Jannike,
I'm so sorry. I can't understand what the problem is, especially since Humpty Dumpty is a nonprofit, But you mostly post as a private gardener, and I've appreciated your advice and photos, whether they be roses or beautiful poppies. I sincerely want you to be a part of the forums and hope they will reconsider, so that you can continue to share your love of roses and other flowers with us.
A fellow rose loving friend,
Diane

Grrr, bloody HOUZZ can post all its horrid market stuff as much as it likes but to act all snotty about some supposedly ethical principles regarding advertising (unless it is with them of course) absolutely enrages me. I suggest we all e.mail Houzz with a note of complaint since you have no agenda, are selling nothing and I can see no reason why you should be banned. I will certainly be writing on your behalf...it would behove them to remember that WE are the forum and all they offer is a platform. Without US, there would be no content apart from some glittery selling stuff and yet more bland marketing while the real value of this forum lies in our relationships and friendships...not some crummy designer bathrooms.

Whaddya know - it is practically impossible to actually contact any member of the admin team with a complaint or query - just respond to a whole heap of pre-planned listings- none of which address the issue of unfair bannings and disgruntled forum users. I really really hate HOUZZ, tbh and find I post less and less.

Jannike,

Campanula wrote many of my thoughts. This is really disappointing, and mind boggling.

Lynn

I am terribly sorry. I thought of entering Facebook again although I withdrew from there long ago, just to give you a "like".

I'm so terribly sorry Jannike.... I hope you don't mind but I've written to Tamara and asked if she could intervene to sort something out here.... it doesn't seem right to me and wonder if there has been some misunderstanding...

...very best wishes....

Grrrrrrrrrrr....since I might be banned myself for posting what I REALLY think about this, I'll just repeat what I said on the other side: Justice, sanity and *common* sense are rare commodities...and Houzz is making no effort to buck the trend.

John

I've never seen your posts before, Sow_what?. Are you sure that it is admin making the decision? Sometimes I have seen posters go a bit haywire just because someone has mentioned an organisation and claimed that the person was spamming.

I hope this is cleared up and the powers that be sort it out.

I also thought at first that there was only a list of topics to inquire about. The set up is not very clear, but if you scroll down and click on "Contact Us" below, and then ignore the list and just click on "submit a request", you can write in anything you like. I always get contacted within 24 hours when I have done that. They may not be able to change things, but at least you will get a response, and can ask a specific question of your choice.

Jackie

This just seems so improbable.

MANY of us post about various groups, from the American Rose Society to the Heritage Roses Groups. We post about gardens such as the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden and the Historic Rose Garden in the Sacramento City Cemetery. We post about gardening events . . . It seems improbable that they would disallow your posts.

Have you actually contacted them and ASKED if that is the problem? It makes no sense, so perhaps there is a technical or other issue that can be rectified.

I would hate to see you stop posting! As Jeri said, try contacting them to sort out what is really going on. I can't think they are deleting your posts due to a link to a non profit, but what do I know? And the way you post the info is so nice and informative, totally inoffensive. Hope they can fix it!

Jannike, I've also written Tamara and explained the situation. I find it interesting that this post of yours has remained and wonder if there was some sort of computer glitch. At any rate, we do not want to lose you and I'm sorry that you've gone through this upset. Tamara is a very nice person and I hope this can be straightened out very soon.

I ,too, totally support Jannike and hope the thing will be fixed.

I'm so grateful for all the support from my GW friends -- thank you for your advice and commiserations. I'm surprised at how strongly this has affected me. We're kindred spirits, many of us here, bonded by our love of gardens. I come here usually late at night when I'm physically exhausted and wanting to wind down from a long day. Even when I'm too tired to post, I find that checking on your challenges, creative efforts, and discoveries helps reinvigorate me. You are as much a part of my life as the people I work with during the day, and taking this community away from me is in essence, taking away a part of my life. I thought I could just walk away -- but I can't without feeling the loss. And Camps, I think you said it best, that "the real value of this forum lies in our relationships and friendships…".

Lynn, you also nailed exactly how I feel: "This is so mind boggling". I mean, why would anyone find Humpty Dumpty House, a charity whose goal is to bring respite, beauty, and nourishment through gardens -- offensive? I truly expected that after describing Humpty Dumpty House to Garden Web, I would get an apology or at least an explanation, and that my last post would be left intact. I still feel the sting from the slap on the face when my post was deleted within minutes after I told Garden Web I would consider that a sign I was not wanted here. That "sting" made me hesitant to come back on this morning, for fear this post would be gone -- I'm really surprised it too hasn't been deleted.

Marlorena and Ingrid, thank you for your kindness in contacting Tamora. Of course I'll feel somewhat better if I find out this was a misunderstanding or some sort of computer glitch, tho I don't know how that could be. I saw my first post go live, and it wasn't deleted till the next day -- whose computer would cause that kind of glitch?

Tete_a_tete, I'm not surprised you've never seen my posts -- I only post a couple of times a week, and only on a few of the forums, but I've been doing so regularly for more than a year. You're not saying that posters here have the power to delete posts, are you? That would be crazy! Could it have been deleted by an admin who didn't really bother reading my post? Does anyone else here think that would be a pretty flippant way to handle our communications with each other? Communications that make this forum what it is?

Jeri, this absolutely makes no sense. But what kind of technical issue would cause several posts to be deleted over a span of two days? The posts went live. They stayed on for minutes, hours, one even lasted till the next day. They discussed plants and garden design. They showed pictures of gardens I designed. There was nothing in any of them that should have raised a high alert -- except maybe the link and the request for "likes".

Dingo, bart, Jackie, Mariannese, and Diane -- thank you for your comforting words. You remind me why I want to be here in the first place.

Fig_insanity -- so true. And they are also using our friendships as a basis for their commercial venture. They still need to demonstrate a minimum level of respect for our communications with each other or they will lose us one by one. And then, as Camps so fittingly said, all they will have left is" some glittery selling stuff and yet more bland marketing".

jannike

I want to add a "thank you" to Trish. The "walking on eggshells" waiting for my posts to be deleted is offset by your support.

jannike

Jannike---

The fact that your posts are being deleted within minutes suggests that they are being deleted by an algorithm, rather than an actual person. So maybe it is not against you personally. The site has been getting spammed a lot lately--- so their algorithms may be quite sensitive. If there is any way to get in touch with Houzz to flag this issue, or Tamara, maybe it is possible to get this sorted out. Dont give up hope yet.

I don't think that Houzz has managed this takeover as good as they could have, but they seem reasonable enough and if we can get in touch with them I am sure we can get it sorted out.

The old gardenweb site used to not allow links to Dave's Garden and Houzz does. Each site had and have their own restrictions to prevent advertisement. Jannike, I hope you stay. You can always talk about the Humpty Dumpty House garden and people can easily search for the website without the link. The garden is inspirational.

I agree with Ninkasi about the algorithim and jasminerose pointing out the old issue with mentioning Mave's Parden (used to get people sent to Disneyland!). It may be that Houzz has something similar in place regarding FB. FB does have commercial pages on its site and perhaps Houzz considers it a competitor. So if you post a link to FB.com the software on Houzz might be checking/scanning thru posts for that site, and when found removes posts that contain it. I don't know but it is plausible. So if you know or suspect the FB link is the problem, just simply don't include it in your posts for a while--at least until you are in touch with a real person at Houzz and can find out for sure.

Melissa

...just to say I heard back from Tamara and my impression was that she wasn't aware of this issue.... but she is obviously looking into it... I feel sure it's nothing sinister...

Please don't give up, Jannike! We need you!

Ninkasi, my posts were not all deleted within minutes. One was on for a second day before being deleted,. When that happened, I didn't think much of it except that it might have been some kind of error.. When another post was deleted after several hours I became more alarmed. The only post that was deleted very quickly was the one where I wrote these exact words:

.

"If my post is deleted I'll assume I'm not wanted on Garden Web, and will
seek another gardening community I can share and exchange information
with."

.

The fact that this post was deleted so quickly felt to me like a slap in the face -- like they were so sure they didn't want me here that they didn't even have to think twice. I realize this MIGHT just have been some kind of a technical glitch, but it sure didn't feel that way when it happened.

.

Jasmine and Tessiess, I see other posts where people are linking their facebook or blog, or where people are promoting a rose society or even a rose vendor (as well we all should be able to do), so why would my posts be singled out among those?

.

Seil, thank you for your sweetness!

.

I will hope to hear from Tamora for a resolution, or at least an explanation.

jannike

. . .

Sheesh -- now one of my deleted posts is back on. I wish someone from Houzz would contact me and let me know what's going on. Can someone give me Tamora's contact info?

Sow-what, go down below to "Contact Us"--then follow Jackie's directions from the earlier posting (reprinted here, for your convenience).

" The set up is not very clear, but if you scroll down and click on "Contact Us" below, and then ignore the list and just click on "submit a request", you can write in anything you like. I always get contacted within 24 hours when I have done that. They may not be able to change things, but at least you will get a response, and can ask a specific question of your choice."

I can't guarantee that that will get you Tamara, but my experience over the years is that Tamara always turns out to be the contact person.

Can't hurt to try it.

Kate

Not deleted so far, so maybe you'll be okay now.

A couple of posts on the "Roses" forum state that Houzz is correct in not allowing my posts, and that I should not come here "representing and pushing a cause, no matter how well-intentioned that cause may be". So for simplicity I'm posting my response on both forums.

.

Mzstitch and Kate, the
issue is not and has never been getting banned. The issue is my posts
being deleted, or as I phrased it, my posts being banned. Fig_insanity, jpeace. Lynn, mustbnuts, jeri, and others have already stated why this is wrong and discriminatory, so please reread what they said if you want my answer to why I should be allowed to share what we do at Humpty Dumpty House. Regarding the free ride and the competition, I completely disagree. Yes, Houzz provides a free forum for us. Do I value that -- yes. But I also provide a free service to Houzz,
answering questions and sharing information I get paid for in my
consulting work. Every time you, Kate, post your beautiful pictures,
you're enriching Houzz's content and attracting more people here. Seil
does the same when she provides expert advice about pests or diseases in
roses, as does Kim in horticultural practices, and so on. Would you
continue to come here if there was no Daisy, no Hoovb, no Camps, no MichaelG,
none of the people mentioned above, no one with any expertise, no
resources where to buy roses or pretty gardens to visit, and no one
posting helpful pictures? All that takes work, So I don't consider this
forum a free ride -- I consider it a partnership. But does Houzz? Do they value me, or am I like a tiny ant to be squashed if they think I'm out
of line? I hope they value all of us, and that's one of the things I
want to find out thru this situation. It may sound silly, but every day I try to remember why I'm here (on this planet; not at Houzz).
I'm not here to abuse of be abused. I want relationships that are based
on kindness and respect. Rejection hurts. If my posts were rejected
because of an outright mistake, I'd like an apology. If my posts were
deleted because of a technical error, I'd like to know that. Mistakes
happen, and when someone gets hurt in the process, those who caused the
error whether intentionally or accidentally, should stand tall and do
what's right.

Humpty Dumpty House is not in competition with Houzz, or Heritage Roses Groups, or Hoovb's
blog, or any other person or organization involved in gardens. To me,
this kind of negative thinking leads to divisiveness, and I don't want
that in my life. When I come to Houzz and learn about Friends of Vintage Roses, or Chamblees, or HMF
it enhances my experience here and makes me want to come back. I
embrace that we are a network in harmony, with a big love for creating
beauty in the world -- why wouldn't we want to help each other?

One of my deleted posts with a link to Humpty Dumpty House facebook
has already been restored, so I'm taking that as a sign a mistake was
made when my posts were deleted. The fact this post is still up and
contains a link to the Humpty Dumpty House facebook is another good sign. I cherish my friendships here, but I also want to align myself and Humpty Dumpty
House with organizations that treat people well. Having posts deleted
in the manner that happened here hurt like a slap in the face. I want to
see if anyone here at Houzz values me enough to take some of the sting
away. I don't need a public apology, but some private, gentle concern
will go a long way toward convincing me that members here (all members
-- not just me) are treated with fairness and respect. When that happens
you'll see my next post.

jannike

sadly, someone may have been "flagging" your posts. That may have prompted them being taken down. Hopefully Tamora gets back to you and brings some clarity to this. Thankfully your posts seem to be still up.

Sow-what--you are over-reacting again. You stated that I indicated that you "should not come here 'representing and pushing a cause, no matter how well-intentioned that cause may be'. "

That is not true. That is not what I said. Here is what I said:

"I share some of mzstitch's misgivings. If you aren't banned, why not join us as an individual who loves roses and likes to chat about them--and not as someone representing and pushing a cause, no matter how well-intentioned that cause may be."

I did not say you should or should not do anything. I invited you to join the rest of us on the same basis that the rest of us come to this forum and chat. An invitation is usually taken to be a welcoming gesture, not an order to shape up.

Honesty seems to upset you, but honestly, I've always been a little bit put off by your constant promotion of your organization. However, it is only "a little bit" and I just turned my head and continued on reading and posting without worrying about it one way or another. I have much more important things to concern myself with on a daily and weekly basis, I assure you.

I really don't care very much how this whole matter resolves itself. Whatever Tamora does or doesn't decide is fine with me. So please don't carry on an argument with me over this matter. I've had my say--and that is it as far as I'm concerned.

Bye bye. Wishing you well.

Kate

This is my first time on Houzz. I was directed here through a search I did trying to identify a rose. This is the first post I've read, and I have to say I hate that Houzz did that to you. I don't understand why it's a problem. I'm not so sure I want to be a member. I hope they change their minds. There should be more people like you that give back to their community.

Kate has the right to her opinion. I personally am put off by any persistent, continuing (as opposed to a one time chat or post or link about something) promotion of any organization which has nothing to do with roses on this forum. I would not like it if it was the Red Cross, the SPCA, or any other deserving organization. This is not at all the same as getting off topic, which we all do, and talking about your cat, or a relative who has cancer, or whatever. The constant seemingly never ending solicitation of "likes" for HDH has in the past hit me as inappropriate, but like Kate, I ignored it because life is too short to bother about inconsequential stuff. Only mentioning it now because I think those who are put off by it are being attacked.

Jackie

I just did a search for "Humpty Dumpty House," and there were a lot of results returned, including some advertising a sale on tomato plants, so Houzz is definitely not removing everything related to HDH. Maybe some kind of glitch or you overlooked the post in question?

I know other members have reported disappearing then reappearing posts from time to time.

Ukwildcats48, I'm sorry you were exposed to all this. I hope this doesn't diminish your curiosity about roses.

Kate,
I'm sorry the link at the bottom of my posts irritated you -- I'm
not here to aggravate or upset anyone. Many other people here have a
link to facebook or a blog attached to ALL their posts. Jacqueline, the
Red Cross is
not about gardens -- Humpty Dumpty House is. We live and breathe
gardens. Whether we're striving to change our community with a
neighborhood fruit tree program, or the lives of people struggling to
get back on their feet with a sack of fresh produce and a peaceful
hideaway for respite, we do it through gardening and gardens. Even our
job training for people out of work teaches only gardening and garden
construction skills.

Our
childrens programs are especially precious to me. When I became
unable to continue funding those myself due to a series of injuries that
put me in the hospital on and off for most of 6 months (I'm just out of the hospital again right now, in fact) my heart was broken. An opportunity to get some help through facebook
"likes" was a desperately needed miracle. The click of a button
could change someone's life -- who wouldn't help with that?

I
hoped the plea at the bottom of my posts would move people on this
forum; instead it caused some of you irritation. When I first heard this
from you Kate, I was shocked, especially since so very many people here
did "like" our facebook and continue to visit regularly and "like" our
posts. In fact, every time I posted the link we got a few new "likes".
Mariannese even very sweetly considered rejoining facebook, which I
would never ask anyone to do. It simply never occurred to me that some
people would become irritated and start flagging my posts.

I'm
not angry with any of you since I consider this my oversight. But I'm
also at a loss since my post content was always RELEVANT TO THE FORUM I
WAS POSTING ON, and the information I
posted was based on careful observation that I thought would be helpful
to others. I do the same with Humpty Dumpty House facebook, where we
review a lot of roses and other
plants, posts tons of photos, share design ideas and how-to's. I'm sorry
some of you don't find any of this helpful. When I read a post I don't
particularly like, I tend to just ignore it and move on rather than
flagging it or doing something hurtful. I'm not here to dictate what
anyone else should do, but doesn't life already throw too much manure in
our faces? I don't know about any of you, but a little kindness sure
helps me get thru my day. That and some humor in the "Campanula" style
(yes, I do mean you, Camps) gives me what I need to deal with life's
thorns.

Regarding
your invitation, I garden only at client properties (which are
typically kept private), and at Humpty Dumpty House (which I love to
share) -- I don't have the time or Ingrid's and Diane's courage to
garden amongst the baking hot boulders and barren decomposed granite at my
home. So inviting me to stay as long as I don't post anything about
Humpty Dumpty House is not inviting me to stay.

jannike

https://www.facebook.com/HumptyDumptyHouse

ukwildcats, please don't leave because of this post. It is only one or two among thousands. There are many good, caring, helpful, and generous gardeners on these forums. I have learned a lot. This will resolve itself, but new members are always considered to be part of the "rosey family". Please stay.

Jannike, I'm sorry about all this whether it was a mistake or on purpose. I hope it all resolves. You have my support and affection.

sow-what--you are over-reacting again.

I did NOT get "irritated and start flagging [your] posts."

You made that up, and I don't know why you are accusing me of flagging your posts. I did NOT flag your posts, so quit implying that I did.

Wow, if people don't make a fuss over you, you sure do show your claws, don't you!

All I said was that "I was a little bit put off" by your constant advertising of your cause but that I just ignored it because there are much more important things to worry about in this world (or something to that effect).

So drop the feud with me. I wasn't your enemy before, but I'm starting to get really irritated with your continual squabbling and particularly your deliberate mis-reading of anything I say. Just drop it, sow-what. This Rose Forum was not set up so that you would have your own private space to carry on squabbles with other forum members.

Or just leave me out of your continual squabbles if you can't stop yourself from squabbling. I want no part of this nonsense.

Kate

Kate, I'm not taking sides here, but I think *you* may be over-reacting, or at least mis-reading. I didn't read anywhere that you had been accused of flagging posts. The only thing sow what said was she was surprised "some people.." became irritated and started flagging posts. This was in a separate paragraph from where you were even mentioned. EVERYONE JUST CALM DOWN woodja!

Just let my post be the last one and let this thread drift off into obscurity.

I had some similar trouble on the kitchen forum, but won't go into it here, since the feedback has been positive :)

Yes. SURELY we can find better things to talk about, right?

Think about a rose.

Think about this pretty thing, about to open out in my dry-as-bones garden.

"Pulich Children"

OK, everybody Shhhhhhh.........

Yes, let's just drop the whole thing. Please don't add any posts to this thread and let it fall off the front page.

Like Jeri, Seil, Jaqueline and Rosefolly said, chill y'all. Remember, this is a forum and consists of typing words. Words alone do not convey attitude, or complete thoughts.

Communication consists of "word, tone, inflection, body language, etc.". The last of which convey 90% of the "message" is non-verbal!!!! Please do not read the last three, or more into the words written on this forum. Here is a video clip from the TV series "Friends" that illustrates this FACT very well. Most people do not realize that 90 percent of human communication is Non-verbal, tone, body language, expressions, tone etc. Actors, psychologists, politicians and highly trained law enforcement officials understand this very well. Please pause and consider if the typed words, actually convey the real message, or if you are reading things in based on your own reactions to the written words.

if this suggestion interests you, watch this video also and learn what you already know unconsciously and understand that in a written communication there are may subconscious visual cues that you interpret face to face, that do not inform you when you read.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBrYea03L8Y

Concise, neutral, written communication is a very difficult art to master and in our information age the lack of visual cues is a very serious problem with respect to transmitting a written message and ensuring our audience interprets it as it is meant. This is truth, please don't read attitude into the words written on the forum.

Cheers, Rick

PS - I teach a course for law enforcement staff called Tactical Communications, this knowledge is helpful and with respect to human communications, this knowledge is critical for true understanding of what a message means when transmitted.