Re: People Leaving the List

I have been on the list for a couple of years.  There are always ups and 
downs - times when the information is great, times when the hijinks are 
spirited and enjoyable, and lots of other times when it is more tedious and 
occasionally even rancorous.

Like Marv, I have been concerned lately that many of our most knowledgeable 
anchors seem not to be participating very much if at all.  I attribute this 
to a new development which I have not experienced on PUMPKINS before.  In 
the last few months a couple of personalities have chosen to bulldoze in 
here with big egos and bad information.  Before this phase, people may have 
spoken incorrectly or may have speculated about unknown areas...  This is 
fine, and in the past when someone accidentally said something incorrect and 
a more experienced grower came along and said, "I beg to differ... ", there 
was a deferral to greater experience, an acknowledgement that one may have 
been incorrect, or a respectful discussion of the issue.   But this new 
attitude is ego-driven.  There is no deferral, no room for difference, just 
mean-spirited argument in return and these people are compelled to respond 
to nearly every post!   So we have a few people out there giving out truly 
bad information and they are darn happy to fight about it.  It's not worth 
arguing with them or even countering the bad information.  You know what 
they are saying is wrong, but life is just too short to engage with people 
like that.  I suspect many of our most experienced growers are more tired of 
this attitude than of naive questions from newcomers.

I feel sorry for the newbies who come in here expecting good information.  
Too often they just get people who are happy to dish out advice, yet who 
have NEVER EVEN GROWN A LARGE PUMPKIN!

So anyway, Marv, I commiserate.  I hope the list will rebound again.  I 
believe it will.   And to all the newbies out there, I have some very 
important advice.  Know your source.  Don't be afraid to ask advice-givers 
how long they have been growing and what pumpkins they have grown.  This is 
not to say a "young" grower can't have good information, many do.  But 
anybody offering good information will be happy to tell you how they've 
learned and what their experience is.

I will also say that the vast vast majority of people on this list are 
extraordinary people with wonderful attitudes and a lot of integrity, no 
matter how long they've been growing.  Most of us are here to learn and 
share both knowledge about growing and the excitement of giant pumpkins.  I 
believe the list is going through another of its inevitable dark phases and 
will still be here plugging along loving pumpkins after the egos have moved 
on to some other pursuit.

Good growing, everyone.  I guess I'll be in hot water now, too.

Beth

p.s.  Personally, I've filtered two individuals, and MY email is much more 
enjoyable again, but I know they are still out there affecting the list.


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