I lurked from the start!
I took a few years to actually join up butI was new to the whole forum thing and was a member elsewhere!
Right from the start I grew lowryder auto until more autos came around, now there are too many to grow them all!
This place has been awesome in promoting autos and LED's for that fact!
LED grow lights, had my interest from the start.
First ones were shite but I believed just as I believed in autos, both have gone from strength to strength!
I can't tell you how many times I defended Auto's and LED's from HID Photo grows, who at times were downright aggressive and rude about both.
For the first couple of years, I would come to AFN for info on Autos and LED's and then spread the news elsewhere!
Well here we are 11 or so years later and nearly 10 years under my belt at AFN, 12 if you include from when I lurked!
Now just look, LED's have taken over, Auto have got stronger and many more strains and cannabis has found somewhat more freedom with legal and decriminalised weed more available.
I think Cannabis forums have been hit by legal weed, people like you say think they can just buy gear and seeds and grow excellent weed but as yoou say this isn't the case! When it was illegal forums were a safe place but also a place to learn.
Youtube is awash with canna grow videos, so people don't look at forums so much now!
This is a real shame, forums are a great resource for information but also act like a glue that keep like minded people together!
Legal weed has lead to egocentric selfish growers, who think they know better and don't need other people, this simply isn't the case but it is where we are!
Long live AFN and her members!