I've been a member of this site since it's inception and I've always thought of garden.org as a learning site for plant lovers with all levels of experience; a place where everyone is made to feel comfortable about asking questions, chatting, sharing photos and gardening experiences and learning from one another and I find it very sad that some new members may never return to the site due to condescending, negative sounding replies that they've received to their questions. We were all new to plants and gardening at one time or another and should try to be kind with our answers to those who are are new to the hobby. Sometimes we need to think twice before typing a reply and hitting the finished/send button.
I realize that as humans, we can have different personalities, our circumstances may be different, we may have different levels of education and knowledge but even with those differences, we should always try to be kind to one another. I know it's sometimes difficult to interpret the written word in the manner in which it was truly meant but it really bothers me when I see a comment that comes across as blatantly snarky, mocking, or irritable in nature, especially when the comment is made to a new member who may have just acquired their very first plant and joined garden.org to seek helpful advice.
As another member recently commented, "Please ... educate gently."
