General Chat

I have had a good think on this..... What if we register our user name with GR? (no changing it) If you choose to use your real full name, thats up to you but I'd suggest you dont! Gerri

Gerri!!! You got it in one!! I agree totally with you! Maz x

That's not a bad idea Gerri. That's what we do 'on the other side'!

Oi! Maz!...dont you 'babe' me you cornish pasty you! LOL Gerri x

Jeanette What other side?

Oooppppps Sorry Gerri.. I forgot!! :0( Have removed offending word!! x x x x

Hi Mike, it does seem as though something like that has happened from another thread I read this evening. I believe that people should be honest enough to stand up and be counted. If we have an opinion we're entitled to it, whoever we are, but I don't see a need to be offensive which is apparently what has happened somewhere. I personally have no problem with displaying my name or membership number but I do take the point others have made about security, which is a big issue these days. Jan

Ifd we don't put our real names into the site, how are we going to upload our Tree? It has to be linked to us. Although I see that Maz has only one name on here. All I'm asking for here is that we be honest with each other. Not prying, but trying to become friends who have a common interest in Family History.

Gerri - AA. Not not Alcoholics Anonymous! lol

I may have only one name as a paying member Jim, but I also have a non paying membership in my real name, and as I pay for this account, I can reply to any searches for my names, via private email, which effectively, adds to my security issues! Maz x

Mike which boards can you see then if you're not a member?

I understand what you are saying Maz and that seems to be a very sensible thing to do. However, my point still remains that the name you have registered with, real or alias, should be accessible to anyone who wants to see who is currently posing as Eliza Doolittle. This in no way would threaten your real anonymity.

Absolutely Jim.. I agree with what Gerri said.. register in one name, be it your real or an alias and have the facility that it cannot be changed! That way you would always know you were talking to Gerri or Maz or Grampa Jim, no need for anyone to know our real identites if we choose not to give them out!! Maz x

I totally agree on principal Grampa, but not many of us would know how to apply as an alias, when we first start using the net! I know i made some mistakes when i joined this site. I used my Real name and gave away my location also. It would be so easy for folks to get my home address from other sites!! I feel safer using the alias i do today! If we could contact GR and explain why we are so naive , I'm sure they would let us use an alias, but his would defeat the object! Hope i explained that right! Karen

I had no idea there was any such thing as a 'non-paying membership'. I want one!! At least I might if I knew what I could do with it. It's obvious that non-paying members can access this site like many others but what can they see? It's also obvious that non-members can get access to the Boards which is, I think, partly why this question was posed. Sorry if I got it wrong Jim. Jan :-)

good luck in working out which one of the 1300 Paul Smith's in the UK I am lol

When I first had a PC I joined a chat site. I was 'single and looking' and VERY nieve! (if thats how you spell it) about ten years ago. My e.mail addy was my full name at blah blah blah... Two mins into a convo with a fella and he sent me the directions to my house. I was lucky cos he was nice. He said 'see! now change your addy' I did! and PDQ Gerri x PS ...be safe on the net

Grampa Jim If these boards were viewed by members only it would all be a lot more simple. When I joined Genes I came through Friends Reunited, when I first went on the tips and records board (didn’t use the general board at that time) my real name came up on the threads. When you email a female member their other name comes up you ask for help on the tips and records board amongst some of the stuff that can be picked up is your mother’s maiden name? Well I never thought of the consequences of putting so much of my business on the boards until someone mentioned EVERYBODY can read this info!!!!!!Uncle Tom cobberly and all for FREE!!! I have seen so many members giving far too much details of their lives on different threads this is especially on the general board they innocently but everything example where they live, husbands childrens names ages their own birthdays everything it takes no time at all for some nerd to pick up all this info, for nothing, and you and me do not know who they are as they don’t need to register. I say it every chance I get until these boards are for full members only no one is free to post what they would like in a relaxed atomosphere. I agree Full members should be able to access my real name but while on the board I will stay with only my first name, although I think it’s too easy to keep changing names on here and people do it all the time. As Maz says why do I have to give all my personal details to everyone I am a private person I don’t tell everyone what is happening in my life and I don’t feel they have to tell me the personal business either. Oh and as for knowing where an email via Genes is coming from that is not exactly true I get emails from people who have different names (the ones they are registered with not the ones use on the boards) and I even got an email tonight with just a very popular first name NO second name was on it??? I had to ask who this person was that was emailing me, I hadn't a clue? I would gladly pay more if Genes would restrict viewing of these boards to Members only, and people would have to log in to read them, so people couldn't lurk. Another point is if ALL can read the boards surely it slows the board down and full members get frustrated when they are thrown off when the site is so busy, busy because of all those who are not members taking advantage of something for nothing. Mike nice to know some others read my biggest gripe with this site, and even agrees LOL. Sorry rambling on again. Pat x

Good idea And GREAT to see Stu back! love becx

You keep rambling away Pat...your RIGHT!!!! give em 'ell girl! Ello by the way xx Gerri x