Let's clean up this board.

[jason]

Originally Posted by STEELVIPER

Did i strike a cord?

Hey nice plants their steelviper,,also noticed your barrel cactus ,,,Nice...Jason

[STEELVIPER]

LOL!!!!! thanks Jason. You have got some great pics(plants) there to.Ok I'am done with this topic. Had my fill of drama and rants. See you guys on the rest of the board.

[magicgreen]

Originally Posted by STEELVIPER

Did i strike a cord?

NEVER!!!!!!!!!!

[klemmthamm]

Wow this thread turned south in a hurry....

Anyway, THIS is one reason I don't even bother posting much here lately...
because of the attitudes.

And Ron is a very good moderator... if you don't believe this then just go hang on some other boards for a little bit and see how their moderators treat you.

[tlturbo]

I'm really surprised that this topic has gotten so much attention representing both sides of the issue. Most people SAW what I was trying to point out but commented on it in a polite manner.

One thing that I noticed in a few posts that hadn't occured to me but I have to agree with is the loss of participation of many of the old members. I seldom post anymore either. It's weird and I can't explain why. We all used to be proud and post pics of our fruit. I fruited a Hua Moa last month and thought about posting pics but just said, NA. Maybe the board has gotten too big - beats me. But as it does, these type of problems do arise. I have seen it big time in my Turbo automobile boards. For example: it is dedicated to ONE type of car. There is a section in there for posting results of races you have had with that type of car, so WHY would you post about something you did in your pickup truck. Same issues. Get back on topic.

Sorry I started this discussion - but when I saw cartoons, pics of tractors and dogs going across the top of my screen, I just felt someone needed to mention this was a BANANA board.

[klemmthamm]

Turbo,

Just so you know I wasn't trying to flame you or anything in my posts ... anyway I see what you are saying and I have noticed a lot of non-banana type posts lately. I think this site should of course stay focused on bananas... for example I have been collecting a lot of palms lately so I joined a forum about palms.... that is not to say of course that I would be upset if someone wanted to talk about palms in the other plants section here... but I see your concern on the other stuff.

The tractors, composters, and other such pictures I can see just because those things may play a part of banana cultivation... as far as everything else goes well I am guilty of uploading some off topic pics myself so I really can't say much.

Most of what I have seen on the board lately (as far as off topic things go) I have just attributed to it being too cold for a lot of us to have any active growth or propagation going on. But this is my first winter on this board so I don't know how it has been in the past.

I think you presented this issue in a very calm and fairly polite manner so I don't know how it turned so bad.

Regards,

-James-

If none of this post makes sense then I apologize... alcohol and lack of sleep may be to blame.

[tlturbo]

I just edited out the comments in my previous post where I tended to VENT a bit. SORRY to those of you that read them. Jason and I exchanged some PM's and realized we both totally misunderstood each other - so all is well.

I tend to think that as any board ages, it changes. I have also noticed that the older members do tend to drift away and the "new blood" becomes the active participants. I didn't mean to offend anyone with my post, it was just an observation that "off topic" issues should be kept in the off topic areas.

Best to all - Terry

[gadget]

My 2 cents
Should just get rid of the new picture banner, or at least be able to customize it to show other categories.
Great forum and can’t wait for spring

[Randy4ut]

Covered all three, didn't you Gadget!!!

[MediaHound]

Originally Posted by Richard

There are seven galleries for bananas and one members gallery for general photos. What is missing is a gallery for Edible Bananas, otherwise all the bases appear to be covered.

Been there, done that. We had that category and it got something like ZERO photos uploaded to it. The few that were there I migrated into the respective members' galleries and we did away with that category. It looked bad, the other categories were getting photos and that remained so low... We tested it, it didn't take on. Whats cool is that we CAN try different things, so I like your thinking. If something does not work, take it down and redo it. We can redo the site over and over. Many parts and features of the site have taken on and many have not. So we rinse and repeat... and experiment all the time.

[MediaHound]

OK I have an idea and partial solution that will help.
(well I had the idea, then I scrolled down till Gadget's post, and he has it also )

How about, like Gadget suggested - only pictures from certain galleries will appear on the homepage. Typical uploads will not appear, unless its placed in one of the drill-down specific categories. And so if a member wishes to give a photo good homepage exposure, just add it to the proper category and it will show. Regular member folders and albums would be excluded. Sound good?
That would remove the run of the mill photos from appearing on the homepage, because the way it is now, all photos that get added get added to the homepage. The way it works now is the seven most recent photos, regardless of category, will appear. I can add some code to change what shows up and what does not, so this is a simple fix and will perhaps reap big rewards.
As we grow, we compensate for the changes that have happened and I think its about time we change that around.
I think that will solve a lot of the frustration some members get when they see non-banana pictures on the homepage, it will probably pretty much eliminate that.

[STEELVIPER]

cool.

[natedogg1026]

Guys, Can't we all just get along. I hate to see everyone squabbling over something that seems to be blown way out of proportion. Way too many scorecards right now. I love this site and have learned a lot from it but but I hate to see threads go bad:2780:. I think there have been a lot of valid points made in order to resolve the issue but a lot was said which fed the fire. Lynn, I hope your really not leaving. You are a part of this family and your posts are enjoyed. Let's work it out as James seemed to do with the problems he had in the past. I agree,the pic posting is a little out of hand but I'm sure we can resolve this, Jarred is on top of it. I bet he would gladly take input from everyone as long as its POSITIVE. There are a lot of members who I've yet to know but I'm only a PM away. Those that I have chatted with have really made me smile and taught me a lot. And the hall of fame thing, Score keeping. Congrats to all who have made it but lets not get carried away with the seriousness of it. It's meant to be for fun. I think a lot of us just have a case of cabin fever which may cause us to get a little sidetracked from the nanas but spring is just around the corner!! -NATE

[tlturbo]

I gotta admit, taking the time to line up the lawn mower, banana plant and dog made me laugh. Now that's Cabin Fever. BUT the banana is supposed to be the BIGGEST of the 3.

And Hello Nate.

Terry

[Ahava]

Mayhaps there should be a thread catagory that's titled something like "Life After Bananas" or some such, where people can post things (within reason) about their pets, cars, or a topics like that, where they can get to know each other a little more. Because the thing that attracted me to this board, was not only the bananas but the family oriented atsmophere, and the willingness to help (Thanks so much Ms Kitty for all the help you've given me... and everyone else). So if there are those that are not interested, then they do not have to go to that thread and look at what they feel is too non-banana oriented. I think it would be a shame if this forum did turn militant and kill off the familyish (forgive the spelling) atsmosphere. To me that's apart of this forum's charm, and because people have opened up about themselves, and are willing to share some personal things about themselves, makes me feel a little more trust towards them, makes them seem more human so to speak. Like alot of others said, it is wintertime for many, and there's only so much you can do with bananas when you can step outside your door and step into a snow drift (love that winter's picture thread Taylor!) However I look forward to spring whatever it will bring us, and I'm sure with springtime and warmth alot of the "experts" will come back to regale us with their knowledge again because it is... the growing season. Just my two cents. Thank you all. ~Amber/Ahava

[Zac in NC]

I am one from the way back group, from dang near the beginning of the forum. I happen to be a serious plant person, as many of you who know me already can attest to. I am a member of many forums and I do enjoy a few which are more generalized than this one, more to exotic gardening. I do know that the one forum I am thinking of, which I enjoy immensely is a primarily British group and we do cut up, but we are usually respectful and lots of great plant knowledge is shared amongst the banter.

I left the forum for several reasons, one of them was I moved and didn't really have the time to be on the forum, and another was that there was a bit of a silly fight over Siam Ruby and I decided to leave for a while as well. I am back and shocked that the forum has I hate to use this word, but deteriorated while I was gone. I personally don't come here to see pictures of dogs and tractors and other things, but I tend to stay on the on topic areas ( on this forum) as it is my choice which threads to read and which ones to ignore.

Maybe there should be a trial period when new people join, that they are monitored more than they are. I'd like to see the forum go back to the way it used to be, with truly serious posters with good information. This forum used to be one of the top places to hear almost scholarly posts about new banana information. Nowadays, I just go to Gabe and talk about it, because he's on the cutting edge and I happen to call him a great friend.

I may be serious on the plant stuff, but I do have a sense of humor and am not uptight, so don't go there and attack me, ok? I'll just throw this idea out there.......Perhaps this forum should go to being a paid membership forum, with benefits to members. I don't know what benefits off hand, but its just an idea.

Zac

[jason]

Originally Posted by MediaHound

OK I have an idea and partial solution that will help.
(well I had the idea, then I scrolled down till Gadget's post, and he has it also )

How about, like Gadget suggested - only pictures from certain galleries will appear on the homepage. Typical uploads will not appear, unless its placed in one of the drill-down specific categories. And so if a member wishes to give a photo good homepage exposure, just add it to the proper category and it will show. Regular member folders and albums would be excluded. Sound good?
That would remove the run of the mill photos from appearing on the homepage, because the way it is now, all photos that get added get added to the homepage. The way it works now is the seven most recent photos, regardless of category, will appear. I can add some code to change what shows up and what does not, so this is a simple fix and will perhaps reap big rewards.
As we grow, we compensate for the changes that have happened and I think its about time we change that around.
I think that will solve a lot of the frustration some members get when they see non-banana pictures on the homepage, it will probably pretty much eliminate that.

I am as much as the next person a banana freak,,but still think it would be nice to be able to post a picture of a palm or a heliconia,or a canna,or a ginger or a alocasia or philodendron etc..... I feel as long as it is a plant or something related to plants -tropicals,or some lighting setup for your plants that it should be allowed,,,having so many different cool plants i feel it would only be a shame to only allow just bananas to be posted so everyone could see them,,just my opion,Jason. But I do understand it is bananas.org and not TROPICALS R US . hey theirs an idea!!!LOL!!!

[the flying dutchman]

It has all to do with the fast growth of the board. I think these are minor
problems wich can be solved.
Within an year we will have 1000 more members and that will make running
the board not easier.

Now, I think i know the board ZAC is talking about, but this has only 300+
members sofar.
And he and I know what happened to the other English board when they
had around 800 members, its not there anymore. It has split up in 2
seperate boards because of all kind of nasty posts and attacks on mods
and even on the owner.
I have seen this all happening and I don't hope this happens here.

Ron

[modenacart]

I don't understand what all the griping is about, as long as people post bananas in the banana part of the board and all else in Tiki Hut then if people don't want to read the Tiki Hut then they don't have to click on that link. Its very easy not to click on the link of something you don't want to read.

Also, no one should be attacking our moderators, they have done an excellent job.

[Randy4ut]

very well said Modenacart... Especially about the admin and mods!!!