Re: Is it OK to be rude to people ?


"Jill" <news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:45016abc$0$3589$ed2e19e4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Steve Bamford wrote:

But it may not be a question of "not being able to find the basics"
- all you may need is some pointers as to where to look.

There are LOTS and LOTS of references to where to look things up in the
archives here
There are plenty more in the many magazines for the hobby available in
even the smallest newsagents
Every data site has a "how to get started" area
Why should the individuals here who share an interest and a hobby and for
some a profession have to type out the same thing every day?

They don't *have* to do anything, as I said. They can leave it to others
who aren't as tired of doing it, or nobody needs to reply at all if they
don't want to.

<snip>

Why should you not look in the archives - which would throw up Roys newbie
guide?

I didn't know of its existence till now - now you've told me about it I
probably shall. It may be obvious to you that one should search the
archives to see what's there before asking basic questions, but not
everyone's as clued up. For instance I didn't even know of the existence of
the archives until recently!


or are we supposed
to have done this basic research before we are qualified to ask
questions here?

Personally I would say yes. - especially in todays family history climate.
There is SO much available to anyone who is starting under ones nose.
I am very much a newbie at genealogy and family history.
Although I have been lurking here for some years pressures of time,
business and sight problems have meant that my progress is slowish
I am proud to have got to 1700 people in my trees but know that there are
plenty more to find.

<snip>

It takes time to answer the most basic questions -- why should folks here
spend their own time answering such ?

See my earlier comment - it's their choice.

I know I spend a lot of time doing exactly the same thing in other
interest groups where I try and help newbies with problems.
It does make me wonder many times why folks do not do the most basic
looking up themselves.

But they need to know where to look

However sometimes I have noticed
people spontaneously doing work for me that I haven't asked them to
do, which of course I'm grateful for, but don't expect - it's often
easier and quicker to do things for a novice than teach them to do
them for themselves - but then they shouldn't complain as nobody made
them do it.

Its because if you are a researcher by instinct you WANT to know if you
can find the answer <grin>

Fair enough - but you can't then blame the person you're doing it for for
"making" you do it.


On a newsgroup it's much easier to ignore requests for
help than if made face to face, and this seems to me the best policy
if you haven't got the patience to explain the basics to someone for
the umpteenth time.

Well that seems rude :~) to some !
In the winter when more folks have more time the load is spread better. I
know that I have answered basic "look here" answers to take the load off
the more experienced but ignoring posts throws up equal complaints - like
Richard earlier this week.<grin>

I would have theought there's enough people available for someone to
respond - as you say it doesn't always have to be the same people, and it's
fairer if it isn't, then it's more likely that those who respond have more
patience. If no-one is prepared to respond, that might be the time for
someone to explain why (hopefully politely :)). But it's rare that people
don't get any response as far as I can see.

You have been hereabouts for nearly a year
now -- you should be doing the simple ones now !!! That would be the
better way -- once folks have been here for a few months and picked up the
basics they should start answering the very newbie questions. This would
keep the information flowing around more and free up the experienced
genealogists for the difficult problems.

I'm always prepared to help people and have done on a few occasions, but
usually I find that someone more knowledgeable than me has got there first,
so there's nothing for me to add.


There are no rights or wrongs in this -- but I would say your expectations
of people who are highly respected and experienced, who are indulging in
their passion, in their own time, is too high.

All I'm saying is that being highly respected and and experienced doesn't
give you the right to be rude to people - you may disagree. Of course, as
I've said several times people, people have the right not to offer their
services, especially if they're not being paid for it, but that's another
matter.

Fortunately most people manage to remain polite regardless of their level of
expertise.

You and I will get more from them than they will get from us. Be grateful
for what you get. Don't expect them to change nappies.

--

regards Jill Bowis

Your general thrust seems to be that this NG *is* mainly for more
experienced genealogists rather than complete beginners - have I understood
you correctly, and if so I wonder if this is a view shared by most people
here?

Best wishes

Steve




.

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