I still visit the forum but don't post much.  While it's nice to see detailed discussions sometimes, I rarely have the time for that.  I rarely get enough sleep as it is.  I have hundreds of photos and find it easier to post everything at my Facebook page where I can control the topic and keep it on topic.  I know many folks don't like using Facebook but that's where I've focused my attention for now.  I also participate in the Facebook groups mentioned by Brian and a few others.

I get contacted by PMs from forums and those are a bit of a nuisance for me to reply to, emails, and Facebook messages.  It gets to be too much for me so I just focus my attention to what I can most easily manage.

Those of you that are new to this forum I commend as you are far more polite and far less aggressive (and have not taken up the wonderful hobby of sniping) then certain groups in the past.
This is a very pleasant site these days.

I was part of the unhappy folks who thought a certain very obnoxious fight was the fault of only 2 of the 4 members and when Jon "pruned" all 4 quite a few people were very angry and left and formed ourfigs.com. There was actually a different site started earlier but it failed immdiately.
Why those who left felt they needed to erase all they'd contributed was, I thought, a bit over the line.

There have been some really intense fights on this site in the past (I was involved in a big one) and those folks, for example, I fought with left and started the failed site yukufigs.com. 

I miss a lot of those who left and I do not see all of them on other sites I visit. I do see some.

This site is very easy to use and I come here a lot more often now as the people are nice and I'm happy to answer questions.
I do think folks should utilize the search function more often but that's really their business.

Some folks went to Facebook (like Rafed) but I never visit FB as I am very careful with my info - yet I am paying the price right now for having let someone have too much info as I have no credit cards due to someone who got my info and started buying stuff between 3 and 4 in the morning  -- rat bast%$d! Beware Facebook!    . . .  vent vent vent !!!!

I have noticed that a few folks go back and forth between 2 or 3 sites. I occasionally get contacted by an old fig friend but it does seem a number have just burned out or had health issues, etc. I do think the fig community has lost a number of valued members but they'll be replaced by others who are currently gaining experience and knowledge.

There is one more reason some folks have drifted away and this one is a darn shame. There have been members in the past who contributed valuable research and saw how it quickly disappeared down the topics list as it was not often viewed. After having this happened a certain number of times they just drifted away. Luckily I still stay in touch with them and we share a lot of info that probably doesn't interest newbies (yet) as it involves production in Malaysia and Japan, etc. There isn't a lot of research info out there about figs and a few of us really relish when we find some or when our email has info others have found.

It's my opinion that this site is getting better and I'm happy about that as I think we need more then one site. Not necessarily so we can visit both but because it allows folks to separate if feelings get hurt or over-heated. I was very close to those at the eye of the storm and almost severed my ties here as I wanted to support my friends but I'm glad I didn't as this is a good site (as is ourfigs) and maybe it could use a few folks with more experience to help bridge the time it'll take for those here who will stick with figs and who will suddenly realize they have a lot to contribute as well.

So, although it's true that a lot of folks left f4f due to a fight, some of them are still around and will jump in if the subject is new and not on Danny's list (just kidding . . . hmmm or am I). Time is precious and when folks do take their time to try and help someone it's a really good policy to thank them.

There's a lot more dirt to this story but there isn't really a need to dredge it up.

John, I hope that answered your question.

I am still here but not like I use to be.  But what Danny and Michael stated is quite true!  Plus these "bully verbal" fights ran most of the women away!  So sad!!!  I use to contribute daily on here but I drifted away because of these 6 topics.

1.  The constant male fights.  This ran most of the ladies away.
2.  The repeat asking of the same questions without searching did it for me!  Every person seem to think their particular question about figs is different.  It was not!  The bottom line is every question about figs has been asked and written on this site.  All folks have to do is search, read, and learn.  For me, this was so annoying!
3.  The clique!  Yes, back in the day, it was a HUGE clique!  Those in the clique tried to get our administrator of this site, JV to tell new member they could not name local unknown figs they found.  When JV said he wasn't going to do that, they got mad, removed their post, and started their own site or started their own FB group.  I will say this, FB is a lot more fun though.
4.  I was not learning anything.  I gained a lot of fig knowledge over the 20+ years of growing figs.  I felt I wasn't learning anything new!
5.  I started growing other fruits that I fell in love with, aka Pawpaws and Persimmons.
6.  The constant request for cuttings.  I do think requesting for cuttings and air layers is ok.  I sometimes ask for them.  But for me, I was getting hammered a lot.  Every year I give away a lot of my trees to friends and I sell a lot of them too.  And I do trade.  but I was getting too many request from unknown people from overseas and a few in the US.  I have air layer and cuttings that I send out to private requesters.  But when we have bad winter weather, it puts me behind due to die back.  This puts me behind and its hard to catch up sending out promised trees.

I rarely post but I visit all new and recently updated post daily.

I started my collection in 2015. Most of my questions then were about rooting cuttings. Having dirt in my blood for 74 years growing plants here in south central Texas doesn't require much new information where I need to ask many questions.

However, it is fun and interesting to read about what other folks are doing within the fig community. It's why I come here to catch up every day.

I spent most of my computer time on facebook. I hit the like button on every fig related topic foreign or domestic. Now, my fb news feed every morning contains so many posts about figs along with many photos that some days I can't read through all of them, but I get to see many, many fig pictures.

As far as fb security, it up to you as to how much personal info you share. I have not known fb to verify ones birth date or phone number, etc. Also on fb your activity can be restricted to friends only which you can control as to which friends you want to see your posts.

Fb has an elaborate security system for those who wish to learn how to use it.

Here's my summary of some of the reasons why not only old timers leave, but also newer ones too:

1- Other hobbies or interests.
2- Lack of time.
2- Loss of interest in discussing figs only.
3- Aggression by some member especially towards newbies. I will add that If a newbie knew how to do a search then he would not post his question(s).
4- Information bias, leading to fights.
5- Trolls.
6- Lack of any scientific data that might enrich experienced growers.
7- Health or death.
8- The use of other media outlets.
9- Sympathy boycott.
10-Loss of collection in a fig unfriendly zone due to environmental reasons or some other commitments.

Feel free to add others.

Sure, many hardcore fig addicts have been "cured."
I miss input from Grasa, a local straighter shooter who
had 1,819 posts before opting out in Nov, 2014. 

Charles, I spoke to Grasa awhile back.  She said, she doesn't have the time to spare anymore.  I can relate to that!  I have a new job now and can't tend to my trees like the past.  And my weekends are spent with the wife and mowing the lawn!  In the future years to come, I plan on having my lawn serviced so I can at least do the basic playing with my trees!

There is a couple more issues that upset a number of folks I spoke with;

There was a group of members that would brag about how big their collections were and how much they knew (not always true statements) and this would give them not necessarily deserved respect and trust.
Newbies that were chasing the "fad figs" understandably listened to what they had to say. They, after all, had the figs the newbies wanted.
One of the things they had to say was that certain "new" figs were just wonderful and were absolutely must haves.
Then one of the members of this small group would sell that fig on Ebay and the newbies and some members would bid the price up to amounts that the figs did not deserve.

I ended up with all these figs and can tell you so far not one of them is in my top 10%.
It was a scam to prey on members - especially newbies.
A number of folks saw through it - oddly enough from the folks I spoke with it seemed like women saw through it most effectively.
Anyway it was just another thing going on that left a bad taste in folks mouths.

As far as I know this is not happening any more as all but one of these folks doesn't visit any more (Jon did "prune" one of them - for other reasons - but nonetheless).

When I was a newbie I did all the things newbies do wrong.

Including paying for and chasing figs because they were "the new great varieties" although the most I ever spent was $86.50 - I burned that plant this year as it never lived up to the hype.
FYI - I also burned another of these "fad figs" this year as well. The rest of the "fad figs" I have are still safe as all figs I collect get a certain amount of time to prove their worth.

Jon does not police this forum and I don't blame him as it isn't his job to fact check posts. I can also say that Jon wouldn't be involved in this kind of thing and as he moderates in his own way he is not responsible for sniffing out these sorts of things.

Second issue; The one thing I have yet to do is name a fig that is an unknown. I personally think all unknowns need the designation of unknown. If someone needs to name a fig they should at least place unk after the name. The confusion caused by folks just naming trees they've found in hopes that they've found the next great fig (or stroking their egos) is unnecessary and irresponsible in my opinion (yes - just my opinion so no need to get upset and feel a need to answer this). It is also my opinion that this is another negative issue that bothers a certain number of people - especially the folks looking for a site where they can get facts and valuable research.
Let me give an example of why it bugs me so much. I have a fig called Morena that I got from Gene Hosey's collection. It came from a nursery in either Germany or Switzerland. This nursery has been accused of taking other people's figs and renaming them and claiming they breed or at least helped develop them in some manner. After way too much time spent I have finally found the fig I'm pretty confident they renamed Morena (Bella Brunetta Rossa). Their dishonesty cost me a lot of time and effort and just adds to the confusion that people who are trying to ID the best figs for their niche have to endure.

Please do not get upset because I have opinions. This is one of the things that creates problems on these forums  - that people take things personally and get upset. Unless I name you specifically please remember to take a breath and count to ten.

In this topic I've discussed some negative things from the past and with the exception of naming figs I don't think they really apply to this forum as it operates today. So please lets keep this forum running with the decorum it seems to have developed as it seems quite civilized these days.

There have been a lot of good reasons put forward on this topic why some old timers have left. There's not much we can do about some of them, but a consistent one has been asking questions on topics that have been answered exhaustively previously. I do use the search facility, but I can't say that I haven't been guilty of maybe giving up a little too easily if something doesn't immediately show. So I will try harder in future
I'm still going to post pictures of figs though as it would cut out a lot of the fun if
you felt uncomfortable doing that just because many pictures of the same variety have been posted before.

John,
By all means post! I love looking at pictures and am usually a big poster of lots of pictures -- and not always figs. I have an issue with my camera but once that's fixed I'll be back posting images.

Mike,
Some more good points.
Ramping up prices is bad, fullstop, and it's good that it's not an issue now.
I too have been caught on the identity of two of my figs and although I have since managed to Id them, it's still very frustrating.
Well no more replies from me, off to bed (time difference).

I think the site is fine as is, many good people here. FB has too many hackers and thieves for me to ever join. In my opinion the problems there are way worse than anything that ever happens here. So I'm fine with this site as is.

John,
Adios
Sleep tight.

Thank you for the history lesson.   Some of the questions that I have had since joining this group have now been answered.

Soon it will be a year since joining this group and I really enjoy reading people's posts and looking at all the wonderful pictures and videos.  Something for me to look forward to as my plants mature. 

This post is in support of Mike's (MGGINVA) earlier post.

On the subject of naming unknown figs........STOP IT!!!!! any fig that you find has already been found somewhere by someone and it most likely has a name, the fact that you do not know the name does not give you license to name it.

HERE IS A BOLD STATEMENT....there is not a single person on this forum that has the credentials or has done the research to (RE)name a fig.  There is a great miscarriage of responsibility perpetuated by nurseries using "boutique" names to sale more trees.  This miscarriage is also done by people on these forums, if you want to call a fig by a "pet" name at least have the decency to use the UNK or UNKNOWN term somewhere in the name.  Long after you have gone from this forum your irresponsibility will be perpetuated by the people that you traded, sold, or gifted the misnamed trees to.  In some cases there is out and out FRAUD committed by these kind of people.

I do mean this to be harsh, this is a serious problem, we are stewards of our hobby and there needs to be some responsibility inherent to membership in this community.

Well said, Danny! I totally agree with you.

I don't mind newbie questions. I've answered more than my share. What hurts is to put 10, 20, or 30 minutes into a really good response and then get no feedback from the person that ask the question. That's not the way I was raised. Then there are the posters that get 10, 20, or 30 responses and never come back to anyone. They should never get more help.

I have stuck to just growing figs.

Doug