Sue and Zuzu - I'm sure I remember that "poor widow" with 28 acres! I was the first to get PayPal to refund my money and others followed me but so many people were hurt financially with her scheme. I remember the photos of the dying plants, waiting to be shipped.

People who sign up for multiple accounts in order to beg for free plants do get banned and I've banned a number of people at ATP like that.

There is one from Omaha, NE who signs up every few months and I consistently ban her account every time I see her.

I don't like policing things but some people just are way too disruptive. Repeated offenses really leave no choice but to ban them.

Dave, I was aware that you are able to 'see' which computers are signing up so can see when duplicate identities are attempted, but how will you know if these offenders are begging for free plants if they are only doing so via the Tree-mail system? Should members let you know when this type of Tree-mail is received so you can be aware of who they are?

I do get notified of suspicious people sometimes. But don't let that mean that you should contact me everytime you get a tree mail from someone asking for plants.

greene said:Swayback, since your posts, meaningful as they are, do not address the original question posed by the OP pirl, might I respectfully recommend you visit a thread on ATP called Happy People - Open Thread. It's a good place to tell folks how happy you are to share your plants.

I beg to differ, the question was something to the tune of do we ask Dave to police these issues.
I responded with a clear answer, no!
He shouldn't!
I also added that it's a shame in my eyes to see folks driven to this point, if we all just mark our lists private... Well I guess I'll just have to find a board that's more welcoming.
And added my point of view. Which was/is, very much the opposite of the original poster... I tip toed around it in hopes of not offending others, knowing that's not possible...
Can't please everyone...

Nothing I've said is aimed at any person, here or otherwise, just a general observation...

I appreciate your suggestion to move to the happy people thread, just not sure what would make you think that's appropriate... I notice a grumpy people thread started this year(I think) that seems like a more apt thread for me...

Thread unwatched.... Enjoy "your" plants...

I had made a post on May 22 that Swayback apparently did not like; this is not the first time since his long absence from ATP that he is displeased with me. No, nothing personal... Swayback says that Dave answered 'no'...Dave's post was made on May 25...three days after my post...so why point it out to me at this time? I have no clue. We all saw Dave's post at the same time; I could not have foreseen the answer three days in advance. I'm good; but I'm not that good.

This is getting pretty ugly and I have no clue why. Pirl is not here on ATP to sell plants; Swayback IS here on ATP to sell plants. If a person wants to comment on the problems and possible solutions when new folks start making unwelcome requests for free plants, then yes, this is the thread to post on. If folks want to sell plants, trade plants, talk about how happy they are to do so, this is not the thread for that purpose. Am I wrong? Since posting plants for sale/trade seemed pretty obvious, I suggested that Swayback might share his joy on the 'happy' thread. I was sincere and meant no harm.

Can we get back to the purpose of the thread?

Thanks, Greene!

You weren't wrong and I'm not sure why he seemed to be offended.