It is NOT just this forum, all seem kinda dead or dying. Not sure why. Maybe more alternatives now out there.

Everything seems to be going to Facebook. What a tragedy

I used to care about this forum and the people on it. Not anymore. That was about 3 or more years ago when I was very active on the forum and when there was a group of friendly, knowledgeable people. They are gone now and the people now are friendly but are mostly neophytes and offer me little as far as showing me how to grow citrus.

I especially got tired of dealing with one person who is on this forum a lot and who thinks he owns this forum and gets hurt and argumentative when I ask him to provide scientific evidence for some of his statements. I have enough problems in my life without having to put up with him.

Vlad, I sometimes drop in and read that person's posts just to amuse myself when I'm in a particular mood. I'm a neophyte even though I have been growing on and off for twenty years, still no good at it. I did finally let my dwarf meyer that never really grew bear a fruit this year (usually pulled off). I guess I might get a glass of lemonade any day now..it's colored and probably ready to harvest. It actually looks healthier for having had a fruit draining it vs trying to grow it w/o fruit for like six years. Who knew? Maybe I can have 2 fruits next year (lol).

Quite frankly.... I wish a thread was deleted after 2 years. Have you tried googling yourself? Also, Old threads keep popping up and don't mean the same in this world.

No, the forums aren't the same. Many have been taken over by neophytes that want you to answer everything.... the way they want it answered. The Herb forum is a good example with way too many questions about Basil. When one gives the answer, the supposed neophyte argues with one. The same can be said about here.

But, I really don't like the format of some other forums, so I guess I'll stay here... and hope you do too.

Yes, sad as it is, I can't say I'm really aware of any garden forum that's all-around better than this one.

Apparently it takes some decent resources to start a new forum. Starting a good forum would probably take at least $700 per year, and then lots of time by dedicated administrators to run it.

It seems that except for us aging forum-gardeners, traffic is down and forums of all kinds (not just gardening) are dying a slow lingering death. I watch any newbies flail, it seems they post, then disappear into the void, perhaps not even reading replies to their question/problem (or we have no indication if they do). I don't really have a reason for it, though I suspect it's mindset of young folks. Maybe gardening is dying too?

I'm in Wild Ones and we get quite a number of requests from fairly young folks to visit and consult about native plant gardening (more than I expected at least), so I dunno?

And yes, dealing with people (like an administrator would have to do), is a daunting task and not for the faint of heart. I sure wouldn't do it...I'd be banning people right and left, or (*lol* inside joke for old-timers) sending them to Disney.

Hi, relative newbie to the forum here, and I think some might call me young-ish. But I started young. I've found this forum, and others, to be great for information when I've had a question. There are some that can be abrasive, and difficult, but not all. Some really just want their own opinions echoed back to them, but that can be said of many these days. Thought I'd weigh in, because I have noticed that it seems that there are quite a few, at least in my area, in the younger generations that seem to struggle with gardening and other skills. I don't know that it's that they don't want to, I think it's just that they don't know how and the fear of failure. Once you show them that it isn't so scary, many will find their feet. Helping kids to learn young, and internet resources that show that it isn't so daunting are indispensible to keep people interested in this hobby. And I think this forum has been great to show people the possibilities if they just stick it out.

I'm an "old timer" and remember being sent to Disney for some perceived slight to another. (Never did know what that was about.) I joined this forum only a couple of years ago, so I guess you can call me a "newcommer". I came here looking for answers and found them, and stuck around to learn more. But then I'm old and have learned that many questions yet unasked are answerable if one sticks around.