Embarrassing moments, researching

[little meg]

I am hoping I am not alone to share some of my embarrassing moments that have happened during my research.

- whilst at the State Library in the quietness of the Newspaper section, I was taking off one of the microfilm reels, yep slipped out of my hands and rolled from one end of the room to the other, unravelling as it went 
Everyone looked around and one lady said, " glad it wasn't me!"

- Looking for living relatives I found some living next door to my single son.
" Oh he is the boy that plays loud music she says", son tells me they have had screaming matches over the fence because of the loud music. 

Please can others share to save me from single humiliation

Margaret

[MarieC]

I swear microfilm reels don't like me, Margaret!  I'm always having issues about using them; even when someone has just carefully shown me, I have often got in a muddle and needed to call for help.  I can see the expression in the eyes of the helper - what sort of idiot do we have here?? 

Computers, microfiche are fine.  Films - big problem!  It's why I used to like going to the LDS - they routinely put the film on the reel and took it off when people finish looking at it!

MarieC

[Musicman]

Microfilm reels don’t like me either!  How do they expect a mere male to thread it up when he, by his own admission, cannot thread a needle?  How come some of the film starts at the “other end” – did a previous viewer wind it the wrong way?  How come some of the film is back to front?  I’m just so glad that a “Silence is Golden” rule seems to apply in Records – so that I’m not allowed to say out loud what I’d like to say out loud!

I recently did some transcribing of old records onto computer at the Records Office.  Their laptop is a communal one.  Whenever I switched it on and it had done its setting up process, its little tune played – loudly! Everyone looked at me – so I always looked around as if trying to find where the sound came from. 

John

[MarieC]

John! 

How I relate to this!

MarieC

[KathMc]

Oh, too funny with the microfilm. I do hate that stuff. I always load it backward, then look around to be sure no one noticed.

The last time I was at the NYC archives, I had a load of reels, found what I wanted, and filled out requests for printing. I took 3 up to the counter, and the VERY rude man who works there yelled out, "Genealogy researchers, only one at a time PLEASE!" Made no sense to me, because if I hadn't stacked them and laid them side by side, I don't think he would have yelled out. You can request as many as you like during the day.

And I did the John thing and looked around. Who could he be talking about. 

Kath

[Lydart]

I hadn't realised the first time I used one that film reels can be loaded upside down, AND back to front ... so of course, I did both ... twice, because when I'd undone it, I couldn't remember which way I'd just had it ...


I HATE REELS !!!!

[little meg]

Perhaps I should change the subject to:
I HATE REELS 

[Musicman]

And I did the John thing and looked around. Who could he be talking about. 

Kath

The Golden Rules in such situations are always the same – it is NEVER your fault.

If something is said which could be your fault – always look at the person standing next to you – as if it is their fault.

If there’s no-one next to you to blame, look around as if trying to see who could be to blame.

If it’s a confrontational situation – and someone speaks to you about it – always reply “Saw-ry, no – er - speaka moosh – er – Ongleesh.” Then give a little smile as if very pleased with yourself.

John

[jpro]

Always take a white stick and a pair of dark glasses with you, if you drop something they've no idea what to do with you.

jpro