Genealogy Chat

Carol I hope you fall into the first camp, the 'I want to learn'. LOL Margaret

Margaret Yes I know what you mean. Hope I fall into second camp. I would like to point out to newbies that just by entering a search at the top of the tips board you can usually find the answer to your question. It's not obvious to you to start with. Carol:)

Carol You are right. But, sometimes when you try to point out to people how to do things, others jump in with the info already done and no explaination of how they found it. How is that person supposed to look anything up next time if they aren't told how to do it. If you spoon fed a baby for ever it would never learn how to feed itself. The same applies in genealogy. You learn how to do new things all of your life, same principal here. I think Newbies fall into 2 camps. The 'please help me I want to learn' camp and the 'do it for me because I cant be bothered but I want to show off my family tree' camp. If info is freely available on the net but you just need to know where and how to look, then show them how. How many times do we get requests for lookups on 1881 census, freebmd, 1901 census. All free to search. Margaret

Carol - good viewpoint - wish you well.

Laird, That was brilliant. I've not been researching very long and am computer illiterate but when I started I searched around everywhere on the net (I am capable of doing that) as well as reading the tips on these message boards. I cannot believe the amount of look ups being asked for. I think the fun of genealogy is the research you do yourself and only ask for help if you hit a brick wall and need pointing in the right direction. Perhaps some people are impatient and like to build their tree in weeks rather than taking years. Carol :)

Daren't try that one or he'll say that the beer in the pub is a buy one get five free offer!!! Trouble with my hubby is that he knows about how much this hobby costs. Mind you, I did send for my NBI2 discs without telling him. He thinks its still the original, just hide the box. Some of you complain that your other half isnt interested, but the trouble is,when they are, they know all the costs. Can't win!! Margaret

Margaret Absolutely! Certs are free but I have to buy credits for look ups and pay for copying of register entries direct from the local offices. That's as much as I'm confessing to at the moment! Lou

Lou You mean spending his money on your 'free certs' LOL Ours is a joint account anyway, so makes no difference. Margaret

Margaret Don't tell my hubbie that! This way I can keep spending HIS money!!! Lou

Laird That caller could have been me :( LOL :) Chris

Lou and Victoria I used to have an Electron card and was told by the bank that the reason it is not accepted everywhere is that it doesnt have the same guarantees of payment as other Visa debit cards. I changed to a Visa Delta debit card and have no problems anywhere now. Margaret

Victoria I have the same Visa Electron problem and agree that its a nightmare! I can't buy credits for 1837 online and I can't order certs online thru the GRO cos they don't accept my card Lou

Hi ya I just want to say thank you to Lou for helping me out and i really appricate the help ive got to day from people as i find i hard to get on to sites as i dont have a credit card only a visa electron and no one really seems to take it Toria xxxx

Brenda I'm with you! We were saying this earlier on the thread....do people think the info will change if someone else looks it up? Or do they not think you've looked properly. In that case they should do it themselves especially when its information that available on a free site and they just can't be bothered Lou

Hi Can I have a moan too As one of the people who will do look ups and search through records What really annoys me is when you have spent time searching using the info supplied and posted or sent the results the same request appears on the boards within a few days. Also the ones who don't believe when you can't find their family in the census at the address given.,because that is the address given on Birth or Marriage Certs. Don't they realise that people moved around The other is when you get another request 6 months later asking for the same info Bren

When you post a thread offering lookups, but state that 'all requests be on the thread and not by personal message', BUT, you still get loads of emails asking for lookups. It really clogs up your contact list as you get those little ticks against everyone in their tree and when you are doing a search for names you cant remember ever contacting them before. PLEASE PLEASE read the heading on a thread before you jump headlong into a request. Margaret

Does this 'true' story ring any bells ..... There's always one. This has got to be one of the funniest things in a long time. I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired. This is a true story from the ...... Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say the Help Desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the organization for 'Termination without Cause'. Actual dialogue of a former Customer Support employee. (Now I know why they record these conversations!): Operator: 'Computer assistance; may I help you?' Caller: 'Yes, well, I'm having trouble with the search engine.' Operator: 'What sort of trouble??' Caller: 'Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.' Operator: 'Went away?' Caller: 'They disappeared.' Operator: 'Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?' Caller: 'Nothing.' Oper ator: 'Nothing??' Caller: 'It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type.' Operator: 'Are you still in Ancestry, or did you get out??' Caller: 'How do I tell?' Operator: 'Can you see the C: prompt on the screen??' Caller: 'What's a sea-prompt?' Operator: 'Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?' Caller: 'There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type.' Operator: 'Does your monitor have a power indicator??' Caller: 'What's a monitor?' Operator: 'It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on??' Caller: 'I don't know.' Operator: 'Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??' Caller: 'Yes, I think so.' Operator: 'Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall. Caller: 'Yes, it is.' Operator: 'When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one??' Caller: 'No.' Operator: 'Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable.' Caller: 'Okay, here it is.' Operator: 'Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer.' Caller: 'I can't reach.' Operator: 'Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is??' Caller: 'No.' Operator: 'Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over??' Caller: 'Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle - it's because it's dark.' Operator: 'Dark??' Caller: 'Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window.' Operator: 'Well, turn on the office light then.' Caller: 'I can't.' Operator: 'No? Why not??' Caller: 'Because there's a power failure.' Operator: 'A power... A power failure? Aha, Okay, we've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in??' Caller: 'Well, yes, I keep them in the closet.' Operator: 'Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from.' Caller: ' Really? Is it that bad?' Operator: 'Yes, I'm afraid it is.' Caller: 'Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them??' Operator: 'Tell them you're too stupid to own a computer

Andrea It just goes to show that the people these type of threads are aimed at in the hope that they'll realise just what they're expecting people to do and how to have a few manners are the ones that don't bother to read it. After all if it doesn't apply directly to them or provide them with free information or mean someone else will do all the work for them, they're not interested BTW...I saw the thread I THINK you are referring to and totally agree with you! Lou

Today I have proof that people are not reading this thread therefore not learning. Perhaps a similar one on the Records Office board may help. Andrea (who isn't happy with recent experience)

Alison, it may prove difficult as your grandma may have moved or married after 1953. She may also have been called Lillian rather than Lily. You could find out if the local studies library for the area has a run of electoral rolls or directories to find out who was at the address. Alternatively, you could send a letter to the local newspaper to jog the memories of the residents. Good luck