i belong to number of forums, and number of org outside of internet. i have to say this forum is the best among internet or in real life. sometimes i wonder why other places are not like f4f. life would be so much better if people know how to be polite and know how to share with others. just a thought for the day.

I second that!

We need a like button for posts.

You are right bullet. It is more than often a gentle Forum. The reason is the 'fig', the fig effect. Even the Almighty swear by it "By the fig and the olive".

Also, new members do not find frequent old posts with bad examples to get encouraged thinking that everything can go here. Moreover, there are some elder respectable and respectful members who do care and most often get involve with gentle reminders if a post goes out of bound of the forum good traditions.
This then also helps and encourage sharing of cuttings and plants. Most people have been helped with cuttings or plants by other and a big majority of those wish to continue the tradition. Very few trades/exchanges go sour.

Pete, I agree. As Ottawan mentioned, the sharing of cuttings and plants goes a long way and the member wish to carry that tradition forward. 

I will say I read the entire forum as a lurker and watched the activity for months prior to registering. Seemed then to be a fairly welcoming and informative site, which the forum has turned out to be. 

There is a certain decorum here, not to do with age, maybe it is the subject, would it be as "gentile" if the subject were Transformers, comic books, dungeons and dragons etc.? don't know, I have been close (I have children) to some of these, and they are not as nice.  We, of a certain age group, were taught to communicate verbally, which, in most cases, did not include the easily used crutch of conversation cripples, profanity.  Not to say that there have not been a few "F Bombs" uttered, even shouted from these lips, but very seldom , if ever, in mixed company.

To sum it up, the decorum is based on a certain level of unspoken expectation, can't give you an example of it, but it is here.

Amen fig brothers and sisters!

As a newbie I love it also. Ditto to all the many reasons already posted.

Absolutely agree!
I call the scuba diving board "the board of hostility" and
this board "a return to civility" lol
People welcome you to this board, sometimes offer free cuttings, if they sell you a plant, they ship before you pay, always ready with advice and encouragement, and often overlooked, members post photos of their dogs lol.

Akram hit the nail in the head and one of a few members I would love to meet.

I have given many plants, trees and cuttings to many members. Most are still around but some are gone, and tha's too bad. I would like to know how the plants or cuttings I gave away are doing.

With that said,
I could not have done this without the generous members and fig friends that shared with me. Although I paid for some for what I have but I have a lot that were given to me as well.

Nice topic.

This post will get a lot of agreement!  Count me in as a forum fan too!
Suzi

Like button is an awesome idea! I think its because FIG = Fun In Groups. We are more alike than not.

Rafed I'll give you an update right here, those 2 cuttings you have me are rooting and forming leaves, I potted them last week. I am not mentioning the variety, but you know what they are. Yes this is a fun forum with lots of good people, the power of the fig!!

There is a like button right below the last post. I had to do it.

Yeah Pete!

Yes it is true - You all are fabulous!!

Thank you!!