Genealogy Chat

Carole - yes a lot of people want instant answers! The thing is, its not easy to get instant answers and people need to be a bit more patient! Most people are, but some new people just don't understand that information doesn't just fall off trees when you want it :)

Sarah, I agree with you on nudging - what is the point of having dozens of messages just saying "nudge"? Some messages need to be kept near the top, such as the Good Websites list and Judy in the States tips (haven't seen anything of Judy lately, wonder where she's gone) which are useful to new people. I sometimes nudge these threads for the benefit of others and then delete my nudge. I also agree that people should not put requests for look-ups on more than one board, as this can waste people's time duplicating searches. I know it is easy to get carried away with your research - I always want to find the information NOW! but it isn't really fair on others. Enough of my ramblings, I'm off to nudge some other threads now. Bye! Carole

Veronica - Rather than re-posting a topic endlessly, one way of getting it noticed is to make sure its near the top of the list. The only way of bumping a post up to the top is to add a reply to it. Essentially thats what bumping is. What some people do (and I am just as guilty as the rest because I don't want people to read endless messages with a word or two in them just to bump the topic up) is to delete the nonsense reply that you've made to bump the topic up to the top of the list. You can do this because when you look at any of your replies or posts, you have the option to update or delete them. Updating will not move the topic up to the top.

I own up! I did it! I did one a few hours ago because there were some more lookup requests. Very sorry...

Hi Sarah, I think you've made a valid point in a pleasant way - so you shouldn't be subjected to any nastiness (although I know it does happen!). Actually you learn something new every day - I've been a member since April and I always thought that the Records Office board was to ask people who were actually going to a records office to do a lookup there. It didn't occur to me to post for example a census lookup request on there. So I'm glad you mentioned this! Mandy :)

Pat I know what you mean if you have something important. But you did the right thing by nudging. There are those around that would jump right down your throat for posting the same thing on all 3 boards - especially for look ups :-( There are also those who jump down your throat for nudging and then removing the nudge:-( And I fully expect someone to jump down my throat for saying the above! lol I just like to remind poeple in a nice friendly way what each board is for:-) Jeanette x

Sarah, Sometimes you feel you need to put something that's important to you on different boards I have only done this once I put advice on General/Tips and Records board because I had solved a computer problem that many had tried to help me with, I wanted others to see how easy in the end it was to solve, and it may help others in the future. The other day I was tempted to put a lookup I wanted on both tips and records board because I got no response, I resisted the temptation and just nudged the thread a couple of times instead, today someone else asked for the same thing and got a response so I butted in their thread and asked for my request. I try to use the right board for the right things, some people can sometimes be too eager. Pat x

One big happy family :-) I think if GR changed the message under Add Message at the top of each board and made it clearer it would help newcomers, especially if it wasn't written in capitals. nell

I have to admit I honestly thought my inbox would fill up with complaints about this topic! Wow! You're all just so nice :)

I think there are quite a few of us who hang around both boards. I'm offering to do lookups where I live over on the Record Office board whilst keeping an eye out for any offers that might be useful for my research. Over here I'm reading the odd board and participating in one or two :)

Not bossy at all Sarah. Quite correct! lol The boards seem to have got a bit mixed up of late probably due to the amount of new members joining. But we all have to learn somewhere. Records Office - If you want to request or offer a look up Tips Board - If you've got any good tips you want to pass on or want to ask if anyone else has a good tip. General Board - for light hearted chat about genealogy and everyday topics Jeanette x

I'm not trying to be a dragon or come across as bossy or anything, but I just wanted to let people know that I think they'd stand a much better chance of their lookup requests being answered if they posted on the record office board. There are so many lovely people over there (as there are here) who have offered to do lookups. So pop over there, do a search to make sure no one has already offered to do a look up in that area and then post your request :) I think you'd get answers much quicker.