It means debate, discussion, posting your doubts, failures and successes, showing your trees, applauding nice trees or techniques posted by other members, agreeing, disagreeing, making the conversation go deeper than a superficial "like".

[start rant]
It DOESN'T mean repeating like a choked up parrot:
"Put it outside"
"Water when the soil feels dry"
"Don't move it around"
"Your stick is not a bonsai"
"This is a Ginseng Ficus, grafted"

Ok, it IS nice to give basic directions to newbies, but I guess most beginners don't stick around this forum, even lurking in the dark silence, because they don't see nice debates.
Or nice trees being posted.
Or new techniques being tried.
WATHEVER.

It's a continuous succession of very basic answers from one timers, and brief responses from the same 10 people...

[/end rant]

Good point there!

I tried discussions when I started here. And we all know how that ended. I am still around, but know many that tried as well that has left. Too bad, Since a forum dont really have a big value to me without discussions.

Thank you Clicio for this. I have been trying to compose this but couldn't get it right.

Most newbies aren't dumb. We should give them reasons instead of dictating blind actions.

Ivan wrote:

Most newbies aren't dumb.

Exactly.
They cannot be afraid of asking for advice.

but maybe, maybe it is better, wiser not to reply on every threat. I'm rather keep my thoughts for myself then insulting people or give totaly wrong advise, just for the sake of giving comments.
(If this make sense to you, have to improve my english skills)

FrankC wrote:

but maybe, maybe it is better, wiser not to reply on every threat. I'm rather keep my thoughts for myself then insulting people or give totaly wrong advise, just for the sake of giving comments.
(If this make sense to you, have to improve my english skills)

FrankC, I agree.
If one has nothing to say that is helpful, maybe it is better to be quiet in that topic.
As for your English skills, its alright, if we can understand the meaning of your thoughts.... That's what matters.

FrankC wrote:

but maybe, maybe it is better, wiser not to reply on every threat. I'm rather keep my thoughts for myself then insulting people or give totaly wrong advise, just for the sake of giving comments.
(If this make sense to you, have to improve my english skills)

What's wrong with your English skills? I don't have any problem.

This is a good point. If somebody else has said put the tree outside why should I say it, too? I might add to the reply some reasons, like bugs and air flow. If the newbies are going to get anywhere in the hobby they have to know why to do things, and not just blindly follow orders.

Yup. I know I frequent the forum less and less for lack of interesting topics and if you post something you get very few reactions.

leatherback wrote:

Yup. I know I frequent the forum less and less for lack of interesting topics and if you post something you get very few reactions.

Yes, and this is a pity, really.
Bonsai Empire is such a rich source of good info with the videos, courses, the search tool of this forum...
I wish people understood the importance of a place where one can debate trees, design, horticulture, and sometimes laugh together.
Don't let it die.

I would like to see more pictures of trees here, Good, bad or average does not matter. And this thought stroke me:.

In koi exibitions the judges are teached to give 5 positive feedbacks on the fish before delivering any criticism.

What I have seen on bonsai shows is similar kind of feedback.

I Think that kind of feedback to beginners and experienced as well would promote more members to stay and get involved.