Find Ancestors

Most posts on Genes Reunited message boards are responded to in a matter of minutes.

One of the most frustrating things for the many volunteer helpers on these boards is when they respond to a post with either information or perhaps a question and the original poster does not respond. Nobody expects the original poster to sit in front of their computer for hours on end hoping for a reply but it is not unreasonable to expect the poster to stay around long enough (10 minutes) to acknowledge any response their post might receive. Indeed it is the height of ignorance to ask someone a question and then run away before they have chance to answer.

Unlike some other genealogy sites GR does not send you an email to let you know that you have a reply to your post. It is entirely up to you to check for yourself. To do this you can either keep refreshing the message board on which you asked your question or go to "My Threads" on the left of your screen and click on the thread title.

If you find yourself unable to remain on GR for at least 10 minutes after posting your query do not post your question until it is convenient to do that simple thing.

Don't post it and just disappear!

Fingers crossed it will make a diffrerence!

HERE HERE, JONESEY

I have replied to that one Frank but I am not expecting her to come back to be honest. Well it gave me something to do lol

jax

I think this will run for quite a while Jonesey. Problem is that only the 'Army of Friendly Volunteers' will read your post. The people to whom you refer will still keep jumping in with both feet hoping The Magic Wand will reveal all by the time they return to their Post.

Do members who post queries always acknowledge look ups, or just make use of the information?
Liz

I totally agree Jonesey.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect someone to hang around for 10 minutes to see if they have had a response, especially as 9 times out of 10 requests for further info are added.

If a member can't give 10 minutes of their time to see if there's a response I feel they should delay their request until they can. After all members often spend a lot longer than that doing the research to help them.

Chris

Nudging for Jonesey. Keep up the good work
Julia in Derbyshire

Whilst agreeing with dear Jonesey - the reason that many(but not all, naturally) posters don't respond, is because they don't know how to and the irony of our ripostes passes them by completely.


I have literally hundreds of pms to prove it - my contact list on here is now over 8,000.


As JaneyC so often rightly says, many come on here looking for people with their surname, leave a message and waltz off hoping someone related to them will be in touch.


If only they would read the FAQs first or take a look through the boards to see how they work. They have no idea that many of you sit here waiting to help them.



Definite requests for bmd/census lookups are usually from people who have sussed things out a bit more and they are the ones who should be 'admonished' for not responding.


Maybe I should start a thread entitled.............

'Embarrassed replies I have received today'. This may help us to be slightly more tolerant of those who are genuinely struggling.



If you get replies 24hours or so after you have helped someone, it may be because they have received my message and made it back. I have to admit to giving up on some folk because they simply cannot suss things out. Quite a few are v. elderly - well, older than me anyway!



Cx.

nudging in the hope that some new members read it.

Well Done to all Volunteers as frustrating as it can get.

Cheers

"N"

The stickied "How to use the Trying to Find Thread" at the begining tells exactly how to get back to your thread- the problem is getting people to read it !!

Perhaps, and I know it is a long shot, but maybe GR could devise a system whereby people are blocked from submitting a 'Trying to Find' etc query, until they have registered that they have read the sticky. Pie in the sky, I suppose.
Julia in Derbyshire

It would be a good thing though Julia and I know JaneyC has suggested something similar to them. I would put it up in purple flashing neon myself!!! lol

I am now getting to the stage where I send Estelle from Genes, the pm's I receive from people who have admitted they struggle to use the site in the hope that they will rethink the system.

I know we all think it's easy peasy because we are used to it, but trying logging in as a new person (or get a friend to do so) and see how confusing it can be. The Home page almost gives the impression that you only have to put your name in the box and you get a list of all your long dead rellies without effort! If only.



Cx

I have just opened this.....I have been having pm's back and forth with this person since May. They have told me they are 78 years old - I think I will find their thread and copy and paste the info and send it to them. I will let the helpers know. I simply cannot and will not be 'shirty' with them.


dear cynthia,how do ,or where are my replys regards *** just cannot find [i must bethick!!!]

Reply


Cx

Good Morning Cynthia
It is nice to know I am in such esteemed company as Janey C, having similar thoughts on the current problem.
I did not have anyone to show me what to do, when I first started, which coincided with my first time on a computer. So my dilemma was two fold. And, I will be the first to admit ,I must have made some real bloopers. But after a few sessions of struggling, I read other peoples posts, and saw the 'style' which is necessary for a productive search. I, too saw the ones which where, even to me as an absolute beginner, absolutely ridiculous, and learned from them also.
I may be accused of typing over long 'queries', but I do get in all the details, and of course, more than anything, I remember my manners, and go come back to the thread.
Too many posters think that the 'rules' do not apply to them, and therefore do not read them, but something needs to change, and rapidly, as the situation is only getting worse as the weeks go on.
Please keep 'bombarding' poor Estelle, with your comments.
Many Thanks for your reply
Julia in Derbyshire

You're welcome! I was a complete numpty when I started on here too which is why I try to help others who are struggling as much as I did.

I just send Estelle those pms which I feel explain how much some people get confused on here. I've also had quite a few recently who are disappointed with what the site has to offer in the way of records etc......maybe I should send her those too!! lol

n

I just love this reply I've just opened....

Hi Cynthia
Thank you ever so much for the message, I had no idea that the response would be so quick.
I gladly followed your instructions and they took me to exactly the place I wanted, so nice not to have to ask the kids again.
Thank you ever so much
*****

That made me laugh! Cx

Jonesey

Can you look for John Roberts born 189? in Wales, mother Mary and father John, also a brother David

Im going away on holiday tonight so will check back when I get back in two weeks ;)