Not a newby - Orchid Board

truthsayer · #1 08-20-2019, 02:41 PM

I am not new to this forum but it seems my two previous IDs from several years seem to have been blocked - either that or the system just locks me out. I think it might be because I say it as it is not just platitudes which people want to hear. Having multiple greenhouses specialising in orchids for over 30 years I do know what I am talking about. What is really sad is that even contacting the moderators they have not even had the decency to reply, give reasons or reinstate my status. I want to contribute but if people are offended because they don't like to hear the constructive truth there is no way people who spend hard earned cash on these wonderful plants will ever be helped to avoid pitfalls.
I shall watch carefully to see how long this new ID survives.

SouthPark · #2 08-22-2019, 07:49 AM

Hi there!

It's highly likely that the regular members have no understanding about your situation - past history. So mentioning things such as 'people offended' won't make much sense to us.

Also, as far as I know, there's currently only 1 active moderator - which is probably Camille. You might need to contact Camille.

truthsayer · #3 08-22-2019, 09:47 AM

Thank you, that is very helpful. I know several people on the forum from both the UK and Australia all of whom, I am sure, know that it is just not in my nature to offend anybody. Even so, that would never prevent me from hard truths.

Bud · #4 08-22-2019, 03:14 PM

"Having multiple greenhouses specialising in orchids for over 30 years" is not something to boast about since many gardeners have spent a lifetime of doing the same bad habits in horticulture that modern gardeners find out obsolete.....now if you defended a dissertation of your doctorate degree in a university with five panel professors doing a revalida=that's a big deal! I will believe every word you say!
There is nothing wrong in telling the truth ( an idea of "truth to self", or authenticity ). If you declare your opinion matter of factly, without bias or hurting others feelings then by all means! But if you even have a shade of insult or cruel intent.....then you will be banned especially if it is against the rules here.

truthsayer · #5 08-22-2019, 03:42 PM

Everybody is entitled to their opinion. Remember it is only my assumption that a post might have offended but just to lock a subscriber out without even the decency of pointing out the reason is rudeness in itself. Which post and what offended???
I have used the contact box to ask a "moderator" for reasons but even that gains no response. Maybe we are all wrong and the system has just flipped somehow and there is no error on my part but the fact that I have not been reinstated points the other way.

SouthPark · #6 08-22-2019, 05:23 PM

truthsayer ----- I think that the better approach for your opening post would have been to just state that you were a regular member, and that your account has been blocked. And then simply ask (in the post) whether an active moderator can discuss the matter/issue with you.

That would then be a diplomatic approach. But your opening post indicates that you just came straight in and immediately gave remarks that could easily be interpreted or mis-interpreted as being negative.

It's always nice to be patient and diplomatic.

What username(s) did you have here before?

Also - I think that a moderator once mentioned that the forum software is a bit clunky in some parts of it. For example, if you ever click a 'like' on somebody's post, a notification will pop up in the notifications area ----- and if you click on the notification, it leads you to a web-link to the related post. And clicking on that web-link results in something like 'post not found'. This is because something has gone wrong with the forum software, or some code in the forum software or settings needs to be updated or fixed (in order to fix this issue).

This is all known issues. But orchidboard forums is working generally quite well.

Ray · #7 08-23-2019, 08:25 AM

Be patient... Camille is on vacation. If I recall correctly, she was going to be gone for two weeks, so should reappear next week.

Marty, who owns the forum, has other interests and businesses to operate, so plays essentially a zero role here. Camille is the only admin, volunteering to do it, so anyone who bad-mouths her can leave, as far as I'm concerned.

WaterWitchin · #8 08-23-2019, 10:49 AM

While we're on this topic... how does one contact a moderator, other than already being around enough to know who they are or were? I do know, but a new person to OB might not. Is there a button or tab somewhere that says "contact moderator" or something? I don't see one.

And I do agree it's best to not presume one has been "booted" off the forum for being belligerent or snarky or cursing up a storm, and not being told why. I find it very hard to believe that would happen. Since we're pretty short on moderators around here, it's also not very nice to presume one is being ignored without learning some basic facts first.

There are many ways to deliver a message or opinion without being a pompous ass. Not saying that's you, truthsayer, as I have not a clue as to who you are or your prior names here.

And I'm with Ray... Camille deserves utmost respect for her sometimes thankless job. We sometimes don't say thank you as often as we should. Thanks Camille!

truthsayer · #9 08-23-2019, 03:08 PM

I am so lucky that the total lack of control over who joins this forum means that when barred I can just start another ID, which means that credentials are not required so anyone can chip in. But that is not my point. The records show that I have been a contributor since August 2009 but got barred at some time. The only disadvantage of starting a new ID is it looks like one is a newby not experienced. I have checked through my messages of the latest bar and I agree totally with Bud that as stated in the terms that "By agreeing to these rules, you warrant that you will not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-oriented, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws."
I would certainly never do anything like that, but all I can find is an entry where someone had purchased an orchid and was asking what they should do with it. I pointed out that one should do homework to ensure correct conditions can be provided before spending hard earned cash. That response was deemed by a contributor to be "judgemental" rather than constructive so I suppose got me chucked off.
I have to say that, as an internationally recognised grower of Oncidiinae, I was surprised that Bud is so naive to assume that I was boasting and keep up old bad habits. It was not a boast, just pure fact, and to assume that one has not moved with the times is offensive - excellence comes with experience. Everyone cultivates how it works for them so spreading ideas is input - even if some are old tried and tested methods.
My whole point in raising this thread is that over the past 10 years or so what used to be a serious forum for promoting excellent cultivation of orchids seems to me to have been diluted into some sort of chat room. Maybe the forum Managers need to reassess the forum status and purpose, to bring things back up to a serious credible resource. Barring someone from anything without previous advice or even the right of reply demonstrates the petty level things have reached.
Camille can bar this ID if she wants because I shall not use it again having made my point. I shall continue using another ID unless Camille chooses to reinstate my original ID from 2009. I await contact with interest.
I hope this debate will stimulate thoughts and improvements. I rest my case and finish.

SouthPark · #10 08-23-2019, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truthsayer

The records show that I have been a contributor since August 2009 but got barred at some time. The only disadvantage of starting a new ID is it looks like one is a newby not experienced.

I can definitely say that the number of posts (posted by a user) doesn't necessarily indicate somebody's experience ...... with orchids and orchid-growing that is. I'm mainly referring to relatively-low post count.

I think that after around 30+ posts or something - can't exactly recall the thresh-hold ----- the label eventually becomes 'senior member'.

Is there any reason you don't want to reveal your previous ID's so that we can check up on those particular posts involving the possible banning?

If you reveal your previous ID, and the particular posts that you believe may have been the source(s) of issue, then we can take a look and judge for ourselves, and some of us could even back you up if the ban was undeserved. But, at the moment, you appear hesitant in telling us about your previous IDs. Maybe the first thing you should have provided in the opening post are your previous user ID's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by truthsayer

what used to be a serious forum for promoting excellent cultivation of orchids seems to me to have been diluted into some sort of chat room.

Perhaps that was the assumed or planned agenda at 'that' time. But times change as we know it. The assumption now is a nice friendly place for people to talk about orchids, care about orchids, grow orchids, share experiences, and share nice photos of orchids and their flowers. And this set of nice activities (and more!) is what I've been seeing on orchidboard.