Genealogy Chat

I posted a query yesterday and someone kindly gave me info re Irish marriages and births. I then asked them where they found the info so I could check it (a tip from this board). Today when I went back into the thread all their replies have been deleted. Why would they do this? Luckily I had written them down but I don't understand. Helena

Seems to happen quite a bit recently. A lot of questions have been posted then the author deletes the thread, you never know if the replies were useful or not. Some people are under the impression that they have to remove posts/threads to free up the site, some others have their own reasons, occassionally it is because they don't have help acknowledged and delete posts by way of protest too. I'm not saying that you didn't acknowledge or thank them for replying but there have been times when i have spent a good while searching for something, post the reply and you never hear a peep. That does cause ruffled feathers at times.

Helena, It may not be the problem, but just in case it is. When you find your thread do you go through 'View you own threads' and if so are you clicking 'All replies' when you get there. I had this problem and discovered that for some strange reason GR thinks that we will want to see only our posts. Generally I agree with Glen it happens frequently now for a variety of reasons. Susan

Glen Thanks for answering. I did acknowledge their help but wanted to check the info. Maybe they were insulted that I wanted to check up the info. I was very grateful for their help and didn't mean to offend at all but rather I need to go on with the research so wanted to 'stand on my own two feet. I'm used to using Scotlandspeople and now have to use Irish sources and am completly novice at this. I also need to look at some English entries and find it so diferent from Scotlanspeople so need every bit of help I can get. Helena

Susan Your right, the messages are still there. Isn't it silly that you can't see replies when you look at your own threads, there is also another reply that I haven't acknowledged so I'll do that now. Thanks for the help. This site is so helpful. Helena

Helena Absolutely NO ONE should take offence if you wish to check things for yourself, and I cannot imagine why they would. No-one needs to delete any answers to a thread, nor even a whole thread - it is the GR computer which is cluttered up, not your own PC. I personally find it infuriating when I have bookmarked a useful thread, only to find that most of the replies and information have been deleted. OC

Sorry I seem to have messed up all the replies to this thread by updating the message. So thanks to Susan (and others including Glen & OC) if you can't find replies to your message its because your looking in 'view your own threads' view which only shows what you've posted and omits the replies. Look in normal board view and the replies will reappear. Helena

Helena Well, that has made me think - I wonder how many other people have done what you did, and crept away thinking they have no replies to their queries? It would certainly explain what appears to be appalling rudeness on the part of some people, who ask for information and never even give a thankyou for the three pages of replies they get! OC

FJG I agree, there does seem to be a growing tendency not to hang around or acknowledge replies. In fact, I got so incensed the other day - another member had gone to the trouble of going to the County Records Office and looking up two marriages for someone and posted the results. I kept bumping the thread in the hope that the poster would see it and acknowledge it...no. I sent the poster a PM and said that it is customary to thank people ON THE THREAD, because other people would note that there had been no response and probably not help them in the future. I got no reply to my PM, but the thread has been deleted! *Now, where's my black book* OC

Gillian It is annoying if people don't even say thanks if you've put youself out to help. Sometimes its that the phone rings or that they have to unexpectedly leave the computer. I don't post a question if I don't know that I've got an hour or so to check responses Helena

Lesley I suppose those who have their own computer forget that others don't Helena

When I first joined this site, I didn't realise that I had received replies until someone sent me a PM to advise me (she guessed I wasn't aware) I didn't know to click on the replies bit.

Lesley On the few (horrible) occasions when I have had to rely on a Public Service computer, I say something like 'I don't know when I will be able to access a computer again, so I am not ignoring any replies' That way, people know what the situation is, and arent left utterly baffled. OC

Hi Just a thought but why don`t we add completed in the title box when the search and info has been put on the thread,this would also save time trawling through to see who does need help. Just a thought:)) Diane

Good idea, you should post it so everyone can see Helena