Find Ancestors

I have often looked on the board at various questions re census, births, marriages and deaths etc. ' Can someone please do a lookup for me' they ask. A few minutes later some kind person has given their time and money and answered the request and posted the information on the board. The person who asked for this lookup has gone, doesn't even bother to wait and maybe answer some question that may need to be checked re the lookup. Sometimes even after hours of the information reqested being posted they still have not returned, not even a thank you this person for their help and time. I just think people should hang around and it doesn't hurt anyone to say thank you for your help, come on people!!! Betty

some times people have other things they need to do and they come back and collect the info later. Also alot of people say thank you by PM instaed of on the boards.

Hi Lunar, I have seen many times people do a lookup and go back to the person who asked for the information requesting further info in order to find the persons family.. No one reply's because they are away, they don't wait. I have seen four people lookup something at the same time, they send info reqested and donn't get a reply. Betty

would you like me to nudge the one i spent hours on the other day? can i ? Please.... I still hope she rturns as i made it wuite clear on the thread that i would continue until i found him,and i did!! Oh Go on.let me..just once more... jess x

You have my blessing Jess ...!

Hi Betty Boo, It's not always the case that people can't be bothered to wait around. Sometimes the people who are more able to help with a particular request are not on GR until later in the day/evening. I put up a thread this morning at 8.19 am, waited for an hour or so but had to go out. A reply to my post was at 14.36 pm which was greatly appreciated & I sent my thanks as soon as I could. Katherine

Hi jess, This is what I am talking about I saw you try one time for someone and they just went off. I don't know how you manage to carry on doing lookups when that happens to you. At the same time I know a great deal of people do really appreciate you and others like you helping them, I don't mean everyone does this, just a few!! Betty

Hi Katherine, I can understand that kind of situation where you waited an hour, then you had to leave. As the time the message was posted is on the board, you can see when someone does get a reply with 2/3 minutes but they are gone. Betty

Unfortunatly you always get a few but you also get people that post before the school run and don't get to look up again until the children are in bed. Others post before going to bed - I've done it myself (I try to give as much info as poss though) and look in again in the morning. I can't make excuses for everyone but I know that some people have real reasons for not sticking around.

I have posted messages then gone to do something else while waiting for a reply myself only to get so involed I forget to come back for the answer to much later, not all answers come within minutes so I'm happy when I get one. I'm very pleased with this board and have made a successful attemp at finding family.

Hi Lunar, I do understand what you are saying that some people have to go for whatever the reason but if you check some of the request a few days ago still haven't responded. It may just be a few but as Jess said when you do get someone like this it must bother people a lot. Betty

Hi Jess YOU GO FOR IT GIRL. Betty

it only bugs me when they start by saying DESPERATE or URGENT ...and then never bother to look agian...and if they do , then they dont acknowledge. NO I dont want huimble thanks or accolades, just an acknowledgement that what was found was right and what was wanted I carried on with Beths because she seemed so keen AND because i got a certain ammount of satisfaction from finding it. (actually in that case Bucket loads because it was a bugger!< scuse me!) jess x

Hi Jess, This is what I am takling about, I know some people post request for lookup and simply add a message maybe saying, have to go off now taking kids to school or off to bed now, off to work etc. At least with this you know they are away, but when the say URGENT or PLEASE HELP ME, they should at least hang around for any reply's. Betty

I dont usually respond to those that say ''off to school now'' i respond when i know they have returned. I liken it to switching on the hairdryer, then going to have a shower. Why doit if you are not ready /have time?

Hi Jess, Thats true I always wait until I know I am going to be here if any one does reply to my request. The other week I did request a lookup and had to say sorry I am a bit slow at typing a reply to thank you. They all said well at least you stayed with us, many people don't Betty

Dunno, Betty. The majority of people are lovely, but there is always a small rump of people, usually the ones who are 'desparate', who don't come back. Having done some look ups at Kew, most people said thank you, even if I had been unable to find anything, one or two I pm'd, in case they didn't understand how the boards worked, but a couple of regular users haven't come back in any way whatsoever. Most people have very little idea of the time and/or expense involved in look-ups. Most of us are not very good at setting out what we want why we want it where we've looked I don't wish to stop any first request, but it is sensible to spend a bit of time typing the request and re-reading it before you post and then doing that post when you know you can answer additional questions if necessary.

I`ve waited since 26th Jan for a reply to a lookup -think it was missed out! Rosalyn

Hi Roalyn, I tried to find your question for a lookup in January but it wont go back that far, I can only think that whatever you were asking for nobody could do at the time. Why not try again, ask for another lookup. Betty

It was on a BRITISH iSLES VITAL INDEX thread-not one of yours, Rosalyn