ

I Love it...very well said everyone! You guys/gals have said it all!

Mike, Wonderful thread indeed...Thanks to everyone that has come to these forums and helped us all in the things that we love to do...GROW plants in the best and healthiest way possible. Its wonderful to have GW to come to...to share our stories of our experiences, failures and success! Hopefully, we will all do it in a very kind, friendly, and respect for one another.