Genealogy Chat

The majority of those who posted as a result of this daft idea were long-standing members. And none of them seems remotely interested in paying for GR membership

One example

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1329343

Okay todays stupid question

After the free membership has ended will they be able to access the boards in any way to view help given on their posts.

If not then the helpers have wasted their time.

Will the free members be offered a membership at a greatly reduced rate to entice them back to the boards?

Is there anyway for the helpers to figure out who is posting on a free membership. Some are obvious but not all are.

Sure some of the paid members will be able to answer this.

They will be able to view, but not reply

If Cynthia is going to send messages to them telling them they have replies, she may get inundated with requests for help

I'm using the time of posting as a guide........and the number of posts against the name.

Any requests posted between 3pm on Aug 5th and 9am on Aug 6th are likely to be people taking advantage of the offer............and probably without the slightest idea that come 9am on the 6th, they'd no longer be able to post to the boards.

They can see the info...............but can't react to it.............always assuming that they return, of course.....................which most of them probably won't, as there doesn't appear to have been any sort of guidance given by GR when floating this ridiculous scheme

"If Cynthia is going to send messages ......."

She's said she won't go near FLR

On that basis, if posting 'helpers' suspect that the OP was taking advantage of the free period, might they consider PM'ing a return-to-thread-and-are-you-able-to-post message?

GR need to monitor two figures, how many took advantage of the freebee and how many of those that took advantage went on to become a paid member?

But then again they should be already monitoring how much new business is generated from their advertising campaigns. There is no point in spending 1p on advertising if most of the new business is generated from sites like facebook and twitter.

I think most posted after the LLF program was aired....which did not give much time for anyone to reply and get an answer before 9 am.

Oh there were a few that expected the use of a crystal ball to find someone...but that goes without saying

Really if GR wanted to do something like this they needed to give more notice and perhaps mention that if they didn't return before the cut off time they could not post a reply of any sort

To be perfectly honest, GR staff should be manning the FLR board not members who have paid a subscription to this site.

FLR has far reaching implications not only for the seeker but the person being sought. This is why I don't look at that board.

There was one posted that night looking for her sisters child that was adopted... sex not known or what year born....but from the info given the sister was easily found living with husband some 50 years later....think I may report it, as the poster is unlikely to return

Many years ago, Channel 4 TV used to have a text page where one could look for lost relations...............they would not under any circumstances entertain queries about adopted children.

I always thought that was very sensible..............

Having reported a thread on living relatives because it invaded the privacy of the birth mother....I received this


We have have decided that this can remain on our message boards as there is nothing directly offensive or hateful about this particular post.

As you know, you do have the ability to report any individual post which breach the terms and conditions of our website but please do take care to only report genuinely offensive or hateful posts.

Your co-operation is appreciated.


I did not say the post was hateful or offensive....so what has that got to do with someones privacy???

It has been reported again this time it has been removed.....no reply to me about how appalled I was with their decision not to remove it when first asked.

I am not in the habit of reporting anything, seems to me I was being told off for bringing it to their attention. when they could be dealing with an argument on the chat board over something trivial.

So if GR are going to review anything it would also be a good idea if they replied with the correct standard email that would relate to what has been asked of them