I though it worth adding my two penneth to this topic.
I started genealogy about 8 months ago and found this site.
First thing I did was look on the Lancashire Board and found all these people asking for look ups.
After a few days I posted one and fantastic, someone replied. Not wanting to appear pushy by asking for too much I waited a week before asking for another.
After a couple of weeks I got a little more adventurous and tried the button at the top marked "chat" to find out what it did.
Wallop!!! I was in a chat room for the first time in my life with about 15 people screeming "Hi Dave, Hey Dave, Hello Dave"
PANIC
I was in there and people I didn't know were all asking me questions.
I look back now and chuckle to myself it was the best accident I ever had.
After a few minutes I think I manged to type "its my first time here can I just watch" I sat there and watched I was asked "If you need help just ask"
After about ten mins I was asked if I needed a lookup and a few minutes later tentatively posted one, WOW within minutes the reply was there.
I sat there for a few hours and just watched and left typing "goodnight and thanks for your help"
I returned the following day at the same time and was greeted with the same barrage of Hi's
I answered "Hi All" because thats what I'd seen the night before and was amazed that most people remembered me.
I posted an odd line or comment that night slowly getting braver and braver.
I returned the third night and I was one of the gang it was like I had been there for years.
The people in the room are some of the friendliest most helpful people I have ever met.
I am now addicted and in the chat room nearly every night.
Rule 1 - Don't panic, take things at your own speed, everyone in the room will know you are new and what you're going through.
Rule 2 - You don't have to type anything - Just be polite and type "Hi All" when you arrive and "Bye All" when you are going. If you have had help a simple "Thanks for your help" is enough.
Rule 3 - Don't worry about typing errors. Most people make errors and spelling mistakes and there are no spelling police watching you. Some people who have been on for years make errors on almost every word. No one cares and most we can figure out anyway.
Rule 4 - Do not post your text in capitals this is taken as shouting and is bad mannered. Use capitals to emphasise one or two words or for a surname to make them easier to read.
Abbreviations are a puzzle at first so here are the most common.
WB - Welcome Back - usually someone has left the room for a short time and returned
BRB - Be Right Back - some one is going away to make a brew, visit the loo are take a phone call.
BBL - Be Back Later - The person is leaving but will be coming back later.
TC - Take Care - this will usually be posted when some says goodbye.
LOL - Laugh Out Loud - Indicates a statement was made as a joke or that someone found it funny.
LMAO - Laughing My A*** Off - as above but funnier
ROFLMAO - Rolling On Floor Laughing My A*** Off - even funnier.
TY - Thank You
YW - Your Welcome
If one comes up you don't know just ask, nobody knows them all, they are used to cut down on the amount typing.
eg. if you see BBIAB
type "BBIAB??"
someone will reply "BBIAB = Be Back In A Bit"
If you are aiming your comment or question at a certain person you don't need to use the full name. eg. for DaveH1953, Dave will do. Watch the others and copy what they put.
What do we talk about, well it is a genealogy chat room so thats the main topic.
Apart from that anything that is not offensive.
For example news of the recent UK earthquake was around the world before The BBC, Sky or Reuters knew about it.
There are people in the room who have been doing it for years and have a lot of experience in most parts of the world. They will give you links to web sites, search census or BMD sites for you and give advice on almost anything.
Don't be frightened to ask for help, we have little competions between ourselves to see who can get the information first and take pride in having found it.
I will add if someone is looking up information for you don't just leave. Let them know you are going and tell them how they can get the information to you. The easiest way is to give them an email address by PM.
PM = Private Message and is a conversation that can only be seen by the person you are talking with. You are not giving your email address to everyone in the room.
One other thing sometimes the room software has a little hiccup and kicks you out. Don't worry just hit the refresh button and come straight back in. It happens to us all.
REMEMBER we were all new once and understand what it's like, so come and join us.
Hope this helps
Best of luck
Dave
