Genealogy Chat

Why do some people put their family tree up and then refuse to reply to any GR email? It's very frustrating to see family members who are a real 'find' in someone's tree and not be able to talk to the owner of that tree- at least one can talk but gets no reply.
Jenny

Some people put their tree up and then don;t use the site again. Some people may be on holiday, ill in hospital or they may even have died.

There are many reasons why you may not get a reply. I know I am guilty on occasion of not replying to enquiries even though I use the site everyday, I just forget!!

Sam x

They could also have changed their email address and forgotten to notify GR, so they won't know they have a message if they don't visit the site frequently.

Christine

Possible reasons for non contact...

They changed their e.mail address and haven't told Genes.

They started researching their tree but lost interest so don't reply to Genes' e.mails telling them of contact.

Although they haven't changed e.mail addy they still log in here but not very often so they don't see the message 'flag'.

They have been on holiday, ill, or even gone to join their own ancestors.

There have been posts on here saying they have had responses to messages after 6 plus months but I tend to think....No reply after a month one of the above reasons!

Chris

The person whose names 'match' with yours may have left the site completely.

Sometimes when I haven't had a reply, I simply request to see their tree and, hey ho, up it pops. It's as though some folk can't be bothered getting into conversation.
I did have one this year who had sadly died and the daughter eventually got round to contacting me.
All sorts of reasons I guess.

I suspect some are embarrassed because they have taken over data wholesale from someone else's tree and have nothing useful or first-hand to pass on.

Peter

I saw one lady post to say that she had taken over a tree from someone who had died & was working her way though 5 years worth of messages.

It is just the same on Ancestry. I contacted about 80 people re a major error in their trees and only 4 or 5 have replied. There were another 5 or 6 who I could not contact at all for one reason or another.
Presumably the error will stay there forever and a day. And I dont know if Ancestry will be removing the malicious/libellous tree. I havent heard back from my response to their response and have now cancelled my 14 days free trial.
Huia aka Hujen.