Genealogy Chat

Some of us on here and more than happy to help you new people get going - and hold your hand as long as you need us to, doing look ups for you and trying to keep you on the right track, as far as we are able. Something to bear in mind - that you probably wont realise - IF YOUR QUERY IS REALISTIC IT WILL BE ANSWERED IN ABOUT 10 MINS! PLEASE can you stick around for a while if you post a request; If tracing your family tree is what you want to do, be prepared to devote and hour or so to it (at a time ) - you are not going to find your rellies by posting and disappearing off to Sainsburys! ......................and pretty pretty please, if you have to dissapear off, look at replies to what you did ask - dont just ask again Thanks jess x

i'll second that-drives me bonkers.On the odd occasion there is a good reason for disappearance,for instance,remember when Steph the Scouser went away,and i fell asleep!!-apparently her computer packed in and she now has to go to her aunts to do gr!!! However,Ive noticed a pattern of leaving a request in the morning,only to get a response at night,cos theyre off to work,which is a pain because we need to work WITH the poster,not FOR the poster.Often important background info is witheld or let out later....its a case of people not knowing how to play the game or thinking that you press a button and the answer appears. Ive said this before but Im not happy the way this site is marketed-free this,free that is very misleading,and i dont think some people realise what is really involved......this is the fault of the site...unless you are naturally adept at this sort of thing and are willing to put in the hours,you cant progress ,and the site isnt really preparing the new member with a basic grounding,before research. As Nell has said in the past,the homepage needs to get through to the new member the key parts of research-the framework available and different sites to use. It has taken the initiative of members to bridge this gap-eg Grampa jims guide for Newbies,and the website list by long bones,plus numerous others. If the gist of those 2 threads were on this site permanently it would help-so that when you click on the homepage there is a clear button saying TIPS FOR NEW MEMBERS,then another button for GENEALOGY WEBSITE LINKS with a very brief metion of the sites use.

Ditto guys, couldnt have been put any better! Lib:))

Perhaps, like me, the newbies need to read this site for a few weeks to see how it works. I've read the cries of more information, and seen how quickly replies are posted. I need help and am waiting till I can give a couple of hours to be on hand. I am inpressed with the level of help which is available from volunteers, not only to give of their time and expertise, but also use spare credits for total strangers. Many thanks everyone. I'll be asking for help leter this week Anne

ANNE. that is the best way! very tempting o dive right in there - and not really know what you are looking for is tempting. I guess understanding that Rome wasn't built in a day, not will an accurate family tree be, helps a lot

Jess, I tried to help people a few times, but because: 1 I need a new computer, 2 I need more experience at doing lookups, i have now downgraded myself to NEWBIE again, i have spent hours and loads of credit doing lookups without really knowing what i am doing, and i am holding my hand up to it,i have found some rellies for people but not on the scale of you OLDIES(only in terms of experience)so unless i am 100% sure i know what i am doing then i will just practice and see how long it takes me,even though i know i will never be as good as half of you on here, at least i am learning from my mistakes, and my typing is getting better........Thank you all.....MOE!

Just a wee thought folks, don't forget those of us who are overseas. Sometimes the time frames don't work very well. ie I'm going to bed as you are getting up :-( though I do get a bit bog eyes staying up till after midnight when I should be getting my beauty sleep---much needed I might add:-) Sylvia in NZ

Hi everyone! I've been a member of GR for a year and I also have only just plucked up courage to start posting. It's been fantastic how people are so kind and willing to help, and I feel that at last I can piece together certain elements of my ancestry because of fresh eyes on the case! Thanks again everyone A ps I was using the Rootschat site before and this is much better - more friendly and people here don't seem to compete with each other (for anyone who hasn't visited, Rootschat have a 'postings hierarchy' which adds to this) Often my requests became too complicated because certain people were trying to outdo each other! I just gave up in the end. A

a prime example of what NOT to do is on the records boards NOW!!- post a request , go away, then post the same again and not bother to look at the first one you posted! Jess - who is cross about it, yes!

This applies to everybody, and I can plead guilty to the fault as well: If you are asking for help, make sure you have access to your research notes. I have seen people posting 'while they are at work' and sometimes when they can't remember all the facts. Recently I headed off to the National Archives at Kew, having agreed to look at some naval records for a member. I'd been given a year, but not an actual date. If I'd done my homework properly, I'd have checked the catalogue first and realised that the ship was recommissioned mid year. This meant six volumes to look at, rather than three (and you can only order three at a time). I chose the ones that seemed most useful, looked through them, and drew a blank. My correspondent then told me that they'd been advised to look at a different reference (which contained the same basic info, but in a different format). So, at the first opportunity I have had to return to Kew, I have looked at the requested volumes (of course, drawing a blank again) and am now awaiting at least an acknowledgement. If you are setting off to do some research of your own, you should have a clear idea of what you want to look up and why. If you are asking for a lookup, exactly the same principle applies. B

I agree with everything said :0) Jeanette

Another thing........... If you have posted a question and received a reply and said thanks..........it's still worth just checking the thread once more a while later. I have lost count of the number of times my slow typing skills have let me down and by the time I have posted a reply I have missed the boat.......most times this doesn't matter, but it's frustrating when the previous answer is plain wrong and that is what the threader has accepted and said thank you for!!! I know I could send a PM, but that might seem a bit over the top........ Merry

Francis - it doesn't need for people to be on line all day - just dont post and then disappear and leave the people trying to help you high and dry. If you cant realistically give it an hour then leave it until you can. Jess x

Sorry :( Im Guilty, i posted message yesterday evening, but unfortunatly was unable to get back to it. then just sat down this afternoon and was called away again. All the help and info i have recieved since i joined has been fantastic, Thanks Ill try my best not to let it happen again. but sometimes we just dont know what the day has instore. Marie xx