Now I mostly 'get it' for the exalt-smite parts of forums. But I am wondering out loud what--um or perhaps how I wrote that other posters found seed-worthy. I'm not actually seeking a second round (of seeds), I guess I'm speculating out loud on how people tolerate gardening forums critiques. When I have done my job right, the recipient should feel their labor and my post lead to their triumph. Mmmm, this is sounding to fuzzy headed, maybe I'll come back and edit this later..
Many members give 'seeds' to a post because they feel it contains good information that will be helpful, maybe not to them specifically, but to other members and the information adds more knowledge to the forums in general. Example....someone submits an informative post about mowing a lawn to benefit the looks and health of the grass....I don't happen to have any grass to mow but I would recognize that the information could be beneficial to members who do, so I would give that post a 'seed'. We don't do 'smites'...if a member posts incorrect information then a discussion will follow about where the information was obtained, maybe that was their personal experience which in their situation makes it valid for them but not necessarily in all situations. Maybe they were given wrong information about a plant by a clerk at a bigbox store who yesterday was working in plumbing, the discussion would center around helping them get the correct information. If a post is downright rude, then it is dealt with by a moderator before it creates hurt feelings and problems.
Frank is being nice to me and giving me seeds. Thank you Frank. I fear i'm not doing that good of a job leading the flock to the well though. Based on the outcome of the last post I got a seed for. *sigh* FWIW tree seeds paint inside the lines of their own choosing. If I have any virtue its was being persistant in finding out what I really didn't know in their care and learning by text how it was done. Brent Walston had a peice of when he started propagating cuttings on his web page at evergreengardenworks that I would have had to live three lifetimes to learn by trial and error.
Speaking personally I haven't decided consciously why I hit the Seed button. There are no hard and fast rules. After finishing reading a post my mouse will sometimes drift towards the button. That's all. I wouldn't read into it too much
I'm with Frank when it comes to giving seeds... no rules. Sometimes I give one just because I like what was said... or it made me smile... or it had what I considered was great info or photo.
