On another site I'm on, we can "close" the post. We can click a link that adds the word "CLOSED" to the beginning of the title, informing folks that the offer is no longer available. I know a lot of folks just don't take the time to read all the posts on a thread. BC

Alana, I couldn't agree with you more about the tone the forum has taken with some newbie threads. As Sue said, trying to help out the newbies the best we can is something we can do to help. I really think that part of the problem is the link to the "rules" doesn't work and hasn't worked for so long now. When I think back, more than 8 years now, when I joined and wanted to be part of the seed exchange forum, the first thing I did was look at the forum change for info on what to do. The links worked then and the info was available. What I wouldn't have first done was to look at the threads for a thread to tell me what to do, how to post, what the rules are and I'm not sure, when I think about it, if I would have actually believed the thread that we have running and keep bumping up all the time that is written with all the rules. Reason being that it is written by "just another member" and not the "real" thing posted as part of the info from the site owners. I know Sue, and I agree with having the thread there. I've even reposted it when it hit 150 posts, and it's important to have it there because it is all we have for the rules and stuff. I just wonder if the thread itself is something that some members might ignore because it is just written by another member and not the "site owners". Another problem with the thread is that it gets lost on the page very easily and quickly with other posts being added and ends up lost on back pages. If there was a way to post the thread title in red or another color so that it would stand out all the time, that would help to have it noticed and maybe read. As for the actual posts that have been showing up on newbie threads, many of them have been mean spirited and cruel, something that really shocked me to see. It is something in all the years I have been on this forum, have never seen before. When I've spotted them, I've tried my best to diffuse the posts and calm things down. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I hate to see threads deleted, but ti does show that "the powers to be" are watching the site and the forums and making judgement calls that have been good when a thread is deleted. And yes, if I where a newbie and got attacked like that, I'd be history too. GW is still having some big time problems. For a while I was able to get my zone info to stay, but in the past few days it's gone. I can't get a blurb to stay either, my birthdate is wrong and no matter what I do I can't log out of GW even if my computer is shut down for more than 12 hours. It's a pain to always be logged in as my hubby is a member as well and hasn't been able to log in with his user name because mine is always there. I have been sending info about the problem through the contact us link and the response has been they are working to fix the bugs and, in my case, they can't figure out why I am permanently logged in and gave me a link to use so hubby can log in and then I can change it for me. So I've held off on posting a huge trade list too. The only suggestions I have is this. Keep an eye on the forum and when we see newbies posting, check the thread to be sure that there are no "wrong type of posts" on the thread. If there are than we need to diffuse them if we can, welcome the newbie and direct them to the info thread on the rules of the forum, remind those inappropriate posters that there are some glitches with the forum right now and that is why certain info is missing from member pages. Most of all Alana and Sue, it looks like the 3 of us need to be a kind of welcome wagon to the newbies for now, until things settle down and return to the normal that they have been in the past. Kindness can go a long way, welcoming a newbie can go a long way, helping out with info can go a long way. Fran

Hi Paul, I think that it's a combination of several things: many folks currently on here seem not to know about the Exchange Forum. I rarely look for several reasons. Partly because I tend to already have the most common stuff offered for trade (esepecially at the Hoya Forum); partly that I belong to active Plant Societies where I can often buy specials in person off a plant sale table. Example: last month we had a speaker specializing in Succulent Bonsai. She showed slides, gave a presentation & also sold some plants she'd brought w/ her to sell. Some of her stuff is unusual like a Sedum multiceps I bought (have seen that twice in maybe 20 yrs) & a crested variegated Aeonium. These aren't plants that most vendors would have around. Lastly, it's winter in NY now; too cold to even think about swaps & shipping (unless w/ a heat pack). I too have had some very nice swaps from here, especially at the Hoya Forum. Bottom line Paul, I don't think it's that they don't want what you offer, it's that few folks come around here anymore (IMO).

A few responses to your reflection (yeah, it took me a few minutes to figure out what a "relection" was, but I'm not criticizing because I have many figuretip-brain misfires.) First off, Garden Writer's Forum may be more correct, because it sure seems like there's never more than one of us around at a time. If this is meant to be a forum for many garden writers, then "writers'" is the correct form. Second, as to your garden question, garden web hosts many forums on many topics. Click on the "Other Forums" caption up near the top of the page and you can see the whole list. Your post on the cucomber beetle may be more appropriate on a vegetable gardening forum. Last, even though you said it wasn't needed, welcome! Hope you hang around a bit and add some life here.