curmudgeonly is the best word i have heard all year! In answer though, i always wonder, it may be they have seen it or maybe they haven't and does quite frustrating as to which one!

You are so right!

Doesn't put me up nor down…I given answer and that is it so far as I am concerned.

I agree Penny. A response from the person that asked the question something in the order of thank you for answering my question would be nice.

Like most GoY members, I too look through the garden questions section on a regular basis. If I see a question that think I think I can offer some useful advise or assistance I will try my best to answer it. I like to answer the questions as accurately as I can, and I sometimes take the time to collaborate my answer with friends or books to make sure that I give them the most accurate advice possible.

I also get annoyed at people that have not taken the time to fully put into words what they are asking and expect us to interpret what they mean or ask ambiguous questions. Maybe I'm getting a little cantankerous in my old age? I usually reply in some funny way. This sometimes upsets other members and they then take me the wrong way. That's just me injecting humour and if people get upset by that... Hey! Do I feel bothered. ;o)

Rant over. LOL.

Can't imagine why anybody could be upset by any of your ever helpful answers Myron.

Aw, that's so nice, thank you. :o)

Its always been the same, in 2010 Bamboo wrote a blog called Guest questions rude or not?
in those days you could ask a question without joining, the blog revived recently and is running at over 250 comments
if you have a minute take a look :0)

LOL, Myron how could you possibly think that!!!!!.
To those of us who have been here a long time now, its still one of the best pages on here, it can also be very entertaining but I guess thats because after all these years we do know who is going to give the answers and have learnt to recognize their written text, learnt to accept its just their manner, yes there are often witty answers but very often they are the obvious answer that would come immediately to mind, lol, often they do then have a good answer to follow, curt ones which are more often than not given to a curt query, or downright argumentative, I have noticed that doesn't happen very often now, I perhaps shouldn't admit this but I've spent many a lonely night in the past coming on here just to see if there is a query causing a tizz, used to be very entertaining on a sleepless night, have to admit though that it does annoy me on others behalf when one can see the members are trying to help someone and get zilch back...

With you there Lincs x

tsk tsk Lincslass;-))) Funny how we all like a bit of trouble, though I can tell you from personal experience it ain't much fun if its all aimed at yourself... specially if you stick to your own principles, that makes it all much worse, apparently.

I think that many people ask a question from total ignorance - they then get extensive answers with lots of info, or requests for more info, and they think oh for heaven's sake, I just wanted a simple yes or no, because they're so ignorant they have no idea how complicated sorting out problems with plants can actually be. Or that some plants grow some places and not others, etc, etc. And perhaps they just give up in irritation or embarrassment, who knows... and I'd guess they're not really interested in gardening per se, they just wanted a quick, simple answer right now.

As an almost ex professional gardener, I can tell you that the old attitude re gardening still exists - its seen as a simple, no brainer job for idiots who are currently unemployed - that's actually true for some people, but certainly not all of us... So that attitude about gardening extends to when people ask questions, I think, i.e., how difficult can it be....

Hi, Im with you there Bamboo, everyone is an expert gardener, whether they know anything about gardening or not, when I had my own business I found that almost everyone expected the work they wanted doing, to cost practically nothing, because they all thought they could do it themselves, if only they had the time, and as you say, they thought gardeners were just out of work people, looking for pin money, they never even thought that you had actually done an apprenticeship, and learned the trade, Derek.

I'm only speaking the truth Bamboo, LOL.
Its better to laugh than allow it to upset you don't you think and you are correct in sticking by your principles, I like a person who does that.
I can remember when you used to get a lot of stick and certain other members comes to mind, it was horrible and even ended up gettin nasty and personal, so pleased that rarely happens now.
I said something about some comments one time without mentioning a name and you laughed thinking I meant you, it was in fact a very stroppy male I was referring to who still acts up now and again, I only ever allowed him to upset me once with his comments, never again, I soon learnt how to handle his attitude...
I continue to learn each day from these pages, although often have to read some of the answers a couple of times before inwardly digesting to fully understand it when it goes into professional mode ( that could be tired aging brain thingy, lol,) but I also love the down to earth type answer as well..

If thats the grumpy one ....last time when he got laughed at in no uncertain terms was so funny :0))

You got it in one Pam, he kept me entertained for at least a couple of days, weather was atrocious and not a lot going on gardening wise, LOL..

Derek, its an old prejudice against 'manual' or 'blue collar' workers - there's an underlying assumption that all you can do is work with your hands, probably cos you're not bright enough to do anything else, and gardeners get lumped into that category. I don't think they believe me when I've told some people over the years that I'd spent a total of about 4 years studying the subject of horticulture, not all at once, but over time, as well as actually working in it, they look incredulous. And you're right, they do think they can do it themselves... I once got called to a garden years ago - he wanted it 'maintained' but considering it was derelict, I said no, it needs a proper sorting out. He didn't believe that, so I said find someone else then and he said he'd do it himself - took him 6 weeks, till end of May, to call me back in, by which time the garden looked like a jungle of course...

Lincslass: I'm glad to hear it hasn't happened to any other poor soul since I got attacked - I've not been on often enough since to notice if its happened again.

Its been good to see you coming on more often again now anyway Bamboo, you were missed. I had a good chuckle about your DIY man.
Lincs I've taken your comments on handling you know who to heart - will try to remember next time!

He certainly didn't like being laughed at......clever Lincs x

Crumbs! I wasn't thinking so much about thanks, (although that would be nice when so many experts on here try hard to answer a question and even look things up for others), but I just like to follow up the questions I've been interested in or commented on, to see whether the person who asked feels the answer was helpful and whether they have made a decision to take up any of the suggestions. It just rounds things off nicely.
Anyway, thanks for these contributions!!