Genealogy Chat

Hi all, Am a newbie and dont want to make any faux pas. If a member asks a question on any of these boards and you can answer it in some detail - should you answer it on the board OR should you click on the name and send a personal message? And if you see a thread from ages ago that you can answer do you reply on the board and hope that the member will get around to seeing it or again do you send a personal message. Sorry to be a thickie! Jen

Jen Welcome! You aren't thick because you don't know. Threads Generally Generally I think its easier if people put everything relating to a specific thread on that thread, unless of course, the information is very sensitive. I sometimes get private e-mails saying things like 'because she was definitely still alive when Colin got married' and I haven't the foggiest what they are on about! Older threads I would say you need to check when the last posting by the originator of the thread was added. If it was months ago, chances are that they aren't still able to help. I would try a private e-mail in that instance. Don't worry about making mistakes, we all do. I had no idea about threads, or nudging or even using Control + F to find anything when I started this lark. Now I feel so cool when I send attachments by e-mail and cut and paste!!! nell

Well if you answer the thread on the board it will send the thread back to the top of the first page so even if its an older thread then the chances are your reply would be read. In other cases if you reply isnt personal details, its best to reply on the thread so others can read it and maybe add more help. If your reply really is personal then you can reply direct by clicking on the persons name.

Jen, for a current thread then unless there is some personal information involved that you don't think should be posted on the boards, it is usually best to put your reply on the thread because then other people will not end up doing the same research you have already done. If it is an old thread, then you could either post it as a reply and then send a personal message to the person to tell them to look at their thread, or just send the information in a personal message in the first place. Kate.

I would always reply on the boards. The info can help other people too! If it was a long time since the original post I might reply on the board and also send a PM to the threader saying that I have posted a reply. The only time I would reply direct would be if the thread was of a sensitive nature (about living people, or similar)..... Merry

Hi, + welcome !! I think really you should answer it on the board because some other people may want to know the answer and, more importantly, some people may be working on the answer and 'wasting their time' if you have the answer already. I think the only time when you should really send a pm is when the question relates to someone who's dates are recent and so they could be still alive and therefore your answer could affect other people. Dea x

It pays to answer via the board if you can,(unless you are revealing info on possible living people). Reason being many people will look at the same things (ie census and lookups etc) and if someone passes the info via a private message,the people who have spent time looking will not know.Also if some information is sent privately others who are trying to help may not have the full picture. It really depends on the information you have/require as to whether you decide if it should be 'public' or 'private' Does that make sense? Glen

Another thing.......Once you have replied to someone and you know they have read your post, don't delete it! Many threads are read again and again for weeks/months/even years after they were originally posted.....It can be very offputting if one person has deleted all their replies as the thread may not then make sense, or worse, make a reply or comment read out of context!! LOL Merry

By the way,the answers can come thick and fast.LOL Glen

Thanks All for responding so quickly! Your advice is sound and sensible. And I will do that. But help, ( Helen Little Nell) what was the Ctrl F something or other button i was supposed to press!!!! Happy Searching. Jen x

Jennifer Confusing you with too much info! Control button when pressed together with F will bring up a little box. You can then type what you want into it. Most useful when on sites with lists of names, you can type in a first name or a place and it will take you to that entry. nell

oooo thank you - I'll try that. Great this site - I'll be able to impress my kids with my technical ability and they will have no idea where i got it from. Bonus! Jen

Just one thing more, PLEASE only put a query on one board - otherwise you have two sets of people chasing the info and they can get a bit miffed. Welcome, do read the tips for newbies thread and the getting started article on the home page and dont forget the wonder of Google searches.