I know some of you guys were serious about this.  I hope I didn't upset anyone with my comment.  I was just having a little fun.  

Gina your recommendation of spelling out the name first then abbreviate is proper English 101.  At least that's how I was taught.  But in this new information age texting and abbreviating will one day be quite common.  cheers,

While we're in the gripe mode,how about requiring members to have their zone and location listed in their posts.

it's a cultural thing. i know we should be politically correct and cater to everyone who comes here.. but sooner or later they will pick up. learning how things work makes them feel like they belong. if they don't want to put in the effort.. oh well. i'm sure by reading the content, everyone, everyone who's been here for awhile and keep up, can tell if we are talking about Black Madeira or Black Mission.

i'm tired of being politically corret.. urgh.. yes, i call myself american, not korean american.. all the other korean americans can go take a dive.

Traditionally in literature or writing of any kind the practice is to write out the name once and use abbreviations after that. Perhaps we could all adopt that practice.
Or vgrd and frthb, then ytrfd, until mnyt and we'll all knjyt.

Take a look at postings # 2...#3... and #4.  Look carefully at their forum names, when they joined the forum, and the content of their postings.  Now, scroll down all 32 of the postings and read the comments.  Do you see their names again? Have they re-posted on this thread?  Have any ideas why they haven't joined in this discussion?

They have been mocked, and made to look ridiculous.  This is not some exclusive clique.

Frank

Frank, I sure hope that no one felt mocked or ridiculed. Sometimes the old timers like to have a little lighthearted fun at the expense of one another. All are welcome here and my wish is for all to feel at home. So new comers join in and feel welcome. Ask and you shall receive, an answer to a question that is, no matter how simplistic. And know that if someone pokes a little fun at you it's because we like you.
"gene"

I've been in groups with cliques and know how that operates. No one here, at least in this thread is being cliqueish in my opinion, just having a little fun. Of course it is courteous and right to identitfy a variety by it's full name and then abreviate. Some don't do it simply because life is busy these days and short cuts are taken at most opportunities. There is no conspiracy to eliminate or belittle new members. That would be counter productive to the purpose of this forum. And those members you cited above certainly aren't being mocked in any way that I can see. As a rule, everyone here is pretty nice to everyone else and when someone asks for clarification they usually get it. I try to answer questions of newbies as often as I can and so do many others. The issue of abreviations isn't really a critical issue in my mind as in most cases the clarification is within the thread somewhere. Frank, relax. 

Yeah, it's not just this forum.  Every forum I've ever been in uses abbreviations.  I was lost in the wine making forum for a long time due to the use of shortcuts.  Took me a long time to find out how to make Al's gritty mix on the garden forum for containers, because i just didn't understand all the abbreviations!  Once you hang around for a while, you get it!  Just takes time.

I find google and other web search engines to be my best friend often!

My newest interest is learning to grow mushrooms.  Mainly because we have no forests here to forge into, but wow!  Talk about abbreviations..and not just that.  Words!  Whole Words I never heard of! 

I don't think anyone loses interest in a subject because of abbreviations.  Most newbies don't post much because they just began and some don't even have a fig to post a question about.  Eventually after they hang around they start posting!

It just takes time.........  :-)
Suzi

Personally I will continue to do what I've been doing and not change anything.

I will not appease to everyones needs. I have never ( at least I don't remember ) mocked or ridiculed anyone that came here and asked a question.
If anything, for the most part I/we bend over backwards to help anyone and everyone, old and new.

I don't know where Frank is coming from with this.

Suzi,
Just for fun and not related there are mushrooms in the desert!
And, on the subject, I'm new but the abbreviations are just part of the learning curve and that's fine. Also, as Jon reiterated, many of the people indicated by the initials wish to retain their privacy.

I just want to know what kind of mushrooms Suzi is trying to grow,Hmmm?

Rafed, the hallucinogenic kind... :-))  You know, one makes you tall, and one makes you small..........  Actually, the eating kind, sauteed and served with steak!

And Alexis, what kind and where? 
Suzi

I think this is where you will be starting right Suzi? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stropharia_rugosoannulata. Notice this is one fungi that can attack nematodes in the garden as well.

Wow Brent!

I love the simple name... wine cap!  Seems like we could all grow that one.  It's on my wish list!

Suzi

I can see where Frank is coming from as far as the abbreviations but like suzi said, you stick around long enough and you'll pick up on them and what people are saying. This forum has been nothing but a true wealth of information about fig trees to me that I really could never have found on my own. Maybe someone could could make a "master list" of abbreviations and post it?
Thanks for all the help!

Suzi,
These! I saw them growing in eastern New Mexico. Wouldn't eat 'em myself...it is a Podaxis I think
And Saudi and the area are famous for truffles.

As a newcomer, I have hesitated to wade into a discussion like this.  I am too conscious of my position.

However, something needs to be clarified. It is not about 'if you don't know, just ask and someone will answer'.  I'm sure that works but think about this. If eventually everyone only types 'BT' and not 'Brown Turkey', someday someone comes in here and wants find out more about Brown Turkey, he types Brown Turkey in the search function and it turns up zero match. He has missed all the Brown Turkey information because they are all written as BT.  Then even if he later knows Bown Turkey is written BT here and he types BT into the search box, guess what? BT is unsearchable.  Even VdB is unsearchable.

It is therefore not about newcomers not asking and also not about if people hang around long enough they will know what the short forms mean but rather, in the long term, these shortforms can potentially undermine the purpose of this forum, which is to provide searchable fig info for everyone interested in figs.

I can understand the defensive reactions from people used to these abbreviations.  We, and I say we because I am like that too, don't particularly like to be told to change or to do what we don't like to do.  We are like that, especially when we think there is really no big issue.

Someone has provided a hybrid solution, ie, exercise a bit of discipline, begin your message spelling out the name in full first and after that, it can all be in abbreviations.  Shouldn't be too difficult I would think but this small effort should go a long way.

Just my humble 2 cents. Peace.

I have helped anyone and everyone in every way, shape or form.
I have given out plants and cuttings and not ask for a dime, If anything, I have told the person or persons to dondate the cost of shipping to a charity of their choice. A couple dollars won't make or break me.

I have tried to be good member yet I've had my moments here as well. I have had newcomers and old just PM or email me out of the blue and responded to their needs or questions with respect!!! I have welcomed newcomers with open arms ( provided they INTRODUCED THEIR SELF ).

I have been here for three years and yet I don't consider myself as being a senior member. Nor do I consider myself superior. I am privileged to be here, just plain and simple.

In my earlier response I made clear of myself and my intentions. I will stand my grounds and I will stand tall.

I will not appease to everyones needs.

Newcomers, it is customary to introduce yourself hang around here and post some threads and try to get get liked before you make such a BOLD comment.

This is just my 2 cents!!

Nice points Figo.....

" Newcomers, it is customary to introduce yourself hang around here and post some threads and try to get get liked before you make such a BOLD comment. "

Wot? What is the post minimum for being able to speak your mind?

There is no post minimum!!
I too am speaking my mind!! Who are they to come and try and change what's being running smoothly up until now?

And Yes, it is customary to introduce yourself first!!!

The point being... There have been too many people who come on and post a few times and ask for cuttings, make comments or talk without knowing any better.

I would say 70% of the members are lurkers and come out of the woodwork when they see something they like. Usually see a fig they like and say ' ooh put me on the list!'

The people who experiment, track their findings and publish what they record are the ones who help members the most in understanding figs.

If there was list of most helpful, understanding and thoughtful people here, Rafed would be near the top. So if this is bothering him this much, I would take heed.

Contributions are worth more than money here. As I have stated before, figs are a hobby and for some they are supplemental income.  This is a friendly forum and people will help out.  But people have to relax and take deep breaths.

Last time I checked we are talking about FIGS, not DEFCON 1!

Frank- nice thread!
I for one, will do my best to use the name first, then initials in a post. The search function can be challenging for us novices (I just learned how to post pics yesterday thanks to a member's thread) when you are not sure of the words to use in your search. It makes sense to me.
I already have my town, state and zone in my signature, which I personally think is very helpful.
Dominick, I agree, everyone needs to take a breath and not take things so personally, the saltiest veteran, the shiniest rookie and everyone in between.
We all have opinions and I am thankful there is such an excellent resource- this forum and such expert helpful people.

Figcon 1 alert figs are growing all over the country, beware of tasty morsels!!