small brown fungi for id please

[kiltoncomp]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

I think the problem is that McLuhan was right - the medium is the message and its so easy to post at the click of a mouse

I have led a lot of fungus forays for interested members of the public in my time and the vast majority of participants are keen to learn but every so often . . . I'll give you a true example -

someone found a clump of sulphur tuft; so I gave them the low down on it - tastes of quinine/common dead wood species/distinctive features etc. answered "no" to the question "can you eat it"; five minutes later someone else found a clump most people recognised it passed a couple of fruitbodies round . . . . a little while later someone called us all over and lo and behold it was sulphur tuft (quick rehash of features) one individual (who had made sure they were at the front all the time: "can you eat it" . . . "no";
would you believe that a little while later this same individual brought a huge clump of the stuff (never mind my little homily at the start about conservation/leave for others to enjoy)

"what's this?"
"it's sulphur tuft"
"can you eat it"
"no"
(sympathetic and embarrassed smiles from other forayers) in such a situation it's relatively easy to bite ones tongue, but I really wanted to say oh come on! do you really want to learn something or just go away with your handily-identified tea (emails are less personal - but also ironically can be more personal)

I'm all for people learning from their mistakes, but some people seem content to make the same mistake over and over and I'm not sure how much they are learning!

Hi Chris,

have a look at the post "hoof or ganoderma?" , there are a couple of replys on there that illustrate the point i was trying to make regarding the attitude of some contributors to the forum,

Brian.

[BROCSMAN]

Hi Chris

I really do try to avoid personalising these things, but that is about the most pompous and arrogant posting I've ever read on this forum. So we can sit at the feet of the master, and ask questions, will be rewarded with enlightenment, so long as we can demonstrate we are making progress.

Seriously, you should consider setting up an "ask the panel" forum. You and a group of experts (you define it) could field questions, from anyone, but only the panel could reply. I am certain it would be popular, and we would all learn a lot. You would benefit from not having unqualified folk "muddying the water".

This is not that forum.

I for one shall continue to post my opinions and ideas, even guesses if I want to, and encourage others to do the same. Mushrooming (I am sure you call it something different) is one of the most enjoyable passtimes I have ever discovered, and these web pages offer a daily guarantee of interesting and useful information. I have learned a lot, but still know very little about fungi. I know enough about human beings however to say that you are out of order.

[Chris Yeates]

I'm sorry about that - I really do want to encourage people to study fungi; I have had numerous positive comments from forayers in the past

perhaps you have misunderstood my intentions and seem to have launched a vendetta

I apologise to anyone I have offended

Chris

[BROCSMAN]

Thanks for the apology. Maybe with a little positive thinking we can all move forward.

PS No vendetta - merely observation.

[Chris Yeates]

accepted Brocsman