REMEMBER: NO DISCUSSION OF CURRENT EVENTS

Just a reminder: it's going to become very tempting to discuss current events as more and more things happen in the world, but DG continues as it has all these years.

Any thread or post that makes mention of any current events-related item will be deleted, and a warning will be issued to the poster. If it's going on "out there", then it's not appropriate to discuss "in here".

Folks can still get their news from:

http://www.cnn.com/
http://www.foxnews.com/

and there are, no doubt, lots of places to find discussion about these events. DG isn't one of them.

Thanks and have a happy gardening evening!
Dave

Thanks Dave,I agree,I come here for gardening fun.

This is my news-free zone for the most part. I can get the dirty details elsewhere. DG, like my own yard and gardens, is my retreat. We all need one.

AMEN...

Thanks dave, this is where I come when I need a lift. This is my retreat as well.

Total agreement!!

If I really want to get into a blazing, no-holds barred, no-quarter-given completely unresolvable political arguement and get called lots of nasty names, I can always just call up my dear ol' Dad... ;)

DG is for Gardening, and its associate joys.

I agree!!!!

Glad Dave's is a "STRESS FREE ZONE"!!!!!!

Honeybee

As I scan through the posts, I'm spotting comments and references here and there, mostly requesting or offering prayers and thoughts of encouragement for our troops; also some posts about family members in the military, etc.

I'm asking/pleading with those of you who are tempted to push the line on Dave's request - please don't.

It makes it much more difficult on those of us who administer this site to play judge and jury on every post, which is not how I want to spend my "DG time."

If you're thinking "how could anyone be opposed to a posting that asks for prayers for our military men and women?", look at it from the other side. If you were vehemently opposed to the war, it would probably set your teeth on edge to be told you couldn't post your thoughts on the matter, while those who support the war are allowed to slide in comments and references, no matter how well intentioned those comments might be.

I sincerely doubt that any DG member is truly neutral on the subject, and once the comments get started, it's very difficult (impossible) to undo the damage from things spoken in the heat of an escalating debate.

Let's keep DG the place we can go to get away from the rest of the world, okay?

I see nothing wrong with requesting prayers for family or friends who are serving their country.
In the proper forum of course.

Paul

Paul: There is nothing wrong with that at all, but it's currently not allowed on DG. I'm not interested in having a repeat of the garbage that flooded this site after 9/11.

I realize it would be easier to just get rid of all non-gardening forums on the site, but nobody wants to do that. So, instead we have to setup rules, and enforce them.

Dave

Paul, Dave addresses that topic here:

http://davesgarden.com/t/376219/

As Terry stated above, comments are made, things escalate, and damage is done.

Good to have Dave's as a place to find some escape!

Folks, When I started the thread about my granddaughter, Amy....it was NEVER my intent to have it be a "Current Event"!! She is used to me sharing some of the things from DG, and mentioned them in an email...and I posted it. I don't think I have ventured an opinion one way or another on the war...but have posted how proud I am of Amy. If you think I should shut down that thread...then consider it done! I do not want to cause any trouble on DG. Love & Hugs Jo

Jo
If you decide to shut it down plz keep me informed via email.

Paul

Private email very well may be the only way to safely discuss this issue.

Dave

As one who has been here at DG from nearly the beginning,I've seen what happens when innocent discussions get inflamed.

We are a worldwide community,and need to be respectful of that.

Just remember that no matter how passionately you feel in regards to a subject,someone else feels just as passionately about the opposite view.

Let's all remain friends and keep our heads.Dave is right,there are many places out there on the web to discuss current events.This place was created for the love of gardening,and many of us have gained much more by some priceless friendships.Let's remember that as we post.

I guess I am still a relative newcomer to DG.

It's been my pleasure to exchange a couple of emails with Dave on exactly this topic. From this exchange I learned that Dave carefully weighs decisions such as this one against the larger goal of fulfilling his vision of an active, on~line gardening resource, offering a home to an international community of people who love plants, whether it be as a professional greenhouse or market grower, farmer or someone who just putters around in the dirt for fun (myself).

In the process of assembling this comunity, Dave has helped educate thousands of people, created one of the largest and most accessible databases of accurate plant images and information available anywhere, and introduced uncounted strangers to each other, helping them become friends.

By any standard of measurement, all of this is an important achievement.

I think that if we all take a step back and try to see how complex some of these decisions Dave is obliged to make really are, as he tries to serve the largest potential membership and stay true to his vision, we'd all be impressed by the scale of the undertaking and the weight he sometimes must bear.

Ultimately, by helping people create bonds of shared interest and friendship across religious, political and geographical boundaries, Dave is fulfilling a high calling..., that of being a peacemaker.

We owe him our thanks.

Adam.
(Edited for spelling.)



This message was edited Friday, Mar 21st 10:39 AM

Amen and amen..........nothing like the backlash of 911 ever again!!

"eyes"

What a lovely -- and accurate -- tribute to Dave and all who help him to administer DG, Adam.

Wow, just found all of this...I apologize if I offended anyone with my post, "BOYS". It was not my intention at all.
I really didn't have any idea I was breaking any rules . Soooooo sorry Dave.
Meems

Has this thread been added to everyone's initial watch list? Might be a good idea so all will know. There are a great number of new people here who don't know about how awful things got here for a while and the reason for this rule.

I agree with Terry and Dave ! We are a world wide gardenforum and we are calling friends at Dave´s each other.

I think we should go on with these thinks and nothing else.

Greetings

Ludger

Adam, so well said! Most of us probably have no clue as to the amount of time and thought Dave has to put into every single decision. It's almost like running a large corporation without a board of directors. No matter what the decision, someone is bound to feel like their views are neutral and should be allowed. But in the final analysis, this is a worldwide forum with widely diverging opinions and viewpoints. Dave's Garden is like a garden center that decided to put in a snack bar and club room for its regular patrons and then found someone wanted a bar added. There must be limits, and I appreciate a firm line so I know what they are.

Ditto to what Aimee said. I love the garden center comparison.

No Bar?!?! Gads!! ;)

Does this include asking for prayer for a family member who has been wonded there and asking for prayer for their safe return home?

Well said Dave.

Let's keep Pandora's box firmly closed.


Wintermoor

I'm afraid so, Windsurffer.

Windsurfer
I'm not usually one to complain, but somehow this policy at this time just doesn't sit right with me.
How sad.
Especially in the prayer forum.

Paul

Sorry prayer is not acceptable for our troops, something wrong with this picture.. maybe you could ask for prayers for them as someone wounded in another part of the world..We would all get the message and understand what you meant..
Larkie

edited for spelling

This message was edited Saturday, Mar 29th 10:23 AM

Paul,

It is extremely sad - far more than you could know. The sad thing is that hateful folks have come to defile DG in the past, to cause disruption between the good folks here (especially among the Christians we have here).

We have -never- had a period of DG's history where, when any debate was allowed to run its course, positive things came out of it.

I'll not be operating a website where folks attack each other. They can go do that on their own turf.

Dave

Dave
I guess the bottom line is thats its so sad for the world to be in such a state of affairs.
When a few radicals can change peaceful, law abiding citizens way of life.
Enough said.

Paul

You got it, Paul. That's exactly right.

It's ok on the Prayer forum isn't it??

Azalea, see Windsurffer's post above, and Dave's response.

Dave,

I am a new member and I really want to support you. I just visited another gardening site and was appalled. Every where I looked, there were attacks on every issue. I will not visit that site again. I was so happy to find Dave's Garden and it's wonderful members. This is truly one of the best places with a forum I have ever seen.

I am not fond of the rule regarding prayer on the subject, however, I feel you are right here. We can all take issue with world events privately and remain the best of gardening friends. In my family, I cannot talk to about this either. We have a family rule that we do not talk about it. Believe me it works.

Thanks for keeping this site so wonderful. I don't have to worry about being offended by bad language or out of control people here as is the case with most forums. Thank you Dave for this.

I totally support the peace on this site.

There is nothing, though , to stop someone for asking for prayers for a family, or a person. Simply dont mention why they need our prayers. I do not have to have an excuse to pray for someone.

We know we all need al the help we can get, from our fellow humans as well as from our Creator.

Agreeing with Lavanda: there is no need to discuss the reason for prayers. Just request them, and anyone who wants more detailed information can e-mail direct. I have made some very wonderful friends here that way, and it allows me to retain my privacy.

Lavanda and Lupinlover,

I so agree with you both. You said it better than I could have. I am glad we have the prayer topic. Prayer works.

I've only just noticed this posting now!!! Phew, glad I kept my trap shut for once..LOL

Best wishes always,

Bruno