What happened to the other orchid board
 

orchidgeeks.com has gone missing as of today. The hostname doesn't resolve in DNS at all. The domain hasn't expired with the registrar (although they will need to renew in August). Anyone hear anything? I wonder if maybe they're just in the midst of a move to a new provider.

I have no idea. I would have thought that the administrators would have given some warning if they were going offline to make changes but I didn't see any notice of any type. It seems rather sudden.
leafmite

I have been wondering as well. I miss my fellow geeks.

Me too, I've been trying to access it all day!

I've been trying to access the other forum also. I found this post, so I joined this forum. Its nice to see some of the geeks here too!

I don't use that one, but I've just tried and I get a Database Error.

I think it looks like their server could have crashed, or be having other problems. I know it's happened here before and it's taken a while to get fixed.

I would guess keep trying and hopefully it will re-appear once they sort the problems.

Yep, looks like it's a work in progress. Yesterday there where no DNS records. Today the whois info shows different nameservers at the same provider and DNS does resolve – to a different IP address than it used to, but at the same provider.

jayfars-imac:~ Jayfar$ dig www.orchidgeeks.com +trace

; <<>> DiG 9.6.0-APPLE-P2 <<>> www.orchidgeeks.com +trace
;; global options: +cmd
. 79887 IN NS f.root-servers.net.
. 79887 IN NS g.root-servers.net.
. 79887 IN NS i.root-servers.net.
. 79887 IN NS h.root-servers.net.
. 79887 IN NS j.root-servers.net.
. 79887 IN NS l.root-servers.net.
. 79887 IN NS d.root-servers.net.
. 79887 IN NS a.root-servers.net.
. 79887 IN NS m.root-servers.net.
. 79887 IN NS e.root-servers.net.
. 79887 IN NS k.root-servers.net.
. 79887 IN NS c.root-servers.net.
. 79887 IN NS b.root-servers.net.
;; Received 228 bytes from 8.8.8.8#53(8.8.8.8) in 40 ms

com. 172800 IN NS a.gtld-servers.net.
com. 172800 IN NS b.gtld-servers.net.
com. 172800 IN NS c.gtld-servers.net.
com. 172800 IN NS d.gtld-servers.net.
com. 172800 IN NS e.gtld-servers.net.
com. 172800 IN NS f.gtld-servers.net.
com. 172800 IN NS g.gtld-servers.net.
com. 172800 IN NS h.gtld-servers.net.
com. 172800 IN NS i.gtld-servers.net.
com. 172800 IN NS j.gtld-servers.net.
com. 172800 IN NS k.gtld-servers.net.
com. 172800 IN NS l.gtld-servers.net.
com. 172800 IN NS m.gtld-servers.net.
;; Received 497 bytes from 128.63.2.53#53(h.root-servers.net) in 38 ms

orchidgeeks.com. 172800 IN NS ns11.fadns.com.
orchidgeeks.com. 172800 IN NS ns12.fadns.com.
;; Received 113 bytes from 192.54.112.30#53(h.gtld-servers.net) in 131 ms

www.orchidgeeks.com. 14400 IN CNAME orchidgeeks.com.
orchidgeeks.com. 14400 IN A 74.118.194.92
orchidgeeks.com. 86400 IN NS ns11.fadns.com.
orchidgeeks.com. 86400 IN NS ns12.fadns.com.
;; Received 143 bytes from 74.118.194.93#53(ns12.fadns.com) in 43 ms

Yay! It's back
 

The Orchid Geeks site is back up now.

Great! XD I still can't access it...

Not to change the direction of this thread, but.... While I love this forum and would never think of leaving unless asked to do so.... hope that never happens... have any of you used RV-Orchidworks? And if so might you share your thoughts?

I go there, have for a long time , Bruce aka Brutal Dreamer is a good friend of mine it is his site ..

I use all three of these sites and love them all in different ways. Plus, at times like this you have alternatives.

In my opinion RV-Orchidworks is easily the worst orchid forum. You're not allowed to link to any commercial orchid websites...so no linking to the OrchidCulture.com website or the OrchidSpecies.com website...two of the most useful orchid websites on the internet. You're also not allowed to link to other forums and not even allowed to mention any orchid vendors. Plus, the advertisements on RV-Orchidworks are excessive.

I find it has some exteremely good & interesting threads to which I have subscribed too.
To be honest I didn't know all that epiphyte78 says above.... & I never looked either, as I go on that board & others to spend time reading about other people's(that are not necessarily here) experiences about growing orchids.

I use a RSS reader for these forums so it is easy to just read the posts I am interested. I follow orchidsource and orchidsinteractive. They have less traffic than this but I found knowledgeable and generous people there.

rv-orchidworks I second epiphyte-78. It is a bit frustrating that you can't share a good vendor or the source for a nice plant.

There is one guy from Vietnam that posts very nice photos of his trips to the jungle with orchids in situ, but apart from that I do not find much there.

Once I asked a question about cultivation and I received a rude PM from a member asking me sarcastically if I wanted to turn their forum into orchidboard...

which I am not sure what he meant.

I really like rv orchidworks. The pictures are great, you have some great people there, I've learned quite a bit reading the posts, and there are some real experts at orchid identification. I have found information at rv that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. I don't really mind the rules. Perhaps they are what makes this site unique and if so, I wouldn't want to change them.
Leafmite

I had joined RV-orchidworks, but only posted once when I discovered that my posts (as a newbie) had to be mod approved. I also find the "rules" for posting a bit excessive. But as a lurker there I do think it is a nice forum with knowledgable people and I picked up some good info. Rules are good, but there needs to be a happy medium, which is why I did not become an active member. It's a nice forum overall, but there are other forums (like here and a french forum I like) which better meet my specific needs.

Maybe I was a bit too harsh - due to the harsh response I got there months ago. Rules are rules but rules are not always good. It is ok to block spammers and sneaky advertiser but not being able to share sources is a handicap. anyway I am more interested in sharing cultural experiences rather than mostly reading compliments to someone blooms./ (which I like but I appreciate way more when someone posts photos of their successes with horticultural info as well!). We are all here for learning and sharing knowledge. anyway some great in situ photos here -

Photo diary from my forest trips to see orchids - Page 78


and some other guy from SE Asia has an amazing jungle like garden

Well, I guess I have really caused this thread to venture far afield... sorry. Because this forum is more unrestricted, within reason, that so many of us enjoy being here. Many of the liberties we enjoy here are important to making any forum strong and worth visiting and OB has them, IMHO! We post our pictures, our comments and knowledge without fear of being censored, edited or reviewed prior to posting. We have just as many knowledgeable well-intentioned participants as any other board out there. We have members who post some amazing high quality pictures who jump at the opportunity to help others less skilled. I have had some of the most educational interactions with others on this board; most recently the tremendous assistance with my recent bout with Erwinia. The wealth of knowledge and the ability to get educated without the fear of intimidation is a joy to behold on OB!

I am one of the people who has been banded from RV-O because of the uncompromising rules and regulations attached to the use of that forum. I have written Bruce (Brutal Dreamer) numerous times at his university email and he hasn't the courtesy or respect to return a note in an effort to resolve our issues. Gin, with all due respect to you, I know/knew he is your friend, but people don't treat others in this manner. What prompted this action isn't the issue here. What is important is the greatness of OB and the members who come here everyday that make it the wonderful oasis of friendship and knowledge that it is for all of us.....


Now we return you to your regularly scheduled program.... :biggrin:

Yeah, I have also been banned off of RV OT! I agree that the rules are just way too ridiculous, and I regret joining, because after getting banned, I cannot even go onto the webpage or anything under their site, no threads, no nothing!

I stop myself at just this one orchid forum - my addiction can't handle being fed any more than this!

Precisely my situation. I have had numerous replies to some of my postings before I was banished to the hinter land and can't log on to read or reply to them. I have read many reports about what a control freak the moderator is at RV-O and just how nasty things art over there. While I enjoyed my time there and they have some very intelligent people, the site just isn't worth the frustration or the pain suffered!

:mods:

I think I'm going to have to step in here as I think things are starting to get out of hand. Forum bashing and saying mean things about someone are NOT ok. You know we pride outselves for being a friendly forum, so let's try to keep it that way.

Please everyone accept my apologies. Camille is absolutely correct. What I have done is wrong and I am sorry.

Paul,
I agree with you for the most part.

I got some rude response by someone that posted images of some Tolumnia species and I maybe asked how he grew it in such a nice specimen. One rude or aggressive response does not cast a shadow on the whole forum.
Everybody is free to do what they do.
I remember suggesting someone to buy orchid bark at Home Depot and it had to be changed into Box Store. it seems a bit brutally excessive, as there are not many choices of "Box Stores" in the US.

I just meant I find this forum more open and friendly and I find more cultural informations here.

For some reason when I google some orchid species RV-O results most often come way above OB.

I have read past articles and I feel there was more info a few years back.

I suggest using an RSS reader to check teh new posts and spam would not an issue.

now I lurk sometimes RV-O but I stopped being active.
Maybe i will check if now there are more posts with culture info and set ups.

I do not think BikerDoc was really bashing anyone. He had an unpleasant experience and was expressing his feelings about it. It is ok to be friendly, but at the same time it is better in my opinion to express how you feel about misunderstandings.

Maybe the mod there was too busy and forgot to reply.
and maybe if someone from that forum reads this thread it could open up a discussion about certain rules. Constitutions get updated and changed when the situation requires it.

I came here because of orchids. I didnt come here because of my childhood, my education, my bank account nor my lovelife...I first joined a different forum and I left it because I was harassed and my personal life was being questioned...they wanted me to show pictures of my apartment and how I lived...and my postings were questioned if I had facts to back up my advices because it might kill plants...now...I have no complaints at all in this forum...I was accepted as I am...and if I posted something vague; someone comes and corrects my advice and gives a better and sound solution...Thats what I love...we give solutions not add another problem...besides I never saw any egotistically insecure leaders here...they are all supportive and kind.

Photo diary
 

[QUOTE=stefpix;438323]........................................Photo diary from my forest trips to see orchids - Page 78

and some other guy from SE Asia has an amazing jungle like garden[/QUOTE
:agree: I am subscribed to this thread & love it! It's all about seeing pics of how orchids grow in the wild!. which is what I try & take into account in my growing conditions....
I can't comment on anything else ... as I am not a great poster on this Forum; up to now have not had any probs... & as already mentioned a few very good threads of which this one is a particular favourite.

If you haven't seen this thread... Have a look ! I doubt you will be disappointed I am SOOOOO jelous I'd love to see all these 'chids
in their natural habitat in person .... :cloud9:

The photos are very,very good too.

Nenella, not to beat a dead horse but because of my banishment, I can't even see the thread from your link!

I joined the RV Orchid Talk forum but it's too complicated to post your pix and I didn't like that your post isn't posted until it gets reviewed by a moderator !!! Haven't used it since and don't plan to.

OOPS !!! I didn't see that this thread had advanced 2 more pages !! I was responding to the post on the FIRST PAGE !!!

:(

I really hope it get's sorted for you Howard :crossfing:
as it is a fabulous thread..& I'm sure there must be more but as already mentioned it's different & more 'difficult' to 'navigate' & find what you're looking for etc... than the OB...

PS: But I'm a computer 'dumb' person....

Nenella...you cant be dumb...you are an orchid grower...you are above average in intelligence and skills...ordinary humans cant grow orchids. besides; if you can manage to stay in this forum and post pictures...you are brilliant!

Thanks Nenella but knowing what I know, things won't change and it's fine. I've come to accept it as it is and as Bud said you aren't stupid.... not only do you post neat stuff on this board, you have a wonderful command of the English language.... can't say as much for my French... found that out this past May when my daughter and I visited Paris... can't wait to return!

BikerDoc, couldn't you register with a new email address? after all I have 2. One more personal and another I used for forums. Anyway you could write to see if they can waive the ban. Banning for some misunderstanding is a little extreme and brutal!

An alternate email would be pointless, as I cannot bring up the website or any part of it on any computer or mobile device that I had used to go on the website prior to my banishment.

wow - the must have blocked your IP or MAC addresses...
what happens if you google it and click on the results?

Total and complete ousting! I did sign up under a fictitious email and it worked for awhile then failed. I've had my son in another city log in and he can but if I am at his home on his IP and my computer, nothing.... and I have searched the webpage and tried to enter from that point and still no success! While I'm not major computer literate, this makes no sense. I can go to a public WI-FI and still can't even pull up the website. As I have said, it is what it is and I am not going to lose sleep over this situation. Nonetheless, there are other ways that adults can and should try to discuss and resolve differences of opinion without resorting to juvenile tactics. It's kind of like what people used to say, "It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile." It seems to me it takes an awful lot of time and energy to do this kind of police work and for what ... to be able to say, "This is my website and if you don' want to play by my rules than I'm taking my site home!"

Anyway, I think we've all had enough of this discussion and it is time for all of us to move on to more pleasant discussions about what counts.... so let's bury this thread and may it R.I.P. The horse is dead!

If you can't connect from his IP using your computer, then there must be a browser cookie from the site involved. Try deleting any cookies related to that site. You could delete all cookies from your browser, but that would wipe out cookies for other sites as well, usually just meaning you'd have to log back in to them.

Thanks.... I'll try that

AMEN. Without any doubt.