I do not post here often, but I have been reading for several years. It would seem to me that nearly any time I read a post by bangkok, bsbullie (name seems apt) jumps all over it with personal insults and foul- language or -references. I have never been able to see why, nor do I understand why that type of behavior is allowed on a forum, nor why any member would find it necessary to take the life of another member so personally. It is certainly unpleasant for other readers, and a reason that people such as myself do not post too often on these forums. There seems a lot of animosity and egotism that in my world have very little to connect itself with the simple and pure love of growing fruit. One would think after all these years of gardening, people would be chilled out and happy, not obsessing over whether or not another invisible poster is for real.
Sure, information should be correct, but there is a civil way to discuss such issues, and there is very little joy here. There seems to be more focus on fruit genetic elitism and expert techniques and latin names than simple love of the wonder that is growing one's own living being that sprouts strange and beautiful fruit for you year after year. It seems common for forum members to jump all over someone who is growing anything but the most elite fruit (as if all palates and preferences and budgets are the same), just to insult them with "why would you even bother to grow that fruit, it is not the superior cultivar?" or "that will never grow there" or "you are not growing the fruit in its optimal conditions, you should use more expensive/sophisticated methods" in response to a picture, rather than enjoy a simple discussion on the thread about the posted topic. Some people enjoy the variety, and the challenge, of new and different fruit, even if it is not ideal to the conditions or location in which it is grown, or does not produce stellar fruit. There is a lot of correction and criticism of members who are beginners and simple hobbyists of fruit growing - the majority of people in the world do not know scientific names and are never going to do this professionally, and so I have gotten PMs from a number of people who feel intimidated and like the forum is exclusionary and elitist, rather than truly open to all, and actually FUN.
Just an observation, which I know from multiple private messages (I guess some beginners/newcomers write me because they get the impression I am more accessible?)that I am not the only one on the forum feeling. I wouldn't have mentioned it, but it seems like a number of people were weighing in here regarding appropriate forum practices. I personally would value a pleasant forum experience far above accurate information posted in an offensive and belittling way. Life is too short to spend on online forums that are not fun to read or post to. It's just unfortunate that one cannot have great knowledge, and also basic civility, in the same forum, because it's not like there are a lot of online forums with the wealth of information about obscure species found here at TFF to give much freedom of choice if you want to discuss rare and exciting fruits.
On topic for the thread, all of these posts do give me concern for whether my own Maha is really true... but given that I haven't even tasted one yet, I guess the biggest concern is whether when it finally grows I like it, whatever it is! I thought this might be its first year of fruit, but sadly I didn't get to pruning of another tree until too late to provide my Maha with the amount of sun it needed for panicle production. At least my Mallika, which was in a full sun location already and the same age, managed what are currently 7 of its first little fruits. I am hoping to taste at least one this year, with the rest sacrificed for the benefit of the tree. I'm just waiting to see which one looks like it has the best chance. Hopefully my Maha will produce something next year, and if I'm lucky I'll finally find someone local (maybe Robert is Here?) this year with some special fruit so I can at least taste a Maha Chanok!
