Explaining origin of bonsai advice

[ShadyStump]

In my experience, those who are still tempted after my efforts to dissuade them, are the ones that are serious. And again in my experience, this is a very slim minority. Like almost everything else in life, most people, in my humble experience, like the idea of a thing more than the thing itself. In bonsai I feel the reverse is true.

I'll not argue with your reasoning or motivations. In fact I agree with both wholeheartedly, but maybe not the conclusion you came to.

I often give away cuttings from my ficus as gifts, and as I have more variety I'll give those away too. It's actually becoming almost a tradition at my recovery meetings.
There, and whenever I'm asked about hobbies or the like by anyone, bonsai is on the list, and usually garners some questions. I'll never try to dissuade anyone from trying it, but I'll let them know that it's quite the rabbit hole (Is this term becoming cliched around here? It's an apt description, and I'm at a loss for anything else.) that it can be more complicated than it looks, and it's going to take a long time. I always include how the IDEA of it fits in alright with my other pursuits, but the real life maintenance doesn't.
Hence ficus benjamina - usually potted in a tin can - are my chosen housewarming gifts. They're a fairly easy house plant for anyone interested in that angle, and if the recipient decides that bonsai might be in it's future, I'm here to tell them what I've already screwed up.

 

[bbk]

You say "humour," we say "humor" let's call the whole thing off...Don't get me started on "colour" You Brits seem to like extraneous silent letters that serve no purpose. We 'mericans cut to the chase.

Except I am not British…

There are a lot of things that make sense with what American has done to the English spelling, but there is a lot that doesn’t, and a lot of things you haven’t touched, so best not to preach, especially as it is English, a throughly confused language, that has been bastardised over centuries and doesn’t make much sense at all when you start looking at it. It is a wonder it largely became the worlds second language.

 

[Paradox]

Except I am not British…

There are a lot of things that make sense with what American has done to the English spelling, but there is a lot that doesn’t, and a lot of things you haven’t touched, so best not to preach, especially as it is English, a throughly confused language, that has been bastardised over centuries and doesn’t make much sense at all when you start looking at it. It is a wonder it largely became the worlds second language.

Yea it is really weird how much it has been changed. It always amazes me how some words have one meaning in the UK for example and totally different meaning in the US.

 

[Pixar]

Britain's Salt Act of 1882 prohibited Indians from collecting or selling salt, a staple in their diet. Indian citizens were forced to buy the vital mineral from their British rulers, who, in addition to exercising a monopoly over the manufacture and sale of salt, also charged a heavy salt tax.

 

[Paradox]

Britain's Salt Act of 1882 prohibited Indians from collecting or selling salt, a staple in their diet. Indian citizens were forced to buy the vital mineral from their British rulers, who, in addition to exercising a monopoly over the manufacture and sale of salt, also charged a heavy salt tax.

Random
How is this relevant to the discussion?

 

[Pixar]

How is this relevant to the discussion?

Show‘s you how really stupid the British were then

 

[Paradox]

Show‘s you how really stupid the British were then

Actually I think it was a calculated move by the British to get more money. They were good at finding ways to tax and overtax the colonists and native Americans.

It worked until people had enough, revolted and dumped their tea into Boston Harbor.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Like almost everything else in life, most people, in my humble experience, like the idea of a thing more than the thing itself. In bonsai I feel the reverse is true.

My wife and I have this conversation regarding e-bikes on mountain bike trails. I have found that after the initial rush of people buying ebikes, the only ones still riding them are the ones who were riding mountain bikes in the first place... but who got older and just wanted a little assistance during their rides so they could continue to enjoy doing what they enjoyed doing in the first place.

People who walk past a bike store, see an e-bike in the window, and think "wow I've always wanted to mountain bike!" you probably aren't going to see often, if ever, on the trails. Because if they liked it that much, they would have already been doing it.

I have found that many people who get into bonsai and stay with it were already heavy into gardening, or landscaping, or even just keeping trees because they liked trees. Though there are certainly exceptions. The first time I saw a bonsai I was 11. I remember it to this day because it was something I had never seen before and never new existed. It opened a new world to me that I remembered over the years until such time that I could actually practice it.

 

[Michael P]

How is this relevant to the discussion?

Why complain now? By my count, 48% of the posts in this thread are irrelevant to the original question.

 

[Paradox]

Why complain now? By my count, 48% of the posts in this thread are irrelevant to the original question.

Wasnt a complaint really. It seemed so random considering the British were only mentioned regarding differences in the English language

 

[ShadyStump]

Wasnt a complaint really. It seemed so random considering the British were only mentioned regarding differences in the English language

I believe @Pixar has been reconnecting with his heritage after a recent trip to India on family business, and is finding connections all over.

 

[sorce]

I think the other, even worse problem with any advice, is no one ever qualifies the state of the tree at the moment.

So doing anything is actually on you.

Even great advice can have Terrible Timing I reckon.

Sorce

 

[rockm]

Except I am not British…

There are a lot of things that make sense with what American has done to the English spelling, but there is a lot that doesn’t, and a lot of things you haven’t touched, so best not to preach, especially as it is English, a throughly confused language, that has been bastardised over centuries and doesn’t make much sense at all when you start looking at it. It is a wonder it largely became the worlds second language.

Except you need to fill out that info in your profile, so as far as preaching, do that so we're not guessing what you are.

 

[bbk]

Except you need to fill out that info in your profile, so as far as preaching, do that so we're not guessing what you are.

Not sure it would have helped given the post you were replying to, I actually said I was Australian.

 

[bbk]

Actually I think it was a calculated move by the British to get more money. They were good at finding ways to tax and overtax the colonists and native Americans.

It worked until people had enough, revolted and dumped their tea into Boston Harbor.

Yes. And cruel. Like Bonsai.

I don’t know anything about that. But given the salt mines of places like Poland and the likes of the Dutch East Indies I am assuming salt was probably a valuable commodity too in that era.

 

[rockm]

Not sure it would have helped given the post you were replying to, I actually said I was Australian.

Yeah, it would have. That is why we ask you put your ID in your avatar at the left.

 

[bbk]

Confirming what I thought. People on this forum don’t actually read what you post!!

 

[Paradox]

Confirming what I thought. People on this forum don’t actually read what you post!!

Its not that. You did post it after he said you were British.

Having your location in your profile helps so people don't have to repeatedly ask where someone is when giving bonsai advice.
There are 26,000 members of this forum and we are never going to remember where everyone says they are in a post last month let alone last year.
I look at people's profiles all the time to see where they are when I am discussing something with them.

 

[bbk]

I agree that having the location in profile helps when seeking advice. I will make sure I do that before I ask.