What's changed is that Spike no longer runs the forum as he did for so long - iVillage bought Gardenweb and doesn't 'oversee' it in the same way, plus for a long time everyone was finding their posts accompanied by ads, which they then had to write disclaimers about - that they had nothing to do with the ads personally! So just about everyone left except for a very few, and the 'new' bonsai forums such as Bonsaisite, Bonsaitalk and IBC have picked up a lot more of the action. You're right, it's pathetic!

You can still find a lot of great information and new exciting discussion at:

http://www.bonsaitalk.com
http://www.bonsainut.com and
http://www.bonsaichat.org

The pop up and sliding ads are enough to drive plenty of folks away. Every time I come here, I'm frustrated by those things.
Unfortunately, it also becomes a downward spiral. Fewer people come, so there are fewer people to answer questions, and fewer questions asked, and on and on it goes.
Sometimes I stop by to read what's going on, and it seems like Lucy is the only one here answering any questions. Tough to keep something going with such little support.

Sorry, this is slightly off-topic, but I wanted to mention that I never see pop-ups or banners anymore. A year or so ago, I installed Adaware (I think). That and the Google task bar block 98% of the ads. I wouldn't mind a discrete ad or two, but I really object to the flashing, moving, blinking ones, or the ones that take over the screen or get in front of what you're trying to read. Mozilla Firefox, also free, is good for getting rid of pop-ups. Your computer will also be much faster without all the junk.

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Pop Up

Thats corporate america for you.

Your right, if you install IE 7, it has automatic pop up blocker, it works very nice. I rarly get the sliding ones.

bonsaikc, which of those sites do you most recement for the quality of questions and answers.

Thanks.

-Bill