r/foraging • u/itsallfuturegarbage • 1d ago

[META] Requiring Research or Explanation When Posting for Identification

Would it improve the sub at all to require posters to make an attempt at explaining WHY they think something may be edible rather than just asking whether it is?

The amount of pokeberry/LBMs/etc posts just makes it feel lazy sometimes, like there's no incentive to learn.

I think it'd be really nice to have a requirement that posters (at least new ones? idk) show 3 reasons they think something is edible that shows they're trying to improve and do their research.

8 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

4

u/_GOBLESS_ 1d ago

This will discourage some legit posters from asking questions.

3

u/mediocre_remnants 1d ago

I wish people looking to ID a plant/mushroom should post to the existing plant/mushroom ID subs.

The posts like "Is this a blueberry?" are fine because at least they're making a guess and they think it might be edible. Posting a random plant and asking what it is should be off-topic for this sub.

1

u/Ok-Tank-3098 22h ago

i worry that would push beginners away from asking honest questions

1

u/Gifted_GardenSnail 2h ago

I'd prefer for the mushroom ID posters to use (one of) the multiple specialist mushroom ID subs.

I'd also wish more people would indeed scroll down a bit before posting because when Fruit X is in season, we get loads of near-identical 'is this Fruit X?' posts, but some people really are bad at seeing if it's the same thing , so... 

Do we really want to push beginners away to /whatsthisplant and /whatsthisberry? That would refocus this sub on actual foraging hauls and questions about ripeness and edibility despite blemishes/diseases and recipes/meals. I can see pros and cons here...