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RIP the Broccoli Tree

kottke.org

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Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#31

Post by etiam »

ierolastic wrote: post #2

So many things about that are depressing, like, why would someone cut into a tree like that, and why would they decide that, if one of the trunks is gone, the whole thing needs to be decimated? Both are completely absurd.

It's hardly clear from this particular blog post but if you look at what's been reported in newspapers almost all the trunks had been sawed in.

As for why, who knows, but my guess is we're looking at a physical world manifestation of the same personality that drives many (non-professional) internet trolls. Sadistic and attention seeking.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#32

Post by crusso »

rightos wrote: post #27
aeze wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is really the same thing, if you think about it.

​

Actually, yes. Some friends tend to magnify the insecurities that a lonely/insecure person might feel.

What is doing something on a dare besides a play to battle the insecurity of being labeled a "coward"?

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#33

Post by lobster_johnson »

peterwwillis wrote: post #13
schiffern wrote: post #4

Note that it's a willow tree, so the vandal and workers may have "just" unintentionally coppiced it. Far from killing the tree, some of the oldest trees in the world are coppiced. Coppicing is supposed to happen in winter, but it's possible this tree could survive. Looking at the "before" picture, the tree might itself be a spray formed when an older tree was cut. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppicing

"Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which takes advantage of the fact that many trees make new growth from the stump or roots if cut down. In a coppiced wood, which is called a copse ," I finally find out why the "copse of trees" at Gettysburg is called that. Thank you.

"Copse" comes from "coppice", but today means any small group of trees (not necessarily any that have been coppiced).

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#34

Post by Fnoord »

rightos wrote: post #27
aeze wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is really the same thing, if you think about it.

​

> No, you do it for the lulz - because you'll be amused when you see people whining about it on the internet.

Which is the same as "knock, knock, ginger" or as:

> if you were to cut a branch down, people would DEFINITELY notice. people would think about you, when no one would before. even if the thoughts aren't positive.

>in other words, to not feel so small and meaningless.

Aka negative attention, trolling, NS (narcissistic supply). Its all more or less the same league, explained by what I quoted from user 2bitencryption. 2bitencryption's entire quote explains the full process in detail. Kudos.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#35

Post by ckinnan »

schiffern wrote: post #4

Note that it's a willow tree, so the vandal and workers may have "just" unintentionally coppiced it. Far from killing the tree, some of the oldest trees in the world are coppiced. Coppicing is supposed to happen in winter, but it's possible this tree could survive. Looking at the "before" picture, the tree might itself be a spray formed when an older tree was cut. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppicing

Yeah, the partially severed limb needed to be fully cut off for the best interest of the tree. I'm guessing the work crew saw some rot or disease or other damage, and went ahead and coppiced the whole tree.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#36

Post by [deleted] »

crusso wrote: post #32
rightos wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

​

Actually, yes. Some friends tend to magnify the insecurities that a lonely/insecure person might feel. What is doing something on a dare besides a play to battle the insecurity of being labeled a "coward"?

[deleted]

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#37

Post by peterwwillis »

ierolastic wrote: post #2

So many things about that are depressing, like, why would someone cut into a tree like that, and why would they decide that, if one of the trunks is gone, the whole thing needs to be decimated? Both are completely absurd.

See the picture of the cut limb? (https://kottke.org/plus/misc/images/broccoli-tree-vandal-01....) How it looks like there's a vertical crack in the limb, and kind of black in the middle? And if you look real close at the vertical cut, it looks black inside. Other parts of the tree seem to have large black spots too.

Well limbs don't just crack vertically when they're cut horizontally. Either someone hacked at it vertically (no real reason), or that black spot is the mark of black canker, a willow disease. The only fix is to cut off the diseased limb in the dormant season. And it's almost the dormant season.

Why did all the limbs get cut off? Dunno, maybe it had to do with canker too. But remember, plants are not here for humans' amusement - they often require trimming, chopping, replanting, large culls to prevent disease spread, and all kinds of other treatment to care for them. The end result may be an ugly tree, but a tree that lives.

I could be wrong. But it's best not to dwell on the worst of things if you don't know what really happened.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#38

Post by tptacek »

schiffern wrote: post #4

Note that it's a willow tree, so the vandal and workers may have "just" unintentionally coppiced it. Far from killing the tree, some of the oldest trees in the world are coppiced. Coppicing is supposed to happen in winter, but it's possible this tree could survive. Looking at the "before" picture, the tree might itself be a spray formed when an older tree was cut. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppicing

The vandals don't care whether the tree lives or dies; they care that nobody enjoys the tree while they have to be aware of it.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#39

Post by [deleted] »

Fnoord wrote: post #34
rightos wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

​

> No, you do it for the lulz - because you'll be amused when you see people whining about it on the internet. Which is the same as "knock, knock, ginger" or as: > if you were to cut a branch down, people would DEFINITELY notice. people would think about you, when no one would before. even if the thoughts aren't positive. >in other words, to not feel so small and meaningless. Aka negative attention, trolling, NS (narc…

[deleted]

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#40

Post by [deleted] »

mostafah wrote: post #30
ierolastic wrote: post #2

So many things about that are depressing, like, why would someone cut into a tree like that, and why would they decide that, if one of the trunks is gone, the whole thing needs to be decimated? Both are completely absurd.

There is an Arabic story about Hatim al-Tai’s brother. Hatim al-Tai was a great man, maybe the most generous person that has ever lived. He was a legend even when he was alive. One day people saw his brother peeing in the holy Well of Zamzam. This is the most sacred water in Islam. They asked him why he was doing such a thing. “My brother is famous and will be remembered forever in the history,” he said. “I can never…

[deleted]
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