Why do beekeepers argue so much?

[Gypsi]

Hit a marine aquarium forum if you think beekeepers are argumentative. Beeks are MUCH easier to get along with.

Reefkeepers are spending upwards of $500 for a piece of equipment for a reef that he's going to put a $200 fish in that will die within a month, and tell you why it won't, and then after it does you never hear anything more. I break the rich kids rules. My fish live. But I stay out of their forums.

[EastSideBuzz]

Born that way.

[Ian]

I just read a post on another thread. He claimed this forum was bad for personal attacks instead of discussion. what a joke
That is not what I find here at all. Most posters who contribute here are civil.

I do find when particular posters present their views as facts, they take any contradiction as attacks.
Barry and company does a very good job keeping the forum clean

[jim lyon]

Most posters who contribute here are civil.
I do find when particular posters present their views as facts, they take any contradiction as attacks.
Barry and company does a very good job keeping the forum clean

[DanielD]

There's a dangerous side to just words on a screen to communicate. You read something, you get mad, then you think the writer is the one who is mad. It's easy to read something and totally miss the intention of the writer because of our own assumptions and attitudes.

[jim lyon]

There's a dangerous side to just words on a screen to communicate. You read something, you get mad, then you think the writer is the one who is mad. It's easy to read something and totally miss the intention of the writer because of our own assumptions and attitudes.

Absolutely, that's why they have these. And these And don't forget this one

[Ian]

Very true Daniel
the key to success and capturing opportunity is having an open mind!

everyone has a bias thats just natural,
listening to others biases is the hard part

huggy cozy discussion is boring nothing gets accomplished. A good discussion will provide points to consider

[DanielD]

Very true Daniel
the key to success and capturing opportunity is having an open mind!

everyone has a bias thats just natural,
listening to others biases is the hard part

But not so open as to be mislead.

I am sure the smiley faces, etc. can be miss interpreted too, if someone tries hard enough.

[jim lyon]

Very true Daniel
the key to success and capturing opportunity is having an open mind!

everyone has a bias thats just natural,

True enough, that speaks to our life experiences. The only thing that I find unsettling is when people use their biases to stereotype what they assume others must be like. There are lots of really smart people with perspectives much different than mine. The truly open minded person tries to learn from others as much as possible. The trick is separating the learned advice from those who have barely scratched the surface in the beekeeping world. I have spent the past few days sitting in on some informative talks at the NHP convention from some folks who have a lifetime of experience. At events like this you listen and learn. On an internet forum (at least to the uninitiated) it can be difficult to discern what level of expertise, if any at all, a particular poster might have.

[Keith Jarrett]

the key to success and capturing opportunity is having an open mind!

Very well said.

[Keith Jarrett]

On an internet forum (at least to the uninitiated) it can be difficult to discern what level of expertise, if any at all, a particular poster might have.

Hear you Jimmy, But one thing gets me more than any other.... " I've been doing this for forty years" all I can think of is that he shoulda quit 39 years ago.

[Mbeck]

I think that sometimes it's easy for people to develop an image or perception of a poster and become close minded or dismissive of them. People may then be less likely to help or engage in constructive conversation with them. I hope all my smart comments and jokes hasn't put me in this category.

Example,
I'm working on a pollen sub recipe for my self and trying to teach myself effective use of it.
Keith seems to sell a bunch and his product is praised and he seems to have spent a lot of resources learning about the pollen sub market and science behind it. If the topic comes up he give little nuggets of wisdom that some may think tear down the competition but offer no real insight. I was beginning to fall into this trap thinking who is this guy with his "secret recipe" think he is. I wish he'd shut up or offer some real advise. ( don't take it personally). I read every post he made, searched out post of his on Bee-l and learned a lot. Lots of people attacked him and became personally offended that he wouldn't hold thier hand. If I let myself fall into this trap I wouldn't have learned or been open to all his contributions. He has given a lot of useful info about many things not related to sub. The info he provides about sub is useful and of course he has a right to share as he see fit.
Sorry I had to use you as a example.... Hope your not offended!

[jim lyon]

Hear you Jimmy, But one thing gets me more than any other.... " I've been doing this for forty years" all I can think of is that he shoulda quit 39 years ago.

Hey that's me!!!! Quit? And miss all this? Not a chance.

[Scott J.]

I try to keep the perspective that " there are 100 ways to keep bees and 99 of them will work" I do like to learn why a person does something they way they do, and if I think it may work with how I like to keep my bees I will test it out to see if I want to adopt it into MY way of doing things. Now lets argue!

[JRG13]

I agree with what you said Mbeck. A lot of people just want handouts. The information on this site is invaluable already, expecting someone who makes a living on bees to just hand out information they've worked hard to discover is a little arrogant. I think part of it, is Keith and others hand out tidbits to make you do some research for yourself, to help you learn and not just do what someone else is telling you w/o comprehending the why. I spend a couple hours each day researching bees and still have lots to learn, part of the journey, and yes, you must keep an open mind. I think most of the arguing is based on people choosing their 'ideals' and blindly sticking to it and not continuing educating themselves on the science behind the why's and hows of everything else or not being able to look at the big picture anymore because they're 'organic' now etc...

[Charlie B]

yes, you must keep an open mind. I think most of the arguing is based on people choosing their 'ideals' and blindly sticking to it and not continuing educating themselves on the science behind the why's and hows

Well said. I find this particularly true with "senior" beekeepers who are stuck in their ways when they first started 20 years ago.

[Ian]

Hey that's me!!!! Quit? And miss all this? Not a chance.

ha ha ha hahha ha

[beemandan]

I find this particularly true with "senior" beekeepers

I'll tell ya....there are a load of newcomers that'll argue til' their blue. I think anyone...experienced or not, can get their ego tied to their opinion and absolutely refuse to budge. You reach that point and your mind is closed and I don't believe it has anything to do with experience.

[EastSideBuzz]

Hey that's me!!!! Quit? And miss all this? Not a chance.

And not have this opportunity "to have a box in the yard that I throw money into" Used to say that about my boat but, now that I have bee's who has time to have a hole in the water to throw money into.

[Acebird]

I used to have a boat in high school. Girls like boats ... it give them a chance to wear that new bikini. Best money I ever spent was on that boat. Of course things were different back then.