I always looked forward to his poetic posts.

Sure would like to know how he is doing.

Florence

Ingrid

I do believe that Devon was banished to Disneyland. I think this happened not once but twice. Although I have to agree with Peggy that there was a question in mind about the posh home and pool I did enjoy his posts and contribution to the forum.

Not sure what to say except I know he does still read the Rose Forums. I talked to him earlier this summer and he just felt discouraged about trying to participate again. The 'moderators' here take their job rather seriously it seems and have zero tolerance for any conversation that discusses Disneyland. I would not be shocked if this post disappears in fact. Which is really quite silly.

Peggy:

Hot Topics is a current events forum here on Garden Web. Kind of a free for all but also monitored by the GW gods so there are rules I hear. Link below.

Kate

I feel hopelessly out of the loop here. Is Disneyland an ingroup code word?

Carla

Devon was banned a while back for issues related to his comments on Hot Topics. Its pretty liberal over there and not a good place to post if you have conservative viewpoints and feel strongly about them.

Hope that helps,
Ronda

I rarely read Devon's posts -- they didn't appeal to me at all.

I've been posting over there since last January with no trouble. Unfortunately, I was out of town the week-end that both Devon and Pete got themselves banned, so I don't know exactly what happened. But its not just conservatives who get themselves in trouble. I've seen some rather liberal posters get banned also.

Seriously, get the feel of the place before you post over there. At first it seems like a free-for-all, but it is not. There are limits, though it may not appear so at times. They certainly are not shy over there--but usually I enjoy the verbal wrestling that goes on.

If you are looking more for sympathy and a supportive environment, it probably is not the place for you.

By the way, I just posted a defense of the rose forums over there. LOL.

Kate

I agree, I miss those guys. The more points of view the better. The more people posting the better.
Anita

Carla

-chipper

I like the intellectual challenge a place like Hot Topics provides, but I also know that if I say something really dumb or provocative, I'm going to get jumped on. That's just the way that place works.

What I'm trying to do is to help some posters if they want to explore Hot Topics. Lurk for awhile until you get the way it works. Don't come charging in with a defensive attitude or a chip on your shoulder. They are not going to let you browbeat them. Just bring your normal self over. I don't know why, but sometimes Rose Forum posters completely switch personalities when they are over at HT, and the HT personality is sometimes rather mean or offensive or aggressive. In fact, that is what got the HT posters wondering about what kind of people post over here.

And please, don't misunderstand the situation. HT posters cannot run off anybody. If a new poster aggressively steps over the line that I-Village/Gardenweb has drawn, I-Village/Gardenweb is the one who banishes them--same way it works over here.

Myself, I wish more posters would enjoy BOTH forums like I do, but I can understand if some posters don't like HT. Different strokes for different folks, after all. LOL

Kate

P.S. Really, I'm not trying to start a war between the two forums. I'm trying to see if we can all avoid misunderstandings.

I've also recently started posting at Hot Topics and hope I'm not considered one of the "bad" rose people. My intent is always to stick to the subject, not get into personalities, and address the issues to the best of my abilities. It's not for the faint of heart over there, but on the plus side I see quite a few very intelligent and thoughtful posts, people who make me feel I'm out of their league because of their superior knowledge and analytical powers. But I enjoy having my horizons expanded and regard it as a free education. I have my loyalties to certain candidates but respect others' point of view also if it's presented in an approporiate way. Unfortunaly one does have to wade through some inflammatory and biased rhetoric with no supporting facts for statements made in order to get to the good stuff. Still worthwhile in my view and in fact I've been very stimulated by many of the threads.

Ingrid

And don't you worry--you do great over on HT. I've admired many of your arguments and your very reasonable approach.

Get back to you soon.

Kate

Lots of anger in those days, spittle and uncivilized tit-for-tat swordplay. I would leave the computer angry and feeling diminished. And this crept into my real life interactions, too.

Life has enough conflict, why seek more?

Yes, the rose forum is a good way to come down from the over-stimulated environment over there at HT. But I confess--I enjoy the stimulation over there, though some days I say, I've had it--the whole world has gone screwy--and I go out and weed my rosebeds instead.

On the other hand, I can remember a couple of over-stimulated arguments that have gone on over here in the rose forum--some rather negative language emerged in the heat of battle.

Someone is probably going to shut us down here for being off-topic or move us over to the "conversations" side. So let me report that yelling at your non-performing rose and threatening to ban it from the spot to some obscure corner where no one will ever see it again has a very stimulating effect on the rose. My reluctant Mayflower has suddenly burst into rich luscious bloom for the first time in its three year existence in that spot.

Kate

Ersatz bravado serves no constructive purpose...

(okay, I'll stop being so preachy now)

Sammy

That's the problem with the written word, isn't it--can't see the big grin on the other person's face. LOL

Kate

That's the problem with the written word, isn't it--can't see the big grin on the other person's face. LOL

Kate

If you venture to HT, be prepared. There a number of people there who know a great deal about politics and current events. They will "correct" you if you are mistaken.