Find Ancestors

Over the last few days I have had 4 instances of requests for info posted on my thread,all of which had been duplicated on other threads.
In one case I spent 2 hours researching with positive results,posted the results,only to find that the poster had deleted the original request and then found that it had been duplicated.
Do these thoughtless people have any idea of the amount of frustration and wasted time they are responsible for???
Don't suppose they give a toss as long as they get the info they want at no cost to themselves.

Mary

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I'd like to think its because they cant make the site work for them, its high time GR sorted the ADD/ REPLY situation out.

I'd like to think its because they deleted by accident, or in pure frustration.
A lot seem to expect replies via PMs

as for the rest..................................who knows ? !

Hi Lindsay

Whatever the reason it is getting more and more frustrating,spending time on lookups and finding things have been duplicated.
I have been on Genes for over 5 years and in that time have helped hundreds of people,but I am now approaching the end and am seriously thinking about giving up helping folks who expect instant results and in a very few cases never even bother to acknowledge that they have seen replies.


Mary

Same here Mary, I only pop in occasionally now or it would get me down.some days the boards hardly move.I keep thinking maybe the WDYTYA and Heir Hunters will spur a bit of action but I guess its another sign of the times. No money, no manners, no hope !

I have noticed it and I think the main problem is that new members don't have a clue as to which is the best board to post a query so they post it everywhere and anywhere!

I often see 'records office' type queries that are tucked in on 'Trying to find' , even a few on 'Chat' .

I really think it is time that the use of each board is more clearly defined, for example..." Search for living people only on 'Trying to find',ask for help finding details of dead ones on 'Records office'....." something along those lines anyway.

One of the great excuses for not acknowledging information is that the person may not know how to get back into the thread .... expect a pm etc.

I sent a fair amount of information via a pm last Monday in reply to a question ... others replied through the original thread.

The poster opened the pm that day ... so I know she read it.

As I sent my info via a pm, it's not Brain of Britain stuff to figure out all you have to do is press the 'reply' button and send your return message.
So no excuse there.

Neither I nor the other helpers who replied to her request have been acknowledged.

Bad manners as far as I'm concerned.

Another thing that gets my back up is when you have spent hours searching for things for people and advise them its best to get the certs to confirm and then a few weeks later the same request pops up again with none of the found data posted on it so some poor person starts searching it from scratch all over again!

By all means re post but put what some one has found out for you after hours of researching.

Grumble over and I am no expert by all means

oh, how I relate to all these!!


I ahte duplicated threads ..... whether they are all posted at the same time, or weeks apart with no indication that information has been found by others.




THEN ..... comes the response when you post that this is a duplicated thread or "I remember this family from a month ago, much information was found for you. Why no acknowledgement of that information?"

......... I've had everything from "what's it to do with you?", to "None of your busines" to "I want to see what else people can find" to "I'll post whatever I want to post". Plus some messages containing much bad language.




Like so many people who have been helping on this site for many years (since 2003 in my case), I am fast losing patience ............ but I also have a black list.

There have been a couple of suggestions that we should exchange names from black lists so that we all know who the worst offenders are.





sylvia

I have to say Sylvia that I now delete my response if there is no acknowledgement. I leave it for a few days and then delete if I see that no one has been acknowledged! A thank you doesn't hurt. There have been many that I could have helped further with my baptism discs so it's their loss..

I have also noticed the same request but with a user name change.

I can't believe some of the responses you have had. How rude! I must admit also that if I see a duplicate a few weeks later I have pm'd the "helpers" to warn them

I have had help many a time on the boards and would have been lost without it. Nearly everyone I have met on Genes has been lovely and I have made loads of friends on here..

I think anyone who helps is wonderful, only tonight a lady helped me out with a census search that was driving me nuts lol

Perhaps GR could sticky a post at the top of each board stating that requests for the same person/topic should be on one board only.
I did some look ups a while ago, and the request was on several boards. When I asked the poster to keep to one board, she said "the more the merrier"!
Liz

Thanks one and all for your input,I have to say I agree with all of the sentiments expressed.
I have to admit I also have a "blacklist "which now as of today now contains at least 3 more names.
I am astounded at the ignorance of some of the people asking for help,I now suggest that if they are serious about tracing their family history they first visit their local library and borrow a book on the subject,of which there are now many.

I do not want to stop helping folks as I enjoy it when a mystery is cracked or a brickwall knocked down,but it is not good for my blood pressure when I see so many duplicates!!

Regards to all who have replied

Mary

I appreciate your comments Cassidy. Your comment "I've seen quite a few helper's....so way off the mark with their assistance that's it's laughable" makes a point that all research should be backed up with certificates and copies where possible.

Your quote: Blacklist's ? what a way to go...shear pettiness

If people want to do this then fair game, its up to them. If they are totally cheesed off after spending time searching for info that has already been found then so be it. I find it totally frustrating the fact that someone has pm'd me for help and I have spent hours searching only for the same thread to crop up a month later asking for the same information. Why no pm back saying thanks for your help, I will send for the certs to back up what you are telling me. Lots of people are finding money tight and research is not always a cheap hobby.

Your quote: It's very disappointing when some member's have to publish their annoyance due to the fact that some people do not reply to the help they've given.

We are on boards that able us to share information. Whilst sharing information I see no harm in sharing our thoughts and frustrations. No one has been personally named and no one has been personally attacked.

I have been personally "guilty" of starting a new thread and not including previous information found. It was pointed out to me that I would be better off nudging my previous thread, so I deleted my new thread and nudged the original back to the top.

Thankyou is a small word with a big impact. Unlike a certificate fee a Thankyou is FREE.

Marcelle

Any member has a right to post a request and I have a right to not reply to any request,simple as that.

I am well aware in this day and age that saying "please" and "thank you" are phrases of the past and that the grab all that you can culture now is deeply entrenched in the British mind.You only have to look at the behaviour of many MPs so recently exposed.

I just hoped that by bringing the topic of "multiple posts " up it might prick a few consciences,but obviously not judging by the attitude of at least one respondent.

Mary

Mary, you have the right to put a thread up about whatever you like and if people don't like or agree with it then they can always not post on it!

You haven't named anyone or made any personal reference to anyone and the majority on the thread agree with you.

I would love a board to moan on, I could moan and whinge all day lol

Marcelle (who happens to be having a very chilled out Saturday)!

Cassidy, your email about high standards, a whinge board and chill out sounded very sarcastic. There is no need for sarcasim when replying on a thread. As you say you have your opinion and others have their's but no one else's reply has been sarcastic, there is just no need.

Marcelle

I am obviously not as intelligent as you Tom as I haven't got a clue what penultimate means and I don't wish to know! Go start your own thread and name it penultimate!

Well my post certainly stirred things up.

Glad to see that there has been no blood spilt yet!!

I have had many PMs totally agreeing with all that I have written on this thread and thus feel justified in posting it.

Cassidy please feel free to reply to all the duplicate posts that appear on Records board,it is your right after all.

Mary